You thought your toddler was a handful. Have you heard of the She-Hulk toddler? You will learn what GPA means in a patient chart and how menstruation can be used to judge the health of a country, while Chris tries to figure out what is wrong with this tiny but ferocious patient.

Also: an announcement that will change The Body of Evidence forever….

Warning: this episode contains medical discussion of genitals.

A Block: The Case of the She-Hulk Toddler

(0:58) She has the strength of two toddlers! Also, puberty seems to have kicked in. What is going on with her?

B Block: Announcement

(32:29) Chris and Jonathan announce something.

* 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!

Jonathan and Chris speak to Dr. Andrea Love, a microbiologist, immunologist, science communicator, and the director of the American Lyme Disease Foundation. The tick-borne illness known as Lyme disease is everywhere: on the news, on social media… but is it really near you? Dr. Love separates facts from fiction when it comes to Lyme disease, both the acute infection and the alleged chronic condition.

Correction (2024/07/24): Dr. Love wanted to correct a statement she made. She said that tick-borne relapsing fever does not occur in the U.S., but she meant that it did not occur in the eastern U.S. It does occur in western U.S. states but is caused by a different Borrelia species and spread by different ticks, so there is no overlap with Lyme disease. 

* 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!

1) Andrea Love’s Substack, Immunologic: https://www.immunologic.org

2) American Lyme Disease Foundation website: https://aldf.com

What does the body of evidence say on acne and how to treat it? Plus: you’re going to want to pay attention to this latest study if you have food allergies, and Chris answers listeners’ questions about when to exercise, whether spinal cord stimulators work, and why some older adults are told that surgery would mess with their brain.

A Block: Acne

(0:59) Who gets acne; what causes acne; what are the risk factors for acne; how to treat both mild and moderate-to-severe acne.

B Block: New Food Allergy Drug

(34:16) A drug already approved to treat asthma, omalizumab (Xolair), can work against food allergies, including peanut allergy.

C Block: Answering Emails

(47:32) Questions about when is the best time to exercise (and whether or not you should be fasting); the benefits of spinal cord stimulators for people dealing with chronic pain; and why some older adults are being denied surgery.

* 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:

Prevalence of acne

1) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2007.06.045

2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788264/

Genetics as a cause of acne

3) https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1747.2002.19621.x

Psychological toll of acne

4) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2008.07.013

5) https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.1997.18131897.x

Diet and acne: the impact of milk

6) https://doi-org/10.1016/j.jaad.2004.08.007

7) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2007.08.049

8) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17083856/

9) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2016.04.030

10) https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.13835

Diet and acne: the role of carbohydrates (or glycemic load)

11) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2007.01.046

12) https://doi.org/10.1111/ced.12673

13) https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-4632.2009.04002.x

14) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2009.07.043

15) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2009.07.043

Stress and acne

16) https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.139.7.897

Overview of acne treatments

17) https://doi.org/10.1067/mjd.2003.618

18) The clinical trial of Xolair for food allergies: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa2312382

19) The Nature News Explainer on Xolair and food allergies: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00586-8

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan on The Current to talk about wellness and skepticism: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-63-the-current/clip/16040098-how-tell-wellness-trends-wrong

HIV: what is it, how do you get it, and what can medicine do about it // What we have learned about chloroquine, remdesivir and convalescent plasma against COVID-19 // Sex and cigarettes, as they relate to the pandemic

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

Our scientific references seem to have gotten lost in the time vortex this month, and for that we apologize. If you need clarifications or proofs, don’t hesitate to contact Chris!

Music Credits:

“February”

by Vibe Mountain

Available through YouTube Studio Audio Library

Dantes Dream by MusicParadise

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5061-dantes-dream

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The United States government has filed a complaint for injunction against the main seller of a type of bleach claimed to cure people of autism, COVID-19, and cancer. Jonathan speaks to Amanda Seigler, the executive director of Fierce Autistics and Allies, to bring him up to speed.

Fierce Autistics and Allies on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FierceAandA

Fierce Autistics and Allies on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/381958535858842/

Amanda Seigler on Twitter: https://twitter.com/fierceautie

Amanda Seigler on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fierceadvocate/

Jonathan and Chris speak to David Robert Grimes, physicist, cancer researcher and science writer, about 5G and why we believe things that aren’t true.

1:00 A physicist who studies biology

2:46 What is radiation?

4:16 Harm from radiation

7:02 5G

13:01 Why can’t 5G cook us?

15:51 Genuine concerns about 5G

19:26 The psychology of conspiracy theorists

23:41 Schrödinger’s bin Laden

28:00 5G and COVID and the Towering Infernos

31:16 Electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome

37:05 Talking to believers

41:05 Live. Die. Repeat.

47:12 The Irrational Ape

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Patrons get a bonus Q&A with Grimes about the antivaccine movement and COVID-19.

Links:

1) David Robert Grimes’ website: https://www.davidrobertgrimes.com/

2) His book, The Irrational Ape: https://www.davidrobertgrimes.com/copy-of-research-papers

3) David Robert Grimes on Twitter: https://twitter.com/drg1985

A comprehensive look at COVID-19 and its infectious agent, SARS-CoV-2, also known as “the coronavirus.” Jonathan and Chris are joined by Dr. Matthew Oughton, an infectious disease specialist, to share the state of the evidence about the current pandemic. Recorded March 26th, 2020.

4:25 How is the disease transmitted?

18:18 What do we know about the virus?

23:47 What are the signs and symptoms?

36:50 How do we test for it?

