Why Nutrition Studies Keep Contradicting Each Other

It seems like nutrition studies contradict a lot, and it’s practically impossible to get a straight answer on whether a given food or supplement is good for you. But why?

Hosted by: Olivia Gordon

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[EugeneKhutoryansky]

This is why, in general, science is not based on the outcome of just a single experiment or a single study.

[maryiula]

Thank you SciShow team. As an aspirant nutitionist this was REALLY helpful. It's so hard to explain why there's not always a easy or clear answer to questions about health and food. Now I can show this as an example.

[WouterCloetens]

“You can’t drink alcohol and not drink alcohol at the same time.”
Hold my beer!

[Master_Therion]

I read an article about the health benefits of pears.
It sounded scientific at first, but it was clear it wasn't... pear reviewed.

[Shadowstray]

A bonus data point for you is looking at who is funding the study. Most studies funded by the food industry find positive effects and most studies founded by other sources are finding the opposite.

[musclehank]

sigh, if all of y'all would just follow my extra protein meal plan we wouldn't have all this confusion

[rory]

When I was a kid I went to the doctor and the dentist in the same week, I was very confused when one told me orange juice was fantastic and the other told me orange juice is terrible

[seasong]

"Wash your hands to prevent sickness" "Don't wash hands or your immune system weakens"

[emispheres]

I get the impression that this is more a video on methodology, critical thinking and science media coverage WITHIN the context of nutrition than a video on good nutritional guidelines. I guess that’s exactly what we need right now. Thanks for the good video.

[amermeleitor]

Really, there are four things that have plenty evidence and are good for you:

1) Don´t be obese
2) Excercise, sport or any kind of workout
3) Friendship, social life, social contact
4) Don't smoke

[vanrozay]

I'm old enough to remember several changes in official medical "wisdom": Margarine being healthier than butter until it was "decided" it wasn't. Coffee, chocolate bad for us, then not so bad. Red wine, as shown here. I now eat cautiously but without absolute policies. Better to stay sane and die a few months sooner than to agonize (unhealthy) over diet, methinks. I'm 78.

[loganl]

I had an argument about the " 'good for you' is too broad" thing with my mom, except for us it was 'healthy'. She wanted her diet to be 'healthier' but the term is so unspecific that we couldn't even agree on where to start.

[angelic]

Lets be honest here though. Most of this is on media and how news outlets report on science.
The actual science is almost always fairly clear about its results. Documenting everything meticulously. Accuracy, caveats, method used. Its all documented so other researchers can duplicate the findings.
But all that doesn't make for a good story...

[CrankyPantss]

These nutritional reports have lost all of their credibility a long time ago. Even if it was a decent appearing study, by the time the Buzzfeed-ish sites gets ahold of it, there's no way it'll still appear credible. Good information, Olivia.

[icannotchoose]

THIS is what needs to be taught in schools

[WilliamAndrews]

These studies mostly also are purely biological and dont include factors like mental health, which is a key focus point when talking about alcohol. For people who do not show signs of addiction having a drink from time to time helps them relax, refocus and act healthier in other parts of their life. So some people may consume more alcohol, but because it helps them relax on the weekends, maybe they do more workout during the week and eat healthier. If you only compare the stats of 'alcohol consumed' and someone like that is in your control-group it may distorte the entire results of the study. When I stopped drinking alcohol for 6 months I gained weight and was overall less happy. When I started drinking again I was happier, which led to me caring more about my health and eating better and doing more things like taking a walk through the forest. So maybe biologically alcohol is bad for me, but because of the effect on my mental state it caused me to be an overall more healthy person.

[TommoCarroll]

That was a great point you made in this video about the definition of "good for you" it's the same as the whole "clean eating" idea that became big a couple years ago in some circles until people realised that the definition of eating clean is so vague it's essentially a meaningless term! Great video as always!

[jesseruderman]

I like how the thumbnail begins to answer the title's question

[saumyashah]

Sometimes I feel like I learn more from SciShow than in school.

[tommeng]

Why did the tomato blush? It saw the salad dressing.