5What happens if...?: distinguish between cause and coincidence

Vitamins Cut Alzheimer’s Effect.

Headline from BBC News, January 2004

Taking Vitamin Supplements May Increase Risk of Death, Says Study.

Headline from The Guardian, February 2007

The contradictory claims that come our way on a regular basis can boggle the mind. Although conflict and disagreement can arise about any area of science, it is particularly exasperating with respect to health topics. People trying to make healthy lifestyle choices based on the information that comes to them through the media often end up bewildered and frustrated. They feel disempowered and conclude that it is not worthwhile to pay attention because scientists keep ...

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