Bias exists everywhere, on the news, in magazines, in your doctor’s office -- and even in your own head. Cognitive bias is a term that describes your mind’s preconceived notions about reality, and their effect on the way you think and act.

This becomes very clear when you apply it to nutrition and diet, for instance how many people accept the incorrect notions that all dietary fat is bad, and pasteurized milk is good.

We are all so engrained with our own past experiences that it may be nearly impossible for anyone to make truly neutral decisions. Don’t believe me? Check out this sampling of widely accepted cognitive biases (and click the link below for the full list of 26):

• Bandwagon Effect: The tendency to do (or believe) things because many other people do (or believe) the same.

• Endowment Effect: The tendency for people to value something more as soon as they own it.

• Status Quo Bias: The tendency for people to like things to stay relatively the same.

• Mere Exposure Effect: The tendency for people to express undue liking for things merely because they are familiar with them.

• Outcome Bias: The tendency to judge a decision by its eventual outcome instead of based on the quality of the decision at the time it was made.

Being aware of your mind’s tendency toward partiality, though, is the first step in becoming more objective so you can make truly open-minded decisions for the good of yourself and your family.

HealthBolt.net February 14, 2007