WHEN your name's Nicole Kidman or Gwyneth Paltrow, everyone wants to hear what you have to say.

But before holding forth on their favourite remedy, celebrities should get their facts straight, experts say.

The two Hollywood actresses, along with fashion designer Stella McCartney, are singled out by a charity founded to increase the public's understanding of scientific issues.

Sense About Science warned: "A small group of people in the public eye promote pseudo-science without embarrassment and cannot be dissuaded from it."

Alice Tuff, who helped compile the list of celebrity pseudo-science, said: "Celebrity lifestyles and comments have a lot of social weight. Once in the public domain, it's almost impossible for, say, a toxicologist to eclipse a Stella McCartney or a Gwyneth Paltrow in order to give the public the facts. So the pressure must be there to get it right in the first place."

Kidman is criticised for promoting Nintendo's computer-based mental workout program Dr Kawashima's Brain Training.

"I've quickly found that training my brain is a great way to keep my mind feeling young," Kidman said, endorsing the game.

"There is no conclusive evidence showing that the continued use of these devices is linked to any measurable changes and general improvements in cognition,"

Dr Jason Braithwaite, from Birmingham University, said.

Gwyneth Paltrow was slated for her lack of knowledge of the genetics of cancer after claiming eating certain foods prevents tumours.

Scientists said there was little evidence to support her claims.

Article from http://www.news.com.au