The answer is simple
Beware!
Does it promise a simple solution? Take 'x' pill
or 'y' potion and all your problems will be solved.
The answers behind many of today's diet and
nutrition related problems are complex
and yet to be fully understood. A really simple
answer has yet to be found as it is dispersed
among a wide range of healthy food and drinks.
It's the truth- honest guv
Beware!
Truth is often quoted as personal experience and
anecdotes, sometimes using well-known
personalities to back claims. It is easier to rely on
a story rather than use good scientific research. If
someone relates amazing health or performance
outcomes while allegedly taking the product, you
are likely to think. "If it works for them, why can't it
work for me too?" At best they are probably seeing
a temporary placebo effect (a known powerful
psychological phenomenon whereby just thinking
something will do you good, it actually does) or
they are lying.
No change needed?
Beware!
One of the big attractions of nutrition quackery
is that very little change to your lifestyle is
needed in order for you to benefit from the product.
If it were really that easy, everyone would be doing
it already. It may be that your very style of life: fast
lifestyle, fast food, not taking enough exercise or
getting enough rest or recovery from exercise are
the real issues.
Sounds Exotic
Beware!
Give something an exotic sounding name,
especially if it sounds far eastern, and mystical and
it will sell.
It's expensive, so it must work?
Beware!
Nobody would try and sell you something expensive
if it didn't work, would they? Yes, they would and it
seems that our belief is related to the amount of
money we part with: the more it costs, the more
we believe it works. Unfortunately, the more you
spend, the more profit you are donating to the
manufacturer or distributor.
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Amazing results
Beware!
Does the marketing blurb claim that you will
experience spectacular improvements in your
fitness or treat a wide variety of ailments?
Often the magic ingredient has to be taken
with a healthy diet or exercise programme.
Can you understand now why you feel better?
Its 'science', Jim, but not as we know it
Beware!
"Researchers have found that" is a common
why of opening up a propaganda story. It
sounds authoritative and scientific, yet you
rarely get the full picture. Unless you go back
to see whether the original research was
published in a reputable, peer-reviewed
journal (checked by other scientists), you
should remain sceptical. Often good research
is done on animals and then a newspaper
omits this fact when reporting the story
how valid is research done on rats rather than
on humans?
One tip for not believing all that you read is to
use the Traffic Light Method:
There are 3 stages that need to happen
before (nutrition) research becomes the
accepted truth.
Red
Doubtful e.g. eating more fruit and
vegetables will cure cancer
Amber
Wait and see e.g. eating more fruit and
vegetables will improve outcome of
some cancers
Green
Certainty e.g. eating more fruit and
vegetables will prevent certain types
of cancer.
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