The Daily Circuit

When does the latest health study matter?

11:15 AM, April 16, 2012

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Every day a new study comes out that says something is good for you, bad for you or debunks conventional wisdom concerning your health. Managing health information can become very confusing when taking in conflicting studies or reports. So how do we understand these studies in the first place? What should we really believe when we read about the next study proclaiming a breakthrough?

We wanted to know more about navigating research about our health after reading "Meet the Active Couch Potato" in the New York Times Well blog. What research should we believe?

Timothy Caulfield, research director of the Health Law and Science Policy Group at University of Alberta and author of "The Cure for Everything," will join The Daily Circuit. He said it's best to be wary of any reports about the effectiveness of detox diets, cleanses or "breakthroughs."

Your best bets for health? Exercise, eat properly and don't smoke, Caulfield said.

Jane Brody, personal health columnist for the New York Times, will also join the discussion.

KERRI'S TAKEAWAY

It's not enough to just read a headline and first paragraph of a story about a new study.

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