CONNECT WITH US
HealthTech

HealthTech

From green smoothies to stem‑cell supplements—online 'immune‑boosting' ideas may lead you astray

Medical Xpress logo

Published on

Add as a preferred source on Google
From green smoothies to stem‑cell supplements—online 'immune‑boosting' ideas may lead you astray

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

We all want a well-functioning immune system to help us fight invasive bacteria and viruses and recover faster from illness. Popular "immune-boosting" ideas, however, might be more of a hindrance than a help.

Immune boosting is an online trend. Content producers share immune-boosting recipes—from smoothies to soups to poke bowls and pumpkin loaves. Nutrition books speak of "super powered immunity" while naturopathic clinics share immune-boosting "tips."

The "boosting" phrase has become so commonplace that it frequently appears in health content from reputable academic institutions.

The COVID-19 pandemic—more so than ever in recent memory—had the public thinking hard about immunity. As interdisciplinary public health researchers studying the influential forces that shape public perceptions, we took notice of the rise of immune-boosting discourse during this time. We researched the trending concept in Google search results and on social media sites like Instagram.

We found it to be problematic in two ways: First, content often presents scientific inaccuracies about how the immune system functions; second, it showcases corporations that push ineffective products or services. At a time when trust in evidence-based interventions like vaccines is on shaky ground, this can lead to negative outcomes for our health.

Not all immunity-boosting content is inaccurate or harmful. Information from research or medical organizations often focuses on healthy eating, exercising , getting proper sleep and avoiding the harms of tobacco and alcohol .


Source link
Related Topics:HealthTech

Disclaimer

We strive to uphold the highest ethical standards in all of our reporting and coverage. We TheMorningPulse.fyi want to be transparent with our readers about any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in our work. It's possible that some of the investors we feature may have connections to other businesses, including competitors or companies we write about. However, we want to assure our readers that this will not have any impact on the integrity or impartiality of our reporting. We are committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news and information to our audience, and we will continue to uphold our ethics and principles in all of our work. Thank you for your trust and support.