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The World Wide Web of Lies and Confusion


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The internet is simultaneously one of the best and worst things to happen. While it's nice that we have access to endless amounts of information at our fingertips, it can be difficult figuring out what is true and what is false. When it comes to nutrition and health, the internet is often responsible for the myths people believe about food. So how are we supposed to find the truth?

When searching the internet for the latest food and diet tips here are some key steps to keep in mind.

1) Pay attention to the website

Does the website seem like a reputable source that would share factual nutrition information or does it seem like a site that is mostly sharing opinions? Next time you do a Google search, look for websites that end in ".org", ".edu", or ".gov" instead of ".com". I'm not saying all ".com" websites are posting false information but you have a better chance of finding accurate information from websites of national organizations or institutions. Online medical journals often end in ".com" but are great resources for getting the most up to date research on nutrition and health.

2) Pay attention to who is giving the information 

Image result for registered dietitianThink about whose opinion you trust the most. If you are searching the internet for the latest diet advice it would be beneficial to look at resources from someone who is credentialed and certified in the subject, such as a Registered Dietitian. Doctors can sometimes provide accurate nutrition advice but nutrition is usually not their specialty and they can sometimes be wrong. It is common to see "nutritionists" writing blogs or articles online, which can be confusing for people who don't understand the difference between a Dietitian and nutritionist. The main difference is that there is no schooling or certification required for people who call themselves "nutritionists", however, Registered Dietitian's go through years of school and get credentialed to give nutrition advice based on scientific research. So when in doubt, always choose a Registered Dietitian.

3) Don't just look at one source...shop around!

If you got told you had incurable cancer would you trust that one opinion and stop there? No (well hopefully not), so why would you trust the first thing you read on the internet? Next time you are searching the internet for nutrition advice read at least 3 different sources and see how they compare. If they all say the same information then you can probably trust that it is true. If they all say different information then maybe you should keep doing your research.



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