Every day, news outlets report on the latest “breakthrough” in health and medicine. One day coffee prevents disease, the next day it supposedly causes it. The problem is that headlines are designed to grab attention, not explain the strengths and limitations of scientific research. A single study rarely changes what we know about health. Understanding who conducted the research, how it was performed, and how it fits with the larger body of evidence can help you separate meaningful discoveries from media hype and make better decisions about your health.