HN Explorer

Ask HN: Where do you get your health news?

15 points by lawgimenez ↗ HN
What articles, blogs or newsletters do you subscribe to for health news? That is like reliable with studies and all that. I’m approaching my 40s, and it seems every week there is something small painful going somewhere in my body. Thanks!

18 comments

[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 20.4 ms ] thread
ant6n
From hacker news? Where else!
paulcole
Why do you want health news? Do you really think there’s going to be some magic article that’s so revolutionary and important that you’re going to miss it if you don’t read the secret health news blog?

It’s all just going to be the same old stuff repeated until you die. Eat this — no wait, don’t eat this. Lift weights — no wait, don’t lift weights. This causes cancer — no wait, that causes cancer. This will make you healthier — no wait, this will make you sicker.

dharmab
Most published research is wrong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42QuXLucH3Q

I usually check the UK NHS website for general information that has been reproduced consistently, and talk to a doctor for anything more specific.

This about how poorly technology and law news is reported. Health news is _even worse_.

philippgerard
I quite like examine.com for a seemingly independent “audit” of health- and supplement-related data. It’s not perfect but the database of knowledge is growing and their business model seems more aligned with my interests than with those groups often funding biased research.
mo_42
I simply don't as health news is mostly noise.

I guess the largest health effect comes from exercise, stable/low blood sugar, no alcohol, enough sleep.

dharmab
+ no tobacco + calories in <= calories used
stevekemp
Honestly I don't care about "health news". I care about my own health - if something feels off, or wrong, I'd visit a doctor.

But I've spent too many years reading (bad) summaries of publications and studies to stop taking them seriously. One year it's "eggs are bad, cholesterol is bad", the next it's "eggs are good, eat more".

Sure we're learning new things, and we're making a lot of advances across multiple areas, but at the end of the day none of that matters too much unless the actual "research" becomes something that can be given to an actual human.

austin-cheney
As someone older I can say that with no inhalants, no alcohol, and daily running I have no body aches.
seanthemon
In my late 20s and i've made way down your path, dropped all inhalants and brought running into my life. It feels like hell, but your comment shows me there's payoff at the end, thank you!
dotcoma
If it feels like hell, imho you’re doing something wrong.
seanthemon
Tell me you've never made significant lifestyle changes without telling me...

Edit: downvoting me is a coward move.

dotcoma
Why should I downvote you?

Not even sure I understand your comment.

In any case, I have made significant lifestyle changes. I just don’t believe in the “no pain, no gain” mindset. Push yourself, but not so hard that it feels like hell - this is my 2 cents’ worth.

mortallywounded
I forget about news for health. Focus on the basics.

1. Eat clean. Keep carbs low.

2. Eat within a small window every day (12-2pm).

3. Exercise five days a week (daily running 5k).

4. Strength training on weekends.

That's it.

d4rkp4ttern
An interesting question is, if there is a book/article that references studies, does that mean it’s correct? E.g I’m reading Benjamin Bikman’s Why we Get Sick (how insulin resistance is at the root of many problems, and how a low carb high fat diet can prevent it). Lots of scientific articles referenced. Makes it more believable but obviously we can’t judge the correctness of those articles themselves.
longitudinal93
Podcasts; especially Andrew Huberman, Peter Atria & ZDoggMD.
lnwlebjel
I'm a huge fan of Peter Attia's the Drive podcast which I learned about on HN. Scan the archive for a topic of interest, they are almost all good.

He's an MD, former surgeon, with a background in math and an appropriately skeptical point of view when in comes to health news. He isn't one, but he would be a very good scientist as he understands very well the methods of science.