The Art of Manliness

#285: The Real Science of Nutrition and Supplements

Mar 9, 2017
Guest Kamal Patel, researcher studying the effects of what we put into our body and director of Examine.com, discusses the confusion surrounding supplements and nutrition, how to read scientific studies on nutrition, which supplements actually work, and the growing field of nootropics.
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ANECDOTE

Origin of Examine.com

  • Kamal Patel started examine.com after researching vitamin D and systematic reviews at a research institution.
  • His experience studying nutrition led him to build an independent supplement encyclopedia for public use.
INSIGHT

Why Nutrition Studies Contradict

  • Nutrition studies often conflict because body systems are complex and trials are controlled, limiting real-life applicability.
  • Conflicting headlines usually reflect differences in study design, population, and nuanced outcomes.
ADVICE

How to Read Nutrition Studies

  • Don't trust abstracts alone; check if the study shows significant effects compared to placebo.
  • Assess confidence intervals and meta-analyses to understand study reliability and applicability.
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