A limited series on sport science hosted by student athlete Sophie and featuring two experts: Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and regular co-host of this podcast, and Nick Tiller, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology. Together, they will answer Sophie’s questions while dispelling myths that athletes—and anybody getting into fitness—are likely to hear. This is part 2 of 4. The topic: recovery. Are ice baths useful to recover from a workout? What about stretching and massages? And what three simple recommendations will do most of the heavy lifting when it comes to exercise recovery? (0:30) Intro (1:31) Vox pop (4:06) How do we measure recovery? (6:54) Ice baths (11:53) Whole-body cryotherapy (14:36) Contrast baths and compression garments (19:38) Stretching, massages, TheraGun (27:44) Three simple recommendations to recover   Opening music: “Energetic Upbeat” by WinnieTheMoog Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6033-energetic-upbeat Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   End title music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.  

A limited series on sport science hosted by student athlete Sophie and featuring two experts: Dr. Christopher Labos, cardiologist and regular co-host of this podcast, and Nick Tiller, who holds a doctorate in exercise physiology. Together, they will answer Sophie’s questions while dispelling myths that athletes—and anybody getting into fitness—are likely to hear. This is part 1 of 4. The topic: wearables. Should you be monitoring your heart rate variability, your sleep, and how many steps you walk in a day? Is all this information useful or is it just a distraction? (0:58) Intro (3:08) Vox pop (5:24) Heart rate monitoring (17:22) Body battery and proprietary algorithms (22:30) Sleep and the limitations of the data (27:35) Should we aim for 10,000 steps a day?    Opening music: “Energetic Upbeat” by WinnieTheMoog Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6033-energetic-upbeat Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   End title music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.  

As the year comes to an end, Jonathan recruits three doctors—Chris, Niko, and Aigul—and invites them to solve two perplexing cases. These mysteries involve a lot of (necessary?) rectal exams; the blood of witches; activated charcoal; farting patients; controversial diagnoses; tales from the ER that border on true crime; and diagnosing brain injuries through the bum! The take-home lesson here is always check sphincter tone on a patient, even if they are barely conscious! Or something like that.   Correction: Niko was speaking off the cuff about activated charcoal possibly binding iron. We are told that it does not do it well and should not be used in the event of iron poisoning!   * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.   Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!   It’s Not Twitter But It’ll Do! 1) The Fern documentary on the Healy that Jonathan was interviewed for (part 1): https://youtu.be/A_Y5kdEpcu4?si=GJpqn1seZ0A7JJWB 2) Dr. Jonathan Howard’s new podcast, We Want Them Infected: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/we-want-them-infected-podcast/id1716215618 3) WeCanReason conference 2024 in Calgary: https://wecanreason.com/ 4) 502 Conversations with Dr. Christopher Labos: https://youtu.be/3opqhZgcNjU?si=V2TbVeRbqUgwOclT 5) The Skeptic Zone podcast with Dr. Christopher Labos: https://youtu.be/r_eRVOTUv6I?si=EYa2GTVu7-JfTGBx&t=255 6) Chris’ appearance at the Whodunit bookstore in Winnipeg on January 21: https://whodunitbooks.ca/events/32868  

Chris and Jonathan speak to Joey Fox, an engineer and the chair of the Indoor Air Quality Advisory Group for the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. COVID-19 is not over, as both Jonathan and Chris can testify. How can we better protect ourselves from the coronavirus and other respiratory viruses? By improving our air! Joey Fox explains the difference between HEPA and MERV filters, why “UV in a box” is not a good idea, and how to make sense of the different air cleaners you can buy (and make yourself!). We all care about clean drinking water. It’s time we cared about clean air as well. (2:12) Aerosols vs. droplets (4:49) How long can respiratory particles linger in the air? (6:41) Medical dogma and the COVID-19 pandemic (17:20) How Joey dodged COVID when his daughter got sick (19:40) Air quality in schools (22:11) HEPA vs. MERV filters: what to looks for (24:45) Don’t say it’s airborne! or the politicization of public health (27:29) UV light to disinfect the air (32:09) Is the air in your kid’s school good enough? (33:52) Which CO2 monitor to buy (34:20) Improving air quality at home (37:42) Corsi-Rosenthal boxes and PC fan box air cleaners    * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl.  To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/. Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!    Links: 1) Joey Fox’s blog: https://itsairborne.com/ 2) Clean Air Stars: https://cleanairstars.com/ 3) The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers’ Indoor Air Quality website: https://ospe.on.ca/indoor-air-quality/  

