How do you like your coffee? With butter? And some oil? Apparently, bulletproof coffee is what the celebs are having – instead of breakfast – to shed some superfluous body weight. Not surprisingly, social media buffs are in love with the magic potion. There’s a “small” problem though – the fad diet can actually harm your body. Here’s what the experts say.

As we come to the end of January 2024, it’s a good time to take stock of the month that was. Let’s start with some good news, shall we? There’s a decline in the number of tobacco users globally, finds the latest WHO tobacco trends report.

Alas, there’s no decline in the deluge of health misinformation that continues to pose massive public health challenges globally. The CDC reported a 10-year low in routine childhood vaccination rates in 2023 in the US, putting around 250,000 kindergartners at risk for measles. The culprits? Vaccine hesitancy due to the growing misinformation on vaccines.

For all those who (wrongly) believe that misleading, unscientific health information on social media is “not such a big deal”, this is a wakeup call. Smell the coffee! Health misinformation is injurious to health. It can cause serious harm, and kill people too.

So, even the seemingly innocuous claims, lacking scientific evidence, need to be called out. No, that viral DIY vagus nerve massage cannot cure your anxiety. Also, you don’t need to walk 10,000 steps a day to stay fit. Intensity matters, based on one’s health condition.

An interesting new study finds that exercising more, specifically doing moderate to vigorous physical activity, can help people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The benefits of exercise, in the study, were more pronounced in older patients, women, non-smokers, and those with certain health issues.

At First Check, we believe that these facts matter because health matters. It’s essential to empower people to think critically. To ask the right questions. To verify every claim. To make informed health decisions.

Whether the concern is about a niggling thyroid issue or ramifications of climate change, knowledge is power. Let’s exchange ideas. Perhaps, we’ll be surprised by what we learn. (Like our male colleagues who discussed common women’s health issues.)

“Raise your words, not voice,” said the Rumi, the Sufi mystic and poet. “It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder.”

Your words matter. You can reach us via email, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. In case you would like us to verify any health-related claims, WhatsApp us on +91 9311 223145.

First Check Diaries, the monthly newsletter of First Check, is now a fortnightly. Along with our experts taking us through their inspiring health fact-checking journeys, we’ll also have a monthly round-up of stories that informed, engaged, and moved us in abundant ways. You can read all our stories at https://firstcheck.in/