Half of What is On the Internet is False

“Half of what you get from the Internet is false.”

I heard or read someone say this, and the truth of it came home to me recently (and from a book, not the Web).

I have been struggling with acid reflux, and had just read in an email to take apple cider vinegar 20-30 minutes before a meal.

Well, it turns out that this commonly touted remedy is not good advice at all, according to Dr. Jamie Koufman, author of Dr. Koufman’s Acide Relux Diet and numerous other books. Dr. Koufman is one of the world’s leading authorities on acid reflux, is the founder and director of the Voice Institute of New York, and is Clinical Professor of Otorlaryngology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary Mt. Sinaai.

Photo by Mia Stern

I got several of her books from the library and Amazon. According to Dr. Koufman, it’s a common misconception that apple cider vinegar is good for acid reflux. Lemon juice is also bad (I was drinking a ginger tea with both apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, based on information that these would “detoxify” me).

Other misconceptions: some people don’t have enough stomach acid; and some acidic foods become alkaline in the body, and some alkaline foods become acidic in the body. In fact, anything that is acidic is bad for acid reflux. The acid activates pepsin, which is destructive to throat tissue. All of these misconceptions I had acted upon—and now I’m reaping the consequences! (I was taking Betaine HCI with pepsin under the notion that I didn’t have enough stomach acid to close the laryngeal esophageal sphincter so that the stomach acid could not reflux.)

One thing I really like about Dr. Koufman’s books is that she’s wary of medications like PPIs, which I was prescribed by a doctor to take for at least 12 weeks. (The package insert says not to take them for more than 2 weeks.) Dr. Koufman’s approach is mostly diet and lifestyle. She also has some really helpful questionnaires in her book, The Chronic Cough Enigma, which have helped me to diagnose what I think is going on. I will take this to my ENT doctor next week. I’m hoping she will be open to Dr. Koufman’s approach.

The good news for me is that as I quit these “wrong” foods and supplements, adopt a diet and lifestyle that will help me heal (Koufman makes a big deal about not eating past 6pm), there is hope that I can conquer this troublesome condition. I am also, of course, approaching it from an energetic/emotional perspective, healing the heart issues that are causing stress, which exacerbates the physical.

Photo by Jon Tyson

The lesson for all of us, too, is to check the facts. Become informed! Information is power, and when you feel empowered, you feel less afraid.

And you are less controllable.

The Internet is wonderful in that many true experts get exposure, but . . . half of what’s on the Internet is false. Perhaps more. I’m learning to always check the sources, and their credentials.

In today’s world, it seems we have to do that about everything we hear or see, and be super discerning. I try very hard to make sure that what I pass on to you is accurate, but I’m sure I’m not always right.

I encourage you to pray for discernment about everything. God cares about every aspect of our lives, and he knows our body better than we (or any doctor) do, and promises to give us wisdom as needed. I am thankful that as I prayed about how to deal with my health issue, I was led to the right people and right information.

This applies to more than health advice. Politics readily comes to mind. . . . Are your opinions taken from actually hearing leaders speak, in context, or what others (usually the other side) say about the person? Or what they cherry-pick to show the opponent in a particularly bad light?

(At least) half of what you hear or see on the Internet is false.

And if we’re talking social media—that figure is probably 90%.

That’s why you won’t see me on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. If I wanted to be on social media, I’d have to keep up with how it works. I simply have better things to do with my time and emotional energy.

So do you. . . .