I encourage research and learning

schmidty13

In the fitness/health realm there is often a blur between opinion and fact-based guidance. The following is an example of how this happens.

According to livestrong.com, arguably a respectable source of information, certain fruits can help with bloating. http://www.livestrong.com/article/532882-fruits-that-help-with-bloating/
Lets take watermelon, as mentioned in the article, as an example.
"Watermelon is another water-rich fruit that can act as a diuretic. Watermelon typically contains approximately 92 percent water. Because its water level is so high, watermelon can be used to flush out toxins perhaps causing bloating. The fruit also is loaded with antioxidants, including lycopene, beta carotene and citrulline. Researchers suspect that citrulline may help relax blood vessels and play an important role in circulation and for the heart. Lycopene is also important because it protects the heart, prostate and is essential to skin health."
Livestrong does a good job listing references to support their article. By clicking the links, it is quickly discovered that the watermelon statement regarding bloating is sourced from an article posted on marieclaire.com, written by an editor who now works for PopSugar, and contains no references so support the information provided. The mention of relaxing blood vessels and such comes from a Science Daily article, which actually cites its sources, but has nothing to do with bloating. Actually, it is an article written to discuss watermelon's potential for Viagra-like effects. Of these to cited sources, I would tend to be more interested in the latter, yet the former was used for its ability to support the premise of the article.

I encourage fellow MFP members to remember that when someone posts their opinion on a topic here and will not or can not substantiate their claims, it is just that. An opinion. I myself prefer fact/science backed data, others prefer heresay and anecdotes. There are many wonderful people here that can help guide you, and just as many that may send you down the wrong path, even when the intention of both is to help. It is up to each of us to know how to distinguish the difference.