Chris, Jonathan, and a mystery guest get together for an old-fashioned radio play. Are hot dogs and other red meat really as bad for your health as cigarettes? A doctor without a name boards an airplane and is soon asked to answer this question. It involves risk, hazard, and a budding romance.   * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl. * Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/. Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!   Music: Jazzy Comping 2 by Agnese Valmaggia Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8550-jazzy-comping-2 Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Links: 1) To buy Chris’ book: https://doescoffeecausecancer.com/  

What does the body of evidence say on Ozempic and its impact on diabetes and obesity? Plus: can you trade in your antidepressant for a jog, and Chris returns to the hot seat to diagnose a teenage boy who fell during a baseball game! Block 1: (2:22) Ozempic/Wegovy: GLP-1 receptor agonists; the difference between them; Mounjaro; Trulicity; diabetes biology; glucagon-like peptides 1 and 2; the problem with GLP-1; DPP4 inhibitors Block 2: (12:33) Ozempic/Wegovy: The venom of the Gila monster; how semaglutide became a blockbuster drug; weight loss; the numerous clinical trials; the impact on the stock prices of dialysis companies; downsides; the Internet craze Block 3: (27:03) Is running as beneficial for depression as medication? Block 4: (36:42) The case of the baseball player’s heart   * Jingle by Joseph Hackl * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl * Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova   To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/. To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!   References: 1) History of GLP-1 receptor agonists: https://www.statnews.com/2023/09/30/weight-loss-ozempic-nobel-prize-science/ 2) Liraglutide vs. exenatide: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61267-7 3) Meta-analysis of GLP-1 receptor agonists: https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.12849 4) A brief summary of the SUSTAIN studies, all 11 of them, which demonstrated the efficacy of semaglutide and its cardiovascular benefit: https://diabetes.medicinematters.com/semaglutide/type-2-diabetes/a-quick-guide-to-the-sustain-trials/12206922 5) A brief summary of the STEP trials, all 10 of them, which tested semaglutide as a weight loss medications even in non-diabetics: https://diabetes.medicinematters.com/semaglutide/obesity/quick-guide-step-trials/18854832 6) Announcement that the FLOW trial is being stopped prematurely: https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=166327 & https://www.investors.com/news/technology/novo-nordisk-stock-pops-after-hinting-weight-loss-drug-treats-kidney-disease/ 7) GI side effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2023.19574 8) Gid M-K’s Slate article: https://slate.com/technology/2023/10/exercise-depression-anxiety-treatment-effectiveness-ssris-research.html 9) Study on running to treat depression: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032723002239?via%3Dihub#s0065:~:text=https%3A//doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.064 10) Details on the DEA-Quebec app to find an AED near you: https://www.jacquesdechamplain.com/en/major-update-to-the-dea-quebec-application/ 11) Government of Canada’s definition of a pesticide: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/glyphosate-in-people.html   It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do: 1) Jonathan’s article on how natural health products and dietary supplements are regulated: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/false-reassurance-dietary-supplement-regulation 2) Jonathan’s article on fentanyl: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/you-wont-die-touching-fentanyl 3) Chris’ article in Medscape about the COSMOS study: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/996926 4) Chris’ Gazette article on coated vs. uncoated aspirin: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-the-bare-facts-about-coated-aspirin

