Sometimes, health advice can seem like it’s a dime a dozen, but how reliable is all that over-the-fence talk? If you’re looking for health information that’s reputable and trustworthy, you need to approach it like research – check your facts and use multiple sources that you trust.

Consulting a trusted source could mean speaking with your family doctor, phoning a community health help line, looking in a health encyclopedia, or researching on reputable websites. A website should reference multiple health sources and be authored by or include quotes from certified medical professionals before you consider it to be a respected and responsible resource.

There’s also an abundance of health information available on government and public health sites that you should consider both trustworthy and current. Many of these sites can also point you towards local health providers or community centers in your area if you need a face-to-face and one-on-one consultation.

The second key to finding reliable information is to use multiple sources. If you find a website that addresses your particular health issue or question, but you’re not sure about the quality of the information – try double checking that information by searching on other sites. For example, if you are researching cold remedies and you come across a snippet that says ‘Echinacea’ is a herbal remedy that is taken at the first sign of a cold as a form of prevention, you may want to do a simple search engine search for ‘Echinacea,’ or check on your other sites. Much like consulting another doctor, cross checking your courses is like getting a second opinion.

Finding reliable information is about finding sources that you trust. For some that means only consulting their family physician, while others prefer to devour health books and consult on-line resources to reach their own diagnosis. The choice is up to you, but always remember to verify your sources and double-check their information. Remember, it’s your health.