The 10 Red Flags of Junk Science

The following is a quick yardstick to measure the accuracy of published health information:

The credibility of health information varies widely, making it tough to know what to believe and what to discard. To sort the jewels from the junk, screen health information against the 10 Red Flags of Junk Science. Any combination of these signs should send up a red flag of suspicion about the accuracy of the information.

1. Recommendations that promise a quick fix.
2. Dire warnings of danger from a single product or regimen.
3. Claims that sound too good to be true.
4. Simplistic conclusions drawn from a complex study.
5. Recommendations based on a single study.
6. Dramatic statements that are refuted by reputable scientific organizations.
7. Lists of "good" and "bad" foods.
8. Recommendations made to help sell a product.
9. Recommendations based on studies published without peer review.
10. Recommendations from studies that ignore differences among individuals or groups.

Source:The Food and Nutrition Science Alliance (FANSA), a partnership of the American Dietetic Association, the American Society for Clinical Nutrition, the American Society for Nutritional Sciences and the Institute of Food Technologists.