Diet and Nutrition

Should You Believe What You Read About Nutrition?: How to Detect 'Junk Science'

Contradictory messages about nutrition and health

Have you ever read an article about the benefits of a specific food or nutrient for health . . . and then read an article the next day about the lack of benefits or even dangers of that food or nutrient? Eggs are good for you... or maybe not. Use margarine instead of butter ... or maybe not. Eat lots of fish ... or maybe not. The list could go on and on. So it’s no wonder that consumers are often confused by seemingly contradictory advice about nutrition.

Nutrition science . . . a young field

Nutrition science is a relatively young field and nutrition research is just beginning to solve some of the mysteries related to food and its effects on the health of humans. Today, most people obtain nutrition information from media sources such as television, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet. Unfortunately, nutrition studies can be reported in ways that sensationalize or oversimplify their findings. Many preliminary studies need more research to confirm the study's results. In addition, some special interest groups campaign against certain foods with claims that are inconsistent with current scientific research. So once again, the public is puzzled by mixed messages and may become skeptical of all nutrition recommendations.

How to recognize "junk science"

Since a lot of nutrition misinformation appears in the media, it's important to be able to separate "good science" and "junk science". You can detect "junk science" by looking for these ten red flags from the Food and Nutrition Science Alliance (FANSA):

Recommendations that promise a quick fix
Dire warnings of danger from a single product or regimen
Claims that sound too good to be true
Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study
Recommendations based on a single study
Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations
Lists of "good" and "bad" foods
Recommendations made to help sell a product
Recommendations based on studies published without peer review
Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups

If any of these signs are present, be cautious about the accuracy of the study's findings or recommendations. Don't read only the headlines. Read the entire article and then read additional, credible sources of information. Learn as much as you can about the topic before changing your food habits. Then spread reliable, science-based news about nutrition to others who may not know what to believe!

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Last Reviewed: Dec 04, 2006

Bonnie J. Brehm, PhD, RD
Professor
College of Nursing
University of Cincinnati