Jonathan and Chris talk to David Scales, MPhil, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell and the chief medical officer at Critica. Misinformation is everywhere and it is causing actual harm. But what can we do about it beyond recognizing the problem? Dr. Scales mentions a scientific solution that transposes to social media what we know can work in an in-person setting. (3:34) Infodemiology (8:54) Will artificial intelligence create a “fake news” problem? (13:06) Vaccine hesitancy post-COVID (17:59) Is misinformation a “disease” or a symptom? (22:20) Top-down vs. grassroots approaches (28:23) Social media vs. misinformation (33:54) A scientific solution (51:15) AI bots to the rescue?   * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl. To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/. Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!    Links: 1) The book Dr. Scales mentioned: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51152447-caste 2) The Victor Pickard paper on public media funding in different countries: https://doi.org/10.1177/19401612211060255 3) The EMMIE program: https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/advice-and-prevention/vaccination/motivational-interviewing-in-maternity-for-the-immunization 4) Critica’s proposed protocol for countering scientific misinformation online: https://criticascience.org/the-critica-protocol/ 5) The Critica website: https://criticascience.org/ 6) David Scales on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tnfalpha.bsky.social  

What does the body of evidence say on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and how to treat the #1 cause of blindness in North America? Plus: which vaccines are available this fall to prevent respiratory tract infections, and a look at whether blue-light-blocking glasses will make a difference in your life! Block 1: (2:15) AMD: how common it is, what happens in the eye, risk factors Block 2: (9:20) AMD: dry AMD versus wet AMD, how to diagnose it, how to prevent it, AREDS supplements, VEGF inhibitors, lasers, rehabilitation Block 3: (25:54) Fall vaccines: COVID, influenza, and RSV Block 4: (40:19) Blue-blocking glasses   * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl * Assistant researchers: Aigul Zaripova and Ali Baghirov To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/. To make a one-time donation to our show, you can now use PayPal! https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9QZET78JZWCZE Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!   References: 1) General background on AMD: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/age-related-macular-degeneration & https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/amd-macular-degeneration 2) Prevalence of AMD by age: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161642000005807 3) Rotterdam study: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.294.24.3101 4) EYE-RISK consortium about the Mediterranean diet: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2018.08.006 5) The Beaver Dam Eye Study on smoking and AMD: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.04.040 6) A Prospective Study of Cigarette Smoking and AMD in Women: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/409082 7) AREDS study: https://doi.org/10.1001%2Farchopht.119.10.1417 8) AREDS 2 study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1684847 9) Study linking beta-carotene to cancer in smokers: https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/62.6.1427s 10) Omega-3s in the VITAL study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2772366 11) Background on anti-VEGF therapies: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/anti-vegf-treatment-of-macular-degeneration-science-based-success/ 12) NEJM paper comparing ranibizumab to bevacizumab: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1102673 13) 10-year outcomes of anti-VEGF therapy in AMD: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjophth-2023-001328 14) Cochrane review of monthly versus as-needed treatment: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012208.pub2 15) Cochrane review on complement inhibitors for AMD: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd009300.pub3 16) Pegcetacoplan for AMD: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/pegcetacoplan-a-new-treatment-for-macular-degeneration/ 17) Cochrane review on photodynamic therapy for AMD: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD002030.pub3 18) Stem cells for AMD: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1609583 & https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/this-clinics-experimental-stem-cell-treatment-blinded-patients-four-years-later-the-government-is-still-trying-to-shut-it-down/2019/04/03/432d6d04-ff2f-11e8-83c0-b06139e540e5_story.html & https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/patients-blinded-by-stem-cells-update/ 19) Jonathan’s article on blue-blocking glasses: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/medical-critical-thinking/feeling-blue-about-evidence-blue-blocking-glasses   It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do: 1) Jonathan’s article on current trends in pseudoscience: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/whats-trending-world-pseudoscience 2) Jonathan quoted in the New York Times about RFK Jr.: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/12/technology/rfk-jr-campaign-vaccines.html 3) Annual meeting of the Association des communicateurs scientifiques du Québec: https://www.acs.qc.ca/activite/2171-.html?month=&year=&tri=H&page=1 4) Chris’ book, on sale now: http://doescoffeecausecancer.com/ 5) Chris’ upcoming panel at Concordia University: https://icare.mbmc-cmcm.ca/events-media-coverage/cafe-scientifique/

