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To find out more about what's actually healthy and what's not, we got in touch with Kevin Pho, MD. He was kind enough to have a chat with Bored Panda and break down which trends we should be avoiding.
"One common trend is the overuse of supplements," the expert shared. "Many people assume that because something is labeled 'natural,' it’s automatically safe and beneficial. But too much of certain vitamins or minerals—like vitamin D or iron—can actually be harmful."
"Another example is extreme dieting or detoxes," Dr. Pho continued. "These often promise quick results but can disrupt metabolism, gut health, and even mental well-being."
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No, pain is you damaging your body in a bad way. It's okay to be sore after exercise, but at no point should there be any pain.
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So why is there so much confusion about what's healthy and what's not?
"The health information landscape is incredibly fragmented. On one side, you have doctors and scientists trying to communicate evidence-based recommendations," Dr. Pho explained. "On the other, you have influencers, celebrities, and companies promoting products and lifestyles that often prioritize profit or virality over science. Add in constantly evolving research—sometimes with conflicting results—and it’s no wonder people feel overwhelmed."
"Also, let’s be honest: fear and hope sell. A message that says 'eat more vegetables and walk every day' isn’t as flashy as 'this superfood will change your life,'" the expert continued. "But the former is what actually helps. The challenge is getting people to see through the noise."
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I’m not talking about general outdoor lifestyles (we all need Vitamin D), but the dedicated pursuit of a tan.
There is a cultural heritage in the UK where burning to a crisp on the beach/by the pool with no sun cream (or just low factor/oils) was a sign of social status when you got home and showed off your melanin infused skin (or even a nice bit of UV radiation scarring) in the pub or office.
“Look at my blistered arms, I can afford two weeks in Spain!”,
At best this is damaging your largest organ and prematurely aging your appearance, at worst you are drastically increasing your chance of melanoma skin cancer, but is somehow seen as wholesome and worthy of envy.
It’s sunny here today for once though, so I’m getting my shirt off!!
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We also asked the doctor for advice on how to spot what's simply a harmful fad or trend. "Start by asking: What’s the evidence? Who’s behind this claim, and do they stand to profit? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," he told Bored Panda. "Talk to your primary care physician. They know your medical history and can help you assess whether something is right for you."
"You can also look at reputable sources—like the CDC, Mayo Clinic, or trusted medical journals," Dr. Pho continued. "On KevinMD.com, I try to spotlight voices from the front lines—clinicians who share what really works with patients, not just what’s trending."
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In fact, most healthy people don't need IV vitamins/nutrients and it can actually cause infections, or worse - electrolyte derangements and k**l them!
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Thankfully more and more women are receptive to the education that this is often more harmful than helpful.
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It´s good to get off cigs, but not the best replacement?
"Give yourself permission to slow down. Health isn’t about extremes—it’s about sustainable habits. Walk more. Sleep well. Eat real food. Build relationships. Those don’t make headlines, but they build resilience. And that’s what real wellness looks like," Dr. Pho added. "And finally, don’t underestimate the power of asking questions. Whether it's your doctor, a pharmacist, or a credible online source—get curious. Empowered patients make better choices."
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No, conditioning yourself to just shut up and bottle your feelings when you’re upset over something that was “just a joke” is not healthy.
I’m not saying there will never be times where you feel upset by something that maybe shouldn’t have upset you, but instead of shoving those feelings down where they’ll get packed in like gunpowder ready to go off later, explore *why* you feel upset. Sometimes, it’s legitimate; somebody was mean to you and wanted to gaslight you into thinking you’re the problem so they could get away with it. Other times, you’re having a response based on your trauma/social conditioning and you have to treat it kind of like a phobia; an irrational response that you have to learn how to manage and communicate to others, with a reminder to yourself that nobody is trying to hurt you.
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Using Chili's to illustrate this point.
-The quesadilla explosion salad is 1,420 calories and 99g of fat.
-The surf and turf 10oz sirloin, shrimp, mashed potatoes, and broccoli is 750 calories and 33g fat
(sirloin and shrimp 450cal + mashed potatoes 260cal + broccoli 40cal) (Fat is 20g+13g+0g) nutrition info was sourced from Chili's website.
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Also people are so scared of scientific names. Like sodium is so scary to them when it’s just salt. They panic when they see acids in the ingredients. Thinking it’s toxic because acid. When lemons are acidic. Also just because something has a shorter ingredient list does not mean it’s healthier. Also from what I’ve heard European food labels don’t have to include as much infromation as ameircan ones and can often say stuff like “spices” and not name it. And can use more common vs scientific names for stuff. But I may be wrong about that. But a lot of people use that fact for fear mongering.
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