Can you trust health news? | Mayo Clinic Health Matters Podcast

Should you trust that viral health headline? What about a TikTok video, a podcast clip or an AI-generated answer? In this episode of Health Matters, registered dietitian Joy Heimgartner explains how health information travels from scientific studies to news headlines, social media feeds and AI summaries — and how important details can get lost along the way. Learn how to evaluate health claims, identify red flags in nutrition and wellness advice, and understand why a single study rarely tells the whole story. Joy also explains how misinformation spreads online, why we're naturally drawn to certain health claims, and what trusted sources can help you make informed decisions about your health. In this episode: • How scientific studies become health headlines • Common red flags of health misinformation • Why viral nutrition advice can be misleading • How social media algorithms amplify health myths • What AI gets right — and wrong — about health information • Why peer-reviewed research matters • How to evaluate studies like a health professional • Where to find trustworthy medical guidelines • How to discuss misinformation with friends and family • Tips for making evidence-based health decisions Whether you're researching nutrition, supplements, cancer prevention, heart health, diabetes or the latest wellness trend, this episode will help you separate fact from fiction and make sense of today's overwhelming health information landscape. Looking for more Health Matters episodes? Explore the full podcast library: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/podcas... 1:33 Why health misinformation spreads 3:48 Emotional triggers and misleading headlines 6:36 How repetition shapes beliefs 8:12 Common ways misinformation takes hold 9:36 How to evaluate health studies 12:28 What makes a study trustworthy 17:23 Red flags of junk science 19:32 Finding reliable health information 23:07 AI and health misinformation risks 27:22 Applying health information safely 31:10 Handling advice from friends and family 33:37 How to reduce misinformation online 35:53 Final thoughts on curiosity and skepticism37:20 Key takeaways and practical advice 38:56 Episode wrap-up and resources