An Introduction: How to understand scientific information

In a world where information is so easily accessible, it can be hard to figure out what is true and what is fiction. Science aims to be as objective as possible. However, with the influence of widely accessible knowledge and the ease at which ideas can be spread through social media, it makes for a complex scientific environment. For instance, on social media, you may come across an individual advocating for a totally plant-based or vegan diet and in the same moment, be faced with another character who claims that a carnivore diet is the most natural. Who is correct? Before we can answer that question, we must understand the difference between subjective and objective information. 

Subjective: it is based on opinion. This means that people can use anecdotal or personal experience to try and relay a message. While this is helpful in lots of situations such as recommendations and understanding, it can become problematic in science. The issue is that this type of information can be confused for fact, which it is not. When people tell you something in a convincing enough manner, it can be hard to understand where the truth lies. In a world where there are so many opinions, it is difficult to distinguish between fact and a very convincing piece of fiction.

Objective: it is based on fact. This one is pretty self-explanatory. This information in the world of science generally means that it is based on research or theory. Theories of topics are made through years of experimentation. Researchers will pose an idea (hypothesis) about a certain and aim to disprove their hypothesis. If the researcher fails to disprove the hypothesis, this acts as more evidence to prove that the theory is true. Therefore, rather than a theory being ‘proven’, it is assumed to be true through trial an error over many, many years of experimentation. The field of science relies on many researchers to replicate and validate theories, so that they are strong and more reliable. 

What type of information will I be sharing ?

So what will this page consist of? An amalgamation of objective, up-to-date research on the most confusing and divisive topics in the world of nutrition and public health. I will try to break down what researchers have to say about the topics and delve into the current knowledge and shortcomings of today’s perception of health and wellbeing and how you can try and change that in your own life.

‘Health literacy’ is a term which is defined by the WHO as the ability of an individual to “gain access to, understand and use information in ways which promote and maintain good health”. My aim is to compile and help you to understand the healthcare information that we have and be able to put that information to good use. Understanding and implementing these habits and lifestyles cannot happen without understanding and education. Therefore, I hope to arm you with the knowledge that is needed to make informed decisions about your health.