There is always something new out there in the world of eating healthy. There is always new foods to try and foods that used to be good for you but now are not. There is always a new study telling you what to eat and what to avoid and what will cause you cancer. This has been true for a very long time. But what the difference is now is that we have the internet at our fingertips and we get access to these studies. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes it is not.
For most of us the old saying is very true “a little information can be a dangerous thing” Just because we have access to all these studies and information, it doesn’t mean that we understand them and that we know what to do with the information once we get it. We lack the knowledge, understanding, and background to know if this info is true, skewed, complete, or even worth knowing. Studies done for a very small percentage of people from a very small part of the word in an environment that we will never be in, is completely irrelevant to us, but if somehow somebody decides to publish it in a place where people may see it and share it, now it is ‘trending’ and yet it really has no value to us.
But how do we decide whether to trust the information out there?
At what point do we believe this ‘thing’ that we just learned. I was having a conversation at the gym and the common belief is that the person who is the coach, trainer, or whatever usually appears to be in a position of authority. That is the way it is supposed to be. But, they actually should only be that position of trust for the reason you came to that gym.
We need to do our own due diligence.
- Is that trainer actually certified to offer that opinion?
- Did that coach actually have the knowledge to give that information?
- Are we asking too much of the person in charge of that one hour of gym time?
- Is our trainer actually trained in the area that they are training?
- Do they have any other schooling?
Also, we need to ask the same questions on the websites we visit.
- Is there any real evidence to back up this article?
- Has this article cited its source?
- Are there more than one site offering the same information?
- Does the website have doctors, certified coaches, trainers to confirm their info?
We have to be our own best advocates. It is, after all, your body and nobody else values it as much as you do. You need to be as educated as you can on the things that are important to you.
So whatever you are looking at eating, doing, not eating or not doing, do your research first. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the latest fad, newest fake study, undiscovered new fruit, an unresearched piece of equipment. Find out all you can and even after that, decide if it is truly something for you. The miracle fruit may cost too much. The magic exercise routine may injure you. The latest supplement may actually be harmful.
After all of that is said and done, if you want somebody else to do the homework, I am here for you. We, here at Q4fit, spend a lot of time researching the things that we talk to you about, let us do the work for you. If we do, we will share it with all of you so that we can all be just a little bit wiser and hopefully a little healthier.
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on. – Winston Churchill