How to Spot Red Flags in Alternative Health Information

Heather Bedard, C.H.E.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck between mainstream medical advice that doesn’t feel right and alternative health rabbit holes that leave you more confused than confident — you’re not alone.

As a mom, I know how exhausting it is to wade through the ocean of health opinions out there. You want to do what’s best for your family, but who can you actually trust?

And what happens when conventional advice doesn’t align with your instincts — but the alternative space feels like it’s full of fear, extremes, or pseudoscience?

I’ve been there. That’s why I want to share two truths I’ve learned — and now teach in my Health Resources Research Coaching — that can help you evaluate health information with more peace and clarity.

These truths aren’t about picking sides. They’re about reclaiming your power to think critically, ask better questions, and find evidence-based answers that still respect your values.

Let’s get into it.

Truth #1: Just Because It’s “Alternative” Doesn’t Mean It’s Accurate

There’s a common assumption that anything labeled “natural” or “holistic” must be safer, better, or more trustworthy than conventional medicine. But the truth is — alternative doesn’t always mean accurate.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of fear-based messaging in the alternative health space. It’s easy to come across a reel or blog post that uses phrases like “doctors won’t tell you this” or “you’re being lied to,” and suddenly feel like you’re waking up to a hidden truth. While some of that mistrust is valid (many moms have had real experiences of being dismissed or misled), the pendulum can swing too far.

Here’s the problem: just like conventional medicine can cherry-pick research or oversimplify complex issues, so can alternative influencers.

Some of the loudest voices in wellness have no research training at all — they rely on anecdotal stories, overgeneralizations, or links to outdated studies that don’t prove what they claim.

That’s not to say their experiences aren’t real, but it doesn’t mean the information is reliable for you.

👉 Red flags to watch for:

• Absolute language like “always” or “never”

• Solutions that seem overly simple for complex issues

• Sources that don’t cite any evidence — or only link to themselves

You deserve more than hype and headlines. You deserve real information that respects both your body and your brain.

Truth #2: There Are Trustworthy Resources — If You Know Where to Look

Here’s the good news: You don’t have to choose between mainstream advice that feels disconnected from your lived experience and alternative content that feels ungrounded or extreme.

There is a third option — and it starts with knowing how to evaluate sources and where to find evidence-based, balanced information.

I always tell my clients: You don’t need a medical degree to find reliable research. You just need to know how the system works.

Start by looking at how someone shares information — not just what they’re saying.

Do they cite their sources? Are they open about what we know and don’t know? Do they create space for nuance and complexity, or do they oversimplify?

When in doubt, cross-reference. And always listen to both your gut and the data. If something feels off, it’s worth pausing.

You’re Not Behind — You’re Learning to Discern

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or afraid of “getting it wrong” when it comes to health decisions, I want you to hear this: it’s not your fault. The system wasn’t built to help moms feel empowered — it was built to get us to comply.

But you are not powerless. You can learn how to discern without spiraling into fear. You can take in research without losing your intuition. And you can find a rhythm that respects your values, your time, and your brain.

That’s exactly why I created my Health Resources Research Coaching — to support moms like you in finding clarity when it comes to your family’s health decisions. Together, we can research smarter (not harder) and cut through the noise so you can move forward with confidence.

Here with you on the journey,

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