Do a quick Google search on a health-related topic and you will probably find millions or even billions of websites. But how can you find the best websites and how can you tell whether the information you're finding is reliable?
To find and identify the best online health information, you will need to do the following things:
The internet is full of consumer health information written for a general audience. This information comes from different types of sources and is shared for different purposes.
Below is a list of some of the types of websites where you might find health information, using examples on the topic of raw milk.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Generated ContentGoogle search results often begin with an AI Overview of the topic, based on your search terms. Keep in mind that this content may not be accurate. Generative AI technology works by recognizing patterns it its source material (such as websites, articles, etc.) and mimicking those patterns to produce text that sounds like it was created by a human. The text generated by AI reflects the biases and inaccuracies of the source material and may also include content completely made up by the AI technology known as "hallucinations."
News mediaNews websites may report on health-related research studies, events, legislation, etc.
Example: PBS News Raw milk sales spike despite CDC's warnings of risk associated with bird flu
Government websitesGovernment websites may include public health information, searchable databases of publicly-funded research, tutorials for thinking critically about health information, and more.
Example: U.S. Food & Drug Administration Raw Milk
Medical practicesHospitals, clinics, and other medical practice websites may share health information and research, and may also promote their own services or products.
Example: Mayo Clinic Infectious Diseases A-Z: Raw milk, cheese linked to brucellosis
Commercial consumer health websitesCommercial consumer health websites may include information on a range of health-related topics, similar to the kind of information you may find on government websites and medical practice websites. Commercial consumer health websites may also include ads and links to related products.
Example: WebMD Raw Milk: Are There Health Benefits?
Academic publishersPublishers may provide information about research articles on health topics published in their scholarly journals. In many cases, including the example below, the full text of the article is not included. Ask a librarian for help finding the full text of any incomplete source you find online.
Example: ScienceDirect Hazards of a ‘healthy’ trend? An appraisal of the risks of raw milk consumption and the potential of novel treatment technologies to serve as alternatives to pasteurization
Educational institutionsColleges and university websites may include information about health-related research centers and programs, and news stories or press releases about their research. University repositories may include the full text of scholarly research articles and other publications written by their faculty.
Example: Stanford Medicine Nutrition Studies Research Group Effects of Raw Milk vs. Pasteurized Milk on Lactose Maldigestion and Symptoms of Lactose Intolerance Among Lactose Intolerance Adults
Advocacy groupsAdvocacy groups' websites may have articles, blog posts, videos, or other content promoting a particular point of view or fighting for specific legislation or other action on a health-related topic.
Example: Raw Milk Institute Two Types of Raw Milk
Retail companiesRetail company websites may include blogs or other pages, presented as news or scientific information on health topics, that are designed to market the products they sell.
Example: Vintage Meadows Raw Milk and Why it is so Important
IndividualsIndividuals may share their personal experiences on health-related topics through websites, blogs, videos, or social media. They may also advocate for particular points of view or legislation, and/or promote products.
Example: Cade Prior I Drank RAW Milk Everyday for 1 Year | Here's What Happened
While many of the above source types look similar at first glance, some are more likely to be biased an to share incomplete or inaccurate information, such as advocacy groups those selling products related to the topic. Other types of sources are more likely to provide accurate information backed up by evidence, such as scholarly research studies. You can increase your chances of finding credible sources by searching strategically and evaluating each source carefully, no matter what type of source it is.
The following search strategies are designed for Google, but will work in many other internet search engines as well.
Use keywords instead of full sentencesGoogle allows natural language searching (using full sentences such as “what are the possible health benefits and potential dangers of drinking raw milk?”). But using full sentences might eliminate results that are actually relevant to your topic. Instead focus on the most important keywords, such as: raw milk health
Avoid terms that are biased or likely to get results from only one perspective
Avoid: raw milk better; raw milk benefits
Try this: 
Include search terms that are more likely to find scientific researchTerms related to scientific research include:
Try this: 
Use scientific terms as well as common onesIf you don’t know the scientific term, look it up in Wikipedia
For example: try the term unpasteurized milk as well as raw milk
Limit your results to specific websites or domains For example: 
Tip: You might find student work on educational websites. Be sure to evaluate the expertise of the authors and the credibility of the information you find, even on .edu sites.
For example: 
For example: 
Tip: The Luria Library provides free access to The New York Times website to SBCC students. Set up your access by following the instructions on the Newspapers @ Luria Library guide.
Limit your results to more current informationTo find sources that were published more recently, select “Tools” at the top of your Google search results, then click on "Any time" to expand the menu and choose “Past year” or set a “Custom range”
Use resources and search tools designed to find scholarly informationThe Luria Library’s collections provide free access to books, scholarly journal articles, and other sources related to health and medicine that you might not be able to find for free on the open internet.
Consider the types of health information sources you might find as you review your search results. Watch the following video for guidance on how to avoid ads and other less credible sources, and choose sources that are likely to be less biased and more reliable.
Online consumer health information can be very useful, but might also be incomplete and oversimplified. It might be shared by people or organizations with conflicts of interest, such as those whose goal is to sell products.
In order to determine the validity of the information you find online, you need to answer three questions:
To answer these questions, you will need to practice lateral reading rather than just looking at the website where you found the information. Watch the video below from University of Louisville Libraries to learn how to practice lateral reading.
See SIFT & PICK Fact Checking & Source Evaluation for more guidance on lateral reading and other source evaluation strategies.