551 Health claim verifications avg. score 5.1/10 219 rated (mostly) true 266 rated (mostly) false
“People who play racket sports live longer than people who do not play racket sports.”
Large cohort studies and meta-analyses consistently find that people who play racket sports have lower mortality and often longer estimated life expectancy than non-players. However, the evidence is observational, not experimental, so it cannot prove that racket sports themselves are the reason. The statement is broadly accurate as an observed pattern, but it slightly overstates certainty if read as cause and effect.
“Psilobalsam provides faster symptom relief than Dermodrin for insect bites and itching.”
The claim is not supported by the evidence. No reliable clinical studies or product documents show that Psilobalsam relieves insect-bite symptoms faster than Dermodrin, and the cited literature does not provide comparative onset-of-action data between them. Any suggestion of superiority rests on mechanism or marketing, not demonstrated clinical evidence.
“When the environmental pH decreases from 9 to 8, certain amino acid residues in pancreatic lipase bind slightly more hydrogen ions, causing a small charge change that alters the active site's shape or binding affinity and slightly reduces the enzyme's efficiency at binding fat.”
The mechanism described is broadly real, but the specific takeaway is not well supported. Pancreatic lipase activity often peaks around pH 8 or within a nearby alkaline range, so lowering pH from 9 to 8 does not generally imply a slight loss of fat-binding efficiency and may instead leave activity unchanged or improve it. The claim mixes a correct principle with an unsupported direction of effect.
“On average, McDonald's hamburgers have a worse overall nutrition score than the average fast-food hamburger sold in the United States.”
The claim is not supported by the evidence. No cited high-quality source establishes an average U.S. fast-food hamburger nutrition score or shows McDonald’s falling below it on a defined composite measure. The limited direct comparisons available more often suggest McDonald’s basic hamburgers are average or relatively better than many competitors, not worse overall.
“The timing of sexual intercourse relative to ovulation can increase a couple's chances of conceiving a male or female baby.”
Available evidence does not support using intercourse timing to influence whether a baby will be male or female. The best studies and reviews find no meaningful or reliable effect, and popular methods such as Shettles are not backed by strong clinical evidence. A few papers report tiny statistical shifts, but they are inconsistent and too small to make timing a practical sex-selection method.
“Normal whole-gut transit time in humans is 24–72 hours.”
The claim reflects a common clinical shorthand, but the evidence does not support 24–72 hours as a single definitive normal range for all humans. Multiple credible sources accept about 72 hours as a normal upper limit, yet research sources report normal whole-gut transit can be well under 24 hours and varies by test method and population. The practical takeaway is that 24–72 hours is an approximation, not a universal standard.
“Coffee consumption stunts human growth (reduces height growth).”
Available evidence does not support the idea that drinking coffee reduces human height growth. Clinical guidance from major pediatric and medical sources treats this as a debunked myth, and studies in adolescents have not shown lower height growth from caffeine intake. Caffeine can still be a problem for children and teens because it can disrupt sleep and cause other health effects, but that is different from stunting height.
“Pharmaceutical companies have promoted the overprescription of opioid painkillers in order to increase their profits.”
Extensive evidence shows several opioid manufacturers promoted higher prescribing to increase sales and profits. That evidence includes Purdue Pharma’s federal guilty plea, congressional investigations, and peer-reviewed studies linking industry marketing and physician payments to increased opioid prescribing and overdose harm. The wording is broad, but the central claim is well supported.
“The medical prefix "cardio-" refers to the heart.”
Authoritative medical references consistently use cardio- or cardi/o to mean “heart.” A technical caveat exists because some terminology guides classify cardi/o as a combining form rather than a strict prefix. That distinction does not change the practical meaning of the claim.
“The weight-loss product marketed as "Jillian Michaels' Jelly Lean" does not work for weight loss.”
Consumers should not expect weight loss from anything sold as 'Jillian Michaels' Jelly Lean.' Jillian Michaels says the product is not real or endorsed by her, BBB records describe scam complaints, and the gummies reportedly sent to buyers contain ingredients with weak or no reliable evidence for meaningful weight loss. The main caveat is that no authentic, standardized product exists to test directly.
“Drinking hydrogen-rich water improves kidney function in people with chronic kidney disease.”
