How do we separate fact from fiction, an authority from someone who is just "repeating what they heard from a 'credible source'?" ....  Do you remember playing "Telephone" as a child.  One child would whisper something into another person's ear and that child to the next, until the message had traveled around the room.  The last person would then say aloud the message.  Everyone would laugh at how much it had changed, often sounding nothing like the initial utterance.  Well, interestingly,  "information" passed on can mirror this.  It can change with each repetition, modified sometimes by our understanding (or hearing) and then repeated as we recall it.  Unfortunately, when this information relates to health and wellness, it can do a disservice to the recipient.  So what are we to do?

The internet is both a fabulous resource and also a potential danger in many ways.  This is true when it comes to educating ourselves, as well.  When in doubt or question, the first step many of us do is "Google it!"  This is actually a good first step.  But at this point, we have to really filter what comes up.  Look for credible websites, ones that reference studies to back up their claims.

Scientific research / studies are not the end all be all, and certainly  many are funded by companies that have an agenda - proving their product is effective.  However, more and more often, there are both nutritional and environmental studies that seem to be unbiased and relaying  valuable information.  Journals such as The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition are publishing more and more articles discussing plant based diets and their value.   When looking for articles in journals related to the environment, scan for studies funded by non-profit environmental groups (for example, as opposed to say pesticide producers or conventional farmers' organizations) to find studies that are conducted for the good of us all.

When someone tells you that ..... is a good source of ....., don't just take their word for it.  The USDA has a fabulous data base that is available, on-line to the public.  You can view the nutrient profiles of many foods, by clicking on the appropriate category and then scrolling down to the food that interests you at http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=22112.  Or perhaps you are looking for foods that are rich in a particular nutrient.... The USDA has a database for each nutrient.  You can access alphabetical listings of the content of that nutrient in a particular food by clicking on the "A" next to the nutrient in which you are interested, or on the "W" to access a list which begins with the food that has the most of that nutrient and proceeds down the list of foods that contain that in decreasing amounts. Here is the link for this page and it is one of my favorites!  http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=22114.  Are you confused by exactly how much you need of a particular nutrient?  Well there is a page for that too!  You will find the DRIs or the Daily Recommended Intake for each nutrient at. http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Nutrition/SummaryDRIs/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Nutrition/DRIs/5_Summary%20Table%20Tables%201-4.pdf

If this seems a bit much to do and you are thinking "I wish someone could just review it all for me and tell me the answer..." consider consulting a holistic nutritionist in your area.   Request a free initial consultation in which you can explain what assistance you seek and they, in turn can let you know about their training and experience, so you can establish if this is a good fit.  Many health professionals, when asked, will accommodate this request, as they recognize that health is our most valuable asset, and, in the same way as when you research where to invest your money, one should research in whom to put their trust.

So to sum up, the slogan that has been popular since the sixties seems appropriate "Question Authority!"  Even those that appear to be informed can make mistakes.  And doctors are not exempt.  As my dad used to say, and likely still does, "Half of the doctors (or whatever professional you are using...) graduated in the bottom half of their class.... Would you want the doctor who was at the bottom working on you?"