Every day brings new headlines about “miracle” foods, “breakthrough” treatments and scary new risks. Before you share or act on health news, run it through this quick checklist.
The 5-step checklist
- Check the source. Is it a medical journal, a health agency, or a recognised news outlet that names its experts?
- Find the original study. Good articles link to the research. Look at who funded it and whether it was peer reviewed.
- Look at who was studied. Results in mice, or in a small group of people, don’t always apply to you.
- Watch the wording. “Linked to” is not “causes”. Be careful with words like cure, detox, miracle or secret.
- Compare with other sources. One study is a starting point. Look for guidance that matches across several reputable sources.
Red flags to watch for
- A product is being sold alongside the claim
- Only personal testimonials, no data
- Urgent language that pushes you to act now
- No author, date or sources
When in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist before changing medicines, diet or treatment based on something you read online.
This article is for general information and does not replace medical advice.
