Faulty logic

“It works like this!”

Nutrition interventions that should work in theory often do not work in practice.

An explanation of how or why a food, drink, diet or nutrition supplement may work, does not mean it does work, or that it is safe. And even if it works in a way that it is likely to be helpful, it is not possible to predict how helpful or safe it will be.

For example, taking antioxidant supplements is commonly thought to prevent heart disease and other illnesses. People believe that antioxidants keep their bodies healthy by counteracting damaging substances (“free radicals”) that normally form in the body, and are increased further by smoking, stress and unhealthy foods. While antioxidants do act in this way, it does not mean they prevent damage and disease when taken as supplements.

An example is the antioxidant beta-carotene, where such supplements were thought to protect against heart disease. Some research supported this notion. But when tested in a fair comparison of interventions, not only did researchers find that the beta-carotene did not help, they found that it killed some people.

BEWARE if a claim about the effects of a nutrition intervention is based only on an explanation of how it works.

REMEMBER: Nutrition interventions that should work in theory often do not work in practice.