Sara Gorman - Fact or fiction? Which health studies should we believe?

The specter of so-called fake news is omnipresent these days. Headlines are scrutinized more than ever. We can never be quite sure that the facts behind them are actual facts or a distorted truth. It is a worrying trend that has plagued the world of health news for some time. Sifting through the plethora of new studies, to find reliable and useful information, can be daunting and demoralizing. Dr. Sara Gorman is a public health and mental health expert, based in New York. Her first book, Denying to the Grave: Why We Ignore the Facts That Will Save Us, explores the psychology behind irrational health beliefs and decisions. It also includes tips for the general public on how to discriminate between valid and invalid science. Sara is also a co-founder of Critica, a community committed to making rational decisions about health and security. In this in-depth interview, recorded at TED MED 2017, in California, Sara explains why we often have difficulty challenging long-held beliefs about our health; the tactics she uses to filter new scientific studies and how she views claims about nutrition habits that are tied to longevity claims.Support the showThe Live Long and Master Aging (LLAMA) podcast, a HealthSpan Media LLC production, shares ideas but does not offer medical advice.  If you have health concerns of any kind, or you are considering adopting a new diet or exercise regime, you should consult your doctor.