You can be forgiven if the latest health news can leave you feeling more confused on the subject than you were before. Take studies concerning coffee, for example:
Coffee is good for you, more science shows: NBC News
Is Coffee Good for You? Is Coffee Bad for You?: Time
Why Researchers Think Coffee is Good for You but Still Aren’t Sure: CNBC
“I can empathize with the health care consumer regarding what to accept as fact,” said Dr. Madge Barnes, who practices family medicine with Texas Health Family Care in Grand Prairie. “I would be cautious but not skeptical.”
Savvy news consumers claim they have already taken that approach.
“It changes every time you turn around. Every year it's a different study that counters the other one, so I don't put a whole lot of stock in that,” said Ray Morgan, of Dallas.
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“They will always discover something wrong with everything, or in reverse,” said Rachel Dallas-Noble, of Dallas.
There are numerous studies published regularly regarding the purported health benefits or concerns involving a whole host of products. A simple search on popular items like coffee, wine, chocolate and eggs can return a seemingly unending list of contradicting results.
Dr. Barnes stressed that people would do themselves a huge favor by doing two things: considering the source of the information and consulting their primary care physician if they have any questions.
“Don’t be quick to change your course of health care management until you speak to your physician, who has most likely received information from medical journals, conferences and other sources prior to the research findings being made available to the public,” Dr. Barnes said. “Reputable sources include those nationally recognized such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and WebMD. But your best resource, again, would be your primary care physician.”
