How Do You Really Know What's Healthy for You?
Understanding Health Information & Tips for Smarter Daily Decisions
Hey gym besties!
First and foremost, I’m sorry for the long silence. The past couple of months have been extremely busy for me personally. My priority with these newsletters is to provide real, tangible, and valuable information and I haven’t had the capacity to sit and write a meaningful newsletter in a couple of months. The last thing I want is to fill your inbox with fluff so I decided to combine June & July’s newsletters into ONE BIG SUMMER NEWSLETTER to talk about a topic that has been heavily on my mind: health information.
Many of you know that last month I went to Aspen to attend a public health conference where one of the main topics was health information. Since then, I’ve been ruminating on what individuals need to know in order to make informed decisions about their health on a regular basis.
I got my master’s in public health because I am a firm believer that it is primarily the responsibility of our systems to make sure we are primed to make informed decisions about how to live a good life.
I believe that our government should invest in public health and infrastructure systems that protect us from harm and promote healthy behaviors and communities. That can look like a lot of different things: good weather technology that helps us predict and stay safe from natural disasters; sustainable food systems that make it affordable and accessible for everyone to eat fresh fruits and vegetables; roads, sidewalks, and parks that make it easy for people to get around their cities and spend time outdoors. While you may not think of weather technology as a “public health issue,” it contributes to our individual and communal wellbeing.
The truth is, we all exist within these systems and we all have to make choices every day that contribute to our health and wellbeing. We decide whether or not to exercise, we grocery shop for a healthy diet, we follow treatment plans for our sicknesses. And in an era where social media is a primary source of information for many people and the rise of AI and algorithms makes it so that we are flooded with information about how to make those choices, I personally believe it is critical to be informed about how to interpret outside information and make informed decisions about what is best for you.
So let’s talk about how to get good health information, understand what’s right for you, and translate that into life habits that stick.
How Do You Understand Your Own Health?
Health isn't just what your Fitbit says or what’s trending on TikTok. It’s how you feel in your body over time, how you work & rest, how often you move, how you recover from stress, and how supported you feel in your daily habits.
Understanding your own health starts with:
Listening inward: Learning to listen to your body is a skill and takes time. Start by noticing how you feel after meals, movement, and stress.
Zooming out: Your lifestyle, access to resources, and cultural identity all influence what’s realistic and right for you. As your routine evolves, pay attention to how these factors influence your decisions about exercise, diet, social relationships, and stress management.
Staying flexible: Health information is always evolving. Things that were considered “best practices” 20 years ago may not apply anymore. And what’s right for your neighbor may not be right for you. One key element of making healthy choices is knowing the “right” solution may change overtime. It’s okay to change your approach as you learn.
How Do You Navigate Your Health Environment?
We’ve all had the experience of going down a Google rabbit hole to diagnose our random symptom or being bombarded by the next fitness trend every time we open an app. Unfortunately, not everything you find online is accurate, up-to-date, or even written by experts. As a public health nerd (& practitioner) I am huge on making sure I am making informed decisions based on real, factual information. I also know it can be hard to decipher which content falls into that category, so here are a few tips:
When you’re looking for trustworthy health info, skip the clickbait and start with organizations whose entire mission is public health, research, and education.
Here are some credible places to turn to:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): From vaccines to chronic disease to mental health, the CDC is a pillar of evidence-based public health information. Their experts write the national guidelines for exercise recommendations, nutrition needs, etc. to live a basically healthy life.
American Heart Association: Focused on heart health, nutrition, physical activity, and cardiovascular disease. The AHA offers health information along with practical tips for preventing heart-related disease.
National Institutes of Health (NIH): Offers research-backed info on nearly every health condition and wellness topic you can imagine. The NIH employs scientists that do key health research and funds projects that drive health innovation across the country. Their publications are peer-reviewed and based on evidence.
American Public Health Association (APHA): A strong resource for health equity, community health, and understanding the social factors that affect well-being.
American Council on Exercise (ACE): Great for up-to-date strength training guidance and fitness education grounded in science.
Additionally, there is some good information on social media. Here are a few people I follow and trust to share evidence-based, science-backed information about exercise, nutrition, and the public health landscape:
Katelyn Jetelina, Your Local Epidemiologist: public health practitioner and expert who shares data-driven information about everything from COVID-19 vaccines to Medicaid cuts.
Jessica Knurick, PhD Nutrition Science: public health nutritionist who breaks down basic food science and nutrition concepts as well as provides context for current nutrition science guidelines (think FDA & MAHA developments)
Brett Contreras, The Glute Guy: exercise science expert and PhDin biomechanics. Inventor of the barbell hip thrust who shares scientific research-backed tips on optimizing your workouts for your goals.
When I am deciphering what information I can trust via the “algorithm,” some things I consider are:
What are this person’s credentials and how are they relevant to the information they are sharing?
Who have they/do they work with to gather and share information? Are they paid or sponsored by organizations with conflicts of interest?*
How transparent are they? Do they list their sources? Are those sources reputable and widely cited?
How do they share information? Do they rely on fear mongering or click-bait? Do they explain topics in depth and clearly? Do they try to influence my decision making?
*in this case, an organization with a conflict of interest would be any entity with incentives to sell you products or information that drive their profits, which may or may not be aligned with individual health interests (for example: a health influencer who shares basic nutrition tips but is sponsored by Kellogg might have a conflict of interest because they are paid to promote Kellogg products, regardless of whether the products meet general nutrition guidelines)
How do you build a better, smarter relationship with your health environment?
So how do you turn this into action? Here are 3 practical ways to support your health daily:
1. Build a Trusted Team
Health isn’t a solo mission. When I became a fitness instructor, I learned that I have a scope and that I exist within an ecosystem of health practitioners who each have a “lane” or area of expertise. The same applies for you. You may be a genius in marketing but know nothing about cardiovascular health - that’s okay and that’s what your “team” is for. Find a PCP (primary care doctor) that you trust to cure your medical issues, find a trainer and nutritionist that you trust to build your workout plan and diet, find a therapist that you trust to support your mental health. This group will become the trusted team that can help you go from just okay to thriving. Creating a crew of reliable voices will help break things down in a way that’s informed, not fear-based.
2. Filter Advice Through Your Reality
Not every health trend is meant for everyone. Just because something is “healthy” in theory doesn’t mean it’s right for your body, your budget, your culture, or your season of life. The information you take in is meant to be a guide, not a rule book. Combining health literacy with self-awareness will help you find the sweet spot of incorporating new learnings and sticking to what’s doable for your life. When in doubt, lean on your trusted team to have open conversations about how their advice applies to your life circumstances, where to expand your horizons, and where to push back.
3. Turn Information Into Micro-Actions
Change happens when you put learning into action. Just because you see “ways to improve your life” online doesn’t mean you need to overhaul your existing habits in one day. If you’re looking to improve your routine, try making what you learn bite-sized. Start with one new recipe, one walk outside, or one deep breath before bed, and focus on building momentum instead of pressure. Remember we want longevity and prosperity, not just “quick fixes”!
Your Health, Your Terms
No routine is perfect, and unfortunately there’s no “one-size-fits-all.” But you can and should feel informed, empowered, and excited about how you take care of yourself. Every day is a chance to learn something new about yourself and respond with love and curiosity.
And remember: I’m here to be part of your “trusted team” whenever you need guidance, accountability, or a fresh workout plan.
