Q&A: How do I find reliable and true natural health info online?
How do I find reliable and true natural health info online?
There are 10000s of websites on nutrition and natural healing etc on the iternet and I am wondering how one finds the reliable ones, not ones trying to sell you something or scaring you half to death or even writing untrue and innacurate things about food and health. I know there are a few reputable doctors specializing in alternative medicine with websites, but what about others? Nutritionists? How do you know if its not a bunch of heresay?
Answer by avid
You will always have to weigh what you read on the internet against common sense, your own experience, and general medicine.
My advice….Proceed with caution, and beware of any person or place, who proclaims to speak “the truth”
on August 5th, 2010 at 3:06 am
This is an extremely hard question to answer. So much of “natural healing” is based on anecdotal evidence which is the most unreliable evidence. Many of the healing systems are in direct opposition of each other. A good place to start would be with organizations that have no stake in any one thing. The National Council Against Health Fraud gives unbiased information about many things.
Nutrition advice other than a balanced diet is probably just of minor value. Anything that promises drastic improvement in health is at the very least is exaggerated. The bigger the claims the more caution.
As far as a site that specializes in alternative health I can’t make a recommendation. I’ve looked at a great number of them. They will give accurate information in one sentence and false in the next. A lot of the information is like an urban legend. It sounds like it could be true.
on August 5th, 2010 at 3:16 am
As mentioned above by Mark, this could be tricky and I also had such confusions till lately when my employer enrolled the company for a health nutrition plan with Elitehealth.com. I think you might find their services answering your confusion.
on August 5th, 2010 at 3:28 am
This is a big question. I have researched for years in this field and I think the problem is the basics are true;
1. Get rid of processed foods and start eating more raw ingredients.
2. Move away from chemical laden personal items like shampoo, soap, household cleansers, etc.
3. Supplement at least organic minerals like selenium (cancer), chromium (diabetes) and magnesium (heart disease).
These principles are sound and backed up with solid scientific evidence. The problem come in with our reluctance to actually CHANGE our lifestyles. This brings on all the hucksters with magic pills and “vitamins” to where we don’t have to change. There is also a large number of people who have already waited too long and are seeking a cure for the diseases created by inadequate nutrition or toxic exposure.
That said, here are my favorites:
mercola.com
naturalnews.com
lewrockwell.com/sardi/sardi-arch.html
dearpharmacist.com
raysahelian.com/
the-vitaman.com
Even though some of them do have items to sell, everyone has to make a living and I judge by the availability of information. If they give you the information then show what they sell that’s different than giving you 10 pages of hype, not telling you what is even in their product, then trying to sell it to you. Also, a sideline from my research has given me a desire to be an herbalist, the mother of all medicine.
Hope this helps,
Rick