Benefit & harm
Benefit and harm: how to read health claims
Every day we hear that one thing is good for us and another is bad. Often both statements are about the same thing, just in different amounts and for different people. This page helps you tell well-founded advice from a catchy phrase, and explains what to do if you are still unsure.
Almost every "good for you" has a follow-up: how much, for whom and compared with what. Without these details the phrase means very little.
About this address
Archive · article not preserved
The address /polza-i-vred/ belonged to an article on the former blog that used to run on this domain. We do not have its text and are not restoring it.
Today's reference has nothing to do with that blog. We have kept the address working so that old links do not break, and used this page to explain how to evaluate any health claim.
Why it all depends on the amount and the person
Even movement that does most people good can cause harm if you suddenly take on too much or ignore an illness. And the other way round: something that does not suit one person may be right for another.
That is why an honest health claim almost always comes with conditions: for whom, in what amount and with what limitations. If there are no conditions, it is worth asking these questions yourself.
How to check a claim
Who is speaking
A medical organisation, a scientist, a journalist or a seller? If the author is selling something, their interest is obvious.
Is there research in humans
Experiments on cells and animals are interesting, but they do not tell us directly what will happen in people.
What was compared with what
A benefit only makes sense in comparison with something: no change, a different approach, ordinary life.
Does it match the guidelines
Check it against what the WHO and the Russian Ministry of Health say. If a claim contradicts them, it needs very strong evidence.
Red flags
- Words such as "burns", "flushes out toxins" or "cleanses the body"
- Promises of results "without effort" or "in just a few days"
- Testimonials and photos instead of research data
- A single product or method that supposedly helps with almost everything
- Pressure tactics: "only a few places left", "today only"
Read also
Sources
- WHO: guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (2020)
- Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (Minzdrav): healthy lifestyle materials
This text is based on the guidelines in force at the time of publication. International and national advice on physical activity is updated from time to time, and the right level of activity for you is best discussed with a doctor.