Chris and Jonathan talk to Michelle Cohen, MD, CCFP, FCFP, an assistant professor at Queen University’s Department of Family Medicine and a staff physician at Lakeview Family Health Team. Dr. Cohen provides gender-affirming care and is here to dispel myths surrounding trans people, especially the panic around the mistaken idea that children are being rushed to transition. If you have a child who is questioning their gender identity, make sure to listen to this episode before reading what the media typically reports on trans issues. Of note, the “1 Million March for Children” is scheduled to take place on September 20th across Canada. It is part of our current anti-trans panic, with the organizers claiming to “peacefully protest against the push for LGBT ideology in schools.” (2:10) What is gender-affirming care and how easy is it to access? (8:39) Gender vs. sex (13:44) Estrogen is not just for women (19:08) Children are not being rushed through trans medical care (23:15) Puberty blockers are not just for trans teens (28:27) Transition surgeries are not happening for teens under the age of legal majority (31:31) Is “trans” the new “emo?” (35:30) Intersex people and non-consensual surgeries (37:24) The media fuels the trans panic, which has ties to the anti-vaccine movement (42:46) Canadian transphobia: imported or homegrown? (45:28) Your kid is questioning their gender. Now what?   * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl. To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/. Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!    Links: 1) The anonymous National Post editorial: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/np-view-canada-must-slow-down-and-reform-transgender-treatments-for-minors 2) The San Francisco Chronicle article by Soleil Ho: https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/new-york-times-trans-18214925.php 3) Michelle Cohen on X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/DocMCohen 4) Michelle Cohen on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/docmcohen.bsky.social 5) Michelle Cohen on Informed Opinions: https://informedopinions.org/view-expert-profile/?expert-id=45189  

Is there a mysterious neurological syndrome harming the people of New Brunswick? And is the Government of New Brunswick suppressing the truth so as not to upset commercial interests? That is certainly the story strongly hinted at by the Canadaland podcast, which has featured a New Brunswick neurologist who now claims to have identified over 200 cases of this strange new sickness. Jonathan and Chris are joined in their discussion of this story by Aigul Zaripova, a medical student who collaborates with them on the podcast. Together, they will unpack the official timeline of events and their thoughts on how diseases present in patients, and Jonathan will put forward an important hypothesis that seems to have been ignored by those pushing a conspiracy theory. (2:55) The official timeline of events (7:50) Chris’ initial thoughts (14:07) Aigul’s initial thoughts (16:18) The appeal of special diagnoses (19:03) Canadaland’s coverage of this alleged syndrome (22:34) Conspiracy theories and the demonization of glyphosate (28:45) The last neurologist standing (32:16) Jonathan’s theory (38:28) Dr. Marrero vs. the government (46:54) Concluding remarks   * Theme music: “Fall of the Ocean Queen“ by Joseph Hackl. * Assistant researcher: Aigul Zaripova  To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/. Patrons get a bonus show on Patreon called “Digressions”! Check it out!   Links: 1) The Government of New Brunswick’s official timeline: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/health/neuro-cluster.html 2) Final report on the situation: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/dam/gnb/Departments/h-s/neuro/final-report.pdf 3) Canadaland #746: Is New Brunswick Covering Up a Deadly Brain Disease? https://www.canadaland.com/podcast/746-is-new-brunswick-covering-up-a-deadly-brain-disease/ 4) Canadaland #808: Is New Brunswick Covering Up a Deadly Brain Disease? Revisit. https://www.canadaland.com/podcast/808-is-new-brunswick-covering-up-a-deadly-brain-disease/ 5) Canadaland #894: Mystery Brain Disease Cases Quadruple, Says New Brunswick Doctor. https://www.canadaland.com/podcast/894-mystery-brain-disease-patients-quadruple-says-new-brunswick-doctor/