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5 Ways to Protect Yourself from Quackery

Written By: Stephanie Ulibarri, RDN

I’m a pretty easy-going dietitian. I believe that being healthy does not equate to being militant about what we eat. I don’t believe in fad diet or extremes in eating; I believe in good ole’ moderation focusing on getting the bulk of our nutrition from whole fruits and vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. Call me old fashioned I’m okay with that.

There aren’t too many things that get me worked up. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE what I do. I have a fire and passion for working with people, giving them trusted information and helping them apply that information so that they can reach their health goals. There is nothing that lights me up like working with a client and seeing them make healthy changes that not only improve their health but ripples out and impacts the health of those around them. Pure joy.

But let me tell you what really brings the inner mama bear out of me, the thing that turns my fire of passion to fire of furry. Pseudoscience supplements. Especially those that are pushed by healthcare providers. To begin let’s get two facts out of the way:

Fact #1: These substances are not regulated in the same way that medications are. In fact, no one is really checking to see what are in these supplements, that is of course unless someone gets very sick…then we all hear about it. But, for the vast majority of these supplements we don’t really know what are inside those little capsules. We must take the manufacturer at their word which sometimes we can do with confidence and others not so much.

Fact #2: A 2016 study found that the average number of hours offered for nutrition education in U.S. Medical School is 19.6 hours. (1) Not even a full day.  Other health professionals who often are looked to for nutrition advice, such as chiropractors, also get bits and pieces of nutrition education but none that are comprehensive. Please don’t read what I’m not writing. I’m not dissing doctors or chiropractors for their lack of exposure to comprehensive nutrition education; it’s not their fault they are studying to be doctors and chiropractors after all not dietitians!

Having worked in various healthcare settings, I have come across so many great providers who were very knowledgeable in the area of nutrition; some that went for additional nutrition certifications and such. I’m simply drawing attention to the fact that there may be gaps in nutrition knowledge. Which is okay!!!! That’s exactly why there are Registered Dietitians, clinicians who have completed a Bachelor’s of Science in Dietetics or higher, successfully completed an internship, passed the examination and complete continuing education. Dietitians are here to fill in the gaps as the experts in nutrition.

Okay, moving on. Where was I? Yes…supplements. Now there are a handful of supplements that DO have studies that show that they are beneficial. A prime example is Omega 3 fatty acids. They have been proven to improve systemic inflammation along with a myriad of other things. There are some supplements that show that there isn’t sufficient evidence to label them either beneficial or harmful, even though people report improvement with their symptoms such as St. John’s Wort and depression.  Then there are things that are outright dangerous and have been proven as such, for example apricot seeds (2).

I get it, we don’t have evidence for “everything.” And there are some things that work for people despite conclusive evidence in the literature. That is all fine and well in my world (I’m a pretty easy-going Dietitian, remember?)

But there is a line that needs to be drawn when we are talking about adding substances that are harmful, even deadly. There is a myth out there that suggests that natural is always better. Somehow supplements and herbal remedies get a free pass around discussions about risks and benefits.  How could apricot seeds be harmful? They are natural! But here is the thing, not everything “natural” is meant for human consumption. 

Let me get back to the apricot kernels for a moment. I’m hyper focused on this because, working in the area cancer treatment I hear about this dangerous supplement all the time. I see it on random Facebook threads, and just today I was speaking with a friend who used to take them for “their antioxidant properties” although she couldn’t eat more than a few because her “mouth went numb.” I’m hounding this point because it is so super important to inform yourself about what these things are.

So what can you do to protect yourself, from what we call in the business as “quackery”? Here are 5 tips to make sure you are getting information that you can trust.

1.     Filter everything through this question, says who? Who is the authority or “expert” that is passing this information on. The keto diet is healthy for everyone…says who? Take mega doses of vitamin C to cure cancer…says who? Is this information coming from someone who has a background that qualifies them to be giving nutrition advice, or is it something that has been passed through the grape vine?

2.     If they have a healthcare background or credential, what is it? I have a background in healthcare and have been working in hospitals my entire career, but that doesn’t mean I’m qualified to be diagnosing diseases or prescribing medications….just like others may not be qualified to be given evidenced based nutrition recommendations that are going to get results.  

3.     Be wary of headlines. Marketers are trying to get you attention. They want you to buy their paper, magazine or go to their blog so…they will use the most attention-grabbing headline that they can apply. And 90% of the time they base these headlines off fear.  Don’t fall prey to the fear mongering.

4.     If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Simply put there is no miracle food or magic pill.

5.     When in doubt reach out. There are reputable websites such as WebMD or Healthline as well as organizational pages such as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or the American Cancer Society that provide evidenced based information. Seek out a Registered Dietitian, like myself.

Nutrition is so important and applies to everyone. I mean who doesn’t eat? It’s important to stay informed and learn what works for you, your body and your lifestyle. Be sure to follow me on Facebook for ongoing information, inspiration and support.

Until next time,

Spread love and eat your veggies

References:

1.Colino S. How Much Do Doctors Lean about Nutrition? US News Web Site.https://health.usnews.com/wellness/food/articles/2016-12-07/how-much-do-doctors-learn-about-nutrition. Published December 7, 2016. Accessed August 30, 2018.

2. Nichols H. Can Apricot Seeds Help Treat Cancer. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314337.php. Published July 20, 2018. Accessed August 30, 2018.

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