When it comes to drug and nutrition claims, deciphering fact from fiction can be confusing in the midst of internet prescribing. Use these guidelines to make informed decisions about the food you eat and drug usage.

In a technology-driven world, it’s more common than ever for people to search for health information online. However, social media and 24-hour news overload us with data, making it challenging to discern accuracy from false claims.

Deciphering fact from fiction can be especially daunting when it comes to nutrition. It seems like every week there’s a new review on this related headline, often with contradictory claims. One week recipe is a “cure-all” that boosts metabolism and immunity. The next week you might see an article linking recipes consumption to cancer. So how do you know what to believe?

The key to being a savvy investigator is to approach nutrition and medicine claims with skepticism and an inquisitive attitude. Credible drug information is based in scientific evidence.

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Here are some questions to ask when evaluating drug and diet information.

Is the “evidence” simply testimonials or personal opinions?

Anecdotes and testimonials are not evidence. Just because people claim that something worked for them doesn’t mean that a diet, food or drug strategy is supported by science.

Does the claim sound too good to be true?

“Lose 20 pounds in 2 weeks!” A claim that promises a quick or extreme outcome should always signal a red flag. The claim probably isn’t sustainable, realistic or even valid.

Is the information sensationalized, with no references to expert opinion or research studies?

“Eating certain diet will keep you thin and healthy.” Sensational headlines are usually written to simply grab a reader’s interest but are not backed by research studies.

Do the conclusions to what are considered complex issues seem too simple and easy?

“Taking probiotics can prevent colds and flu.” In general, a complex issue such as the flu virus is not easily solved by one simple trick.

Is the website, individual or company trying to sell something?

“Fuel your body with essential vitamins, minerals and superfoods once a day with our shakes!” “Look and feel great for #0 a day!” Usually when a product is being sold, the motivation is profit and not your actual well-being. Ask yourself: “Has the article been written without any biases?”

Asking these questions can help you hone your critical thinking skills and maintain a healthy degree of skepticism. Then you can make informed decisions about your diet and health.

Experiments.

Select a nutrition and drug topic you are curious about and use credible sites to research it. Choose primarily government and educational sites with URLs that end in “.gov” or “.edu.

The next time you encounter medicinal information you are unsure about, ask these questions: Are they trying to sell me something? Does it sound too good to be true? Are studies cited?

Look beyond the headlines. Is the article supported by research published in well-known (scientific) journals? Does it list the references and studies used to support the claims? 

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