Early research suggests possible benefits, but current evidence does not show that drinking hydrogen-rich water reliably improves kidney function in people with chronic kidney disease. The strongest reviews describe the human evidence as limited and preliminary. Much of the positive evidence comes from animal studies, very small trials, or dialysis settings that do not prove benefit for the broader CKD population.
“Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners assess a person's health status by using pulse diagnosis, tongue observation, and physical examination to identify patterns of imbalance.”
The statement matches mainstream descriptions of TCM diagnosis. Authoritative sources describe pulse reading, tongue observation, and palpation/physical examination as standard tools used to identify syndromes or patterns of imbalance. The main caveat is that classical TCM diagnosis usually also includes questioning and listening/smelling, so the claim is accurate but not complete.
“In acupuncture assessment for migraine, practitioners evaluate a patient's body balance using methods such as pulse reading, tongue observation, and physical examination to identify patterns of imbalance.”
The claim accurately describes standard TCM-style acupuncture assessment for migraine. Major medical and NIH-linked sources describe acupuncturists using pulse reading, tongue observation, and physical examination to identify patterns of imbalance before treatment. The main caveat is that these steps are part of traditional diagnostic practice and are not always standardized or detailed in migraine guidelines or clinical trials.
“After an initial course of acupuncture for migraine management, maintenance acupuncture sessions are typically done monthly or as needed.”
The evidence does not support monthly or as-needed maintenance acupuncture as a typical post-course schedule for migraine. Stronger sources describe the initial treatment course and possible durable benefit, but do not identify a standard maintenance frequency. Some clinics recommend monthly or flexible booster visits, yet those suggestions are individualized practice advice rather than an established norm in the medical literature.
“Acupuncture sessions for migraine treatment typically last 45–60 minutes, including consultation time.”
The core claim is supported: reputable migraine guidance says acupuncture visits commonly run about an hour and include consultation or assessment time. Shorter durations in many studies usually refer only to needle-retention time, not the full appointment. The main caveat is that “45–60 minutes” is a narrower range than the best sources directly establish, and real-world visit length varies by clinic and visit type.
“Acupuncture is used both for migraine prevention (reducing future migraine attack frequency) and for relief during an active migraine attack.”
Available evidence supports both parts of the claim. Acupuncture is well studied as a preventive option for migraine, with multiple systematic reviews showing reduced attack frequency. It has also been used during active migraine attacks in trials and some clinical settings, although the acute-use evidence is much smaller and it is not a standard first-line abortive treatment.
“Only two of seven triptan medicines available globally are publicly funded in New Zealand: sumatriptan and rizatriptan.”
Current New Zealand evidence supports the claim. PHARMAC’s schedule and decision records show that only sumatriptan and rizatriptan are publicly funded, while the other five triptan medicines used globally are not subsidised in New Zealand. Older sources about availability or approval do not rebut this, because they address access rather than public funding.
“In New Zealand, funded sumatriptan and funded rizatriptan are available at the standard prescription co-payment of about NZ$5 for people with a Community Services Card.”
The evidence does not support this statement. Official New Zealand sources indicate Community Services Card holders generally pay no co-payment for fully subsidised prescriptions from publicly funded or approved providers, not “about NZ$5.” In addition, the materials provided directly support funded sumatriptan but do not directly verify funded rizatriptan.
“Consuming caffeine via energy drinks is worse for health than consuming an equivalent amount of caffeine via coffee.”
The evidence indicates that energy drinks generally cause more adverse acute cardiovascular effects than the same amount of caffeine from coffee. Randomized trials show larger changes in blood pressure and electrical heart measures after energy drinks, including one direct caffeine-matched coffee comparison. But the claim is broader than the evidence: most studies are short-term, use surrogate markers, and do not prove worse overall or long-term health outcomes in every circumstance.
“A recommended initial course of 6–10 sessions at clinics in Auckland, New Zealand, typically totals NZ$480–NZ$1,400 before any maintenance sessions.”
The stated total is not a reliable typical range for Auckland clinics as a whole. Better-sourced Auckland therapy pricing shows many mainstream professional services already cost about NZ$1,350–NZ$1,680 for 6 sessions, exceeding the claim's upper limit. The range can fit some lower-cost wellness, counselling, or cosmetic packages, but the claim omits that crucial distinction and overstates how typical those prices are.