GP explains '70 year' reason why online health claims are mostly wrong

GP explains '70 year' reason why online health claims are mostly wrongDr Lynette Ewart has explained how you know 'influencers' aren't telling the truthCommentsNewsNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)07:01, 15 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesClaims are everywhere online, and they leave Lynette Ewart furiousA doctor with 23 years medical experience says many of the claims touted by online 'health and wellness influencers' are 'deranged'. Dr Lynette Ewart says videos of people claiming foods and juices can cure everything from ulcers to mood disorders leave her furious.‌Dr Ewart, from Leicester, said: “These claims are totally deranged. If something had been outperforming medicine for the last 70 years, someone would have noticed. It is utter nonsense.”‌For Dr Ewart, the idea that unqualified influencers with no medical training can somehow uncover health secrets doctors have missed is deeply frustrating. She has taken it upon herself to cut through the noise on Instagram and help people separate helpful advice from harmful misinformation, posting as Prescription Strength to tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and YouTube.‌“This sort of rubbish really gets my goat,” she says. “I would never want to withhold something that could genuinely help my patients, many of whom are struggling. Most of us become doctors because we want to help people.”Content cannot be displayed without consentDr Ewart’s verdict on medical ‘magic bullets’Collagen is the answer to everything‌Collagen is one of the most heavily marketed supplements on the shelves. It has been sold as a miracle fix for countless conditions, but can it really improve your skin, joints, hair and nails? “There is no evidence that lives up to the marketing claims,” says Dr Ewart.“That’s my issue with it. It’s misleading. Collagen is physically very safe, but it’s expensive. At the end of the day, collagen is just a source of amino acids. It simply cannot do what it’...