&Quot;Food&Quot; &Quot;Diet&Quot;

Do omega-3 capsules harm the human body by corroding it via a chemical reaction? No, that's not true: The National Institutes of Health does not describe stomach erosion as a possible side effect after consuming omega-3 pills and an expert called the claim "tenuous." The claim appeared in a Facebook post on May 22, 2022, with the caption "Pay Attention!"…

Due to recent baby formula shortages, is the U.S. military health care program Tricare shipping free baby formula to Tricare beneficiaries, based on how much the baby consumes each month? No, the information in the viral post is misleading: Only a small number of babies who have a medical need because of a metabolic disorder -- and a doctor's order…

Can HIV be reversed naturally? No, that's not true: "Unfortunately not," Dr. Monica Ghandi, an HIV and infectious disease specialist, told Lead Stories. A video with a headline making the claim about HIV never gives specific proof of how HIV can be naturally reversed. The speaker in the video only implies that boosting one's immune system could help but provides…

Does frankincense oil treat cancer? No, there's no evidence to support that: While some lab studies have shown that frankincense oil will cause cell suicide in cancer cells, there is no evidence that it can treat cancer in a human body. Australia's Cancer.org says there are a small number of studies that show that frankincense oil has an effect on…

Rather than a virus, is COVID-19 instead snake venom being used to poison people or turn them into satanic hybrids? No, that's not true: The claim is part of an elaborate conspiracy theory packed into an anti-vaccine documentary filled with falsehoods, scare tactics and religious imagery that takes viewers from the Garden of Eden to modern times. The virus that…

Does coconut oil prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease? No, that's not true: A spokesperson from the Alzheimer's Association told Lead Stories, "There isn't a single food, ingredient or supplement that -- through rigorous scientific research -- has been shown to prevent, treat or cure Alzheimer's or other dementia." A spokesperson for the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) tells Lead…

Is sunscreen bad for your skin? And did skin cancer not exist until the 20th century? No, that's not true: Two dermatologists told Lead Stories that sunscreen, chemical or mineral, is not bad for your skin. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), skin cancer is caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet rays. And Hippocrates, a Greek physician,…

Is farmed salmon poison? And is the "grey" meat of a farmed salmon dyed with artificial colors that can make people blind? No, that's not true: Salmon flesh is not gray like a battleship. Ingested and metabolized carotenoids, regardless if the fish is wild or farmed, are what cause the flesh of salmon to develop its namesake color. Canthaxanthin and…

Does mixing cinnamon and honey "cure arthritis, cancer, gallbladder, cholesterol, and 10 other diseases"? No, that's not true: A spokesperson from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told Lead Stories that this claim is "not authorized or approved." While cinnamon and honey as individual items aid in treating some medical issues, there is no evidence to suggest that a mixture…

Is xylitol, a sweetener found in some peanut butters, highly toxic to dogs? Yes, that's true: Xylitol, aka birch or wood sugar, can be deadly to dogs. In addition to some nut butters, the sweetener can be found in some sugar-free desserts, like ice cream, toothpastes and dietary supplements, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Signs of xylitol…