9 Biggest Lies In Wellness

Whether activating your glutes or your almonds, the struggle to decipher #fitspo fact from fiction is real. Between social media influencers, Reddit zealots and that pushy guy at the supplement store, some seriously ridiculous – and potentially dangerous – ideas have moved from fringe theory to health gospel. It doesn’t help that the booming wellness industry, worth an estimated $4.5 trillion, is difficult to regulate. So to help you navigate these heavily filtered waters, here are the new health virtues that shouldn’t be – and a few simple tactics you can use to actually improve your life.

- Alice Oglethorpe

1 Eating Activated Charcoal is a Smart Way to Detox

The claim: The charcoal in ink-coloured cakes, soft-serve cones and lemonade will remove toxins.

The truth: “Activated charcoal is used in emergency rooms for people who have been poisoned, but charcoal smoothies or charcoal whatever isn’t going to detox your body,” says nutritionist Abby Langer. Your liver handles toxins. Besides, activated charcoal can interfere with certain meds.

TRY THIS: Treat your liver right by reducing booze consumption and by nourishing it with minimally processed foods.

2 Swishing Oil Can Help Your Teeth and Breath

The claim: Using a tablespoon of oil – most often coconut – like mouthwash for about 20 minutes pulls out toxins. This helps whiten teeth, prevents cavities and freshens breath.

The truth: That’s a long time to do something that’s too unconvincing for dental authorities to recommend.

TRY THIS: The Australian Health Policy Collaboration’s recent Oral Health Tracker revealed that only half of Australians brush their teeth twice daily, and 90 per cent of adults have some form of tooth decay, so invest your time into a regular brushing and flossing regimen instead. Cool?

3 X, Y or Z Food Prevents Cancer

The claim: A study reports that a fill-in-the-blank superfood fights the Big C.

The truth: No single food will end cancer. And these studies tend to “involve taking some extract from a fruit or vegetable and injecting it into mice,” says Dr Saad Khan,an assistant professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.