It's doing more harm than good. As I shared in this reel on Instagram earlier in the week, it's not only influencers spreading misinformation. Even trusted health professionals can spread bad information about how to manage common menopause symptoms, including body changes. This was the message that landed in my inbox:
It's bad enough that women often don't feel prepared for menopause (up to 80% of people under 40 in the UK according to this research ), we don't need to make menopause any harder by allowing bad advice to masquerade as healthcare guidance.
How to Spot Misinformation
While not specific to menopause or nutrition, these guidelines can help you filter information online and offline:
- Watch for polarizing language: The message above is full of examples, but words like only, always and never are big tip-offs.
- Authority bias: An expert in one area of health does not automatically translate into expertise in all areas of health. A general surgeon is undoubtedly a skilled health professional, but you probably wouldn't want one to perform a root canal, right? Check credentials and training before assuming that all healthcare professionals are qualified to give advice, especially about nutrition.
- Look for intent: Money is obvious, but "likes and shares" are a close second. Anyone who uses social media for their business may try to get the algorithm's attention by sharing shock-worthy information. When in doubt - ask for references!
💡 But here's my best tip ...ask yourself this question:
Will this information make your relationship with food and your body feel eaiser, or more complicated?
If you want some help, I'm hosting a 5-Day Ditch the Diet Mentality Challenge this October as part of Menopause Awareness Month. Along with 5 daily email prompts, you'll get FREE full access to my most popular course - The Midlife & Menopause Un-Dieters Guide to Intuitive Eating and join a live Q&A.
We get started on October 1st, so click below to save your spot!
What's New on The Podcast?
The new season of The Midlife Feast kicked off this week with a brand new solo episode on 3 reasons I want you to lean into menopause.
Since the episode dropped on Monday, I realize that not everyone interprets "lean in" the way I do, so I'd love to hear what you think when you hear "lean in". Drop your comment here at the bottom of the page or on YouTube.
Which brings me to the other thing that's new! You can now watch the podcast on YouTube. We'll add episodes every Monday and Thursday, so I'd love for you to check out the channel.
While I promise to never say "smash that subscribe button" (IYKYK), my kids do get a kick out of seeing the subscriber count go up (slowly). 😂
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A New Recipe for Soup Season
The weather is still quite warm here in The Netherlands, but it's cooled down enough to spark my seasonal soup cravings.
I hope you enjoy this Roasted Red Pepper and Lentil Soup!
That's all for now,
Jenn
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