44:09 What can doctors do?

57:48 How do we avoid it?

1:02:51 Common questions

* Cover song by Joseph Hackl

* Additional original music by Seth Donnelly

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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 Credits:

Emotional Sad Strings by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/6011-emotional-sad-strings

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Travelling With Friends by AlekSound

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5938-travelling-with-friends

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Jonathan, Chris, and special guest Nicholas Koziris discuss the popular novel House of God by Samuel Shem, a thinly veiled fictional account of Shem’s year as a medical intern at a major hospital in Boston, published in 1978. They discuss despair, suicide, and doctors lusting after busty nurses. But they mostly look at how much medicine has (or hasn’t) changed in the past 50 years. This episode contains adult themes and language.

The book: https://bit.ly/2W6tEbI

0:00 First impressions

8:19 Women

17:42 Patients

26:00 Laws of the House of God

36:51 Buff and Turf

41:15 House of God: The Movie

45:43 Compassion and judgment in healthcare

55:30 House of God vs. Scrubs (vs. ER)

1:01:00 Parting thoughts and lots of dead bodies

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Music Credits

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

Expressive Blockbuster  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5349-expressive-blockbuster-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Dantes Dream by MusicParadise

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5061-dantes-dream

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Shades of Spring by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4342-shades-of-spring

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chromatic Fantasia (Bach BWV 930) by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3504-chromatic-fantasia-bach-bwv-930-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Raindrops  by Rafael Krux

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/5590-raindrops-

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Morgan Sweeney, who has collaborated with us in the past, has created a podcast that uses storytelling set in the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons to teach people about the ways of the human brain. It’s called Magic of the Mind, and we are sharing its second episode, on perception and attention, because we, uh, have cameos in it. Enjoy!

To listen to more episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/magic-of-the-mind/id1498237612

Magic of the Mind website: magicofthemind.ca

Magic of the Mind on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MagicoftheMind1

Arthritis: what it is; osteoarthritis vs. inflammatory arthritis; rheumatism; the risks and benefits of treatments // biosimilars, the “generic drugs” of biologics // Q&A: Chris’ qualms about omega-3 supplements for your heart // The Health Canada Ministry of Truth // Natural products claiming to cure cancer

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Additional original music by Seth Donnelly

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

Reference:

1) Cochrane review on exercise for arthritis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26405113

2) Aquatic exercise and arthritis: https://www.cochrane.org/CD005523/MUSKEL_aquatic-exercise-people-osteoarthritis-knee-or-hip

3) Weight loss and arthritis improvement: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17204567

4) Tylenol meta-analyses:

https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h1225

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(17)31744-0/fulltext

5) Review on topical NSAIDs: https://www.cochrane.org/CD007402/SYMPT_topical-non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory-drugs-acute-musculoskeletal-pain-adults

6) Capsaicin as a treatment for chronic pain: https://www.cochrane.org/CD007393/SYMPT_capsaicin-applied-skin-chronic-neuropathic-pain-adults

7) Corticosteroids injections:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26490760

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28510679

8) Knee braces and orthotics: https://www.cochrane.org/CD004020/MUSKEL_braces-and-orthoses-for-osteoarthritis-of-the-knee

9) Duloxetien for knee pain: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26176791

10) Glucosamine and chondroitin: https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa052771?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%3dwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

11) Trials fo knee surgery for arthritis: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1505467

12) The omega-3 for cardiovascular disease meta-analysis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31567003?fbclid=IwAR31Z3qq07L9RULPuvFVyzTKavjgde3Mgl_A2LD7BTtw2u4ZZNvat8wAzEU

13) The CTV report on homeopathy: https://bit.ly/2IlNRSx

14) Bad Science Watch report on natural health products and cancer claims: https://badsciencewatch.ca/natural-health-product-retailers-sell-cancer-cures/

Music Credits:

Meanwhile in Bavaria by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4028-meanwhile-in-bavaria

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Countdown by Alexander Nakarada

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4865-countdown

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Imagefilm 036 by Sascha Ende

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/2941-imagefilm-036

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chris and Jonathan speak to Paul Ingraham, a former massage therapist and author of the website PainScience.com, about the many myths surrounding massages. It will blow your socks off.

1:14 Training as a massage therapist

3:22 Chris wants to massage people

4:47 PainScience.com

10:29 Chris’ big massage reveal

11:43 Increasing circulation

17:46 Tightness

22:00 Do massages detox or toxify the body?

30:25 Post-exercice massages

34:07 Inflammation

36:43 May the fascia be with you

39:46 The endorphins that weren’t there

42:45 Tiger Balm and Its Rubefacient Orchestra

45:28 Clearing the C-spine

46:22 Does Paul recommend massages (and chiropractic)?

49:59 Massages for depression and anxiety

51:50 The complex puzzle of chronic pain

54:47 Paul takes us to his site

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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) Paul Ingraham’s website: https://www.painscience.com/

2) 34 Surprising Causes of Pain: https://www.painscience.com/articles/surprising-ways-to-hurt.php

Flu: Cold vs. flu; the anatomy of a virus; when viruses make a MegaZord; diagnosing, preventing and testing for the flu // coronavirus disease COVID-19 // update on talc and ovarian cancer

* Vox pop by David Lonstein

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com.

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

Jonathan’s upcoming public events: https://jonathanjarry.com/category/events/

And Chris will be at ComSciConCan 2020: https://comscicon.com/comscicon-can-2020

Reference:

1) JAMA paper on talc and ovarian cancer: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2758452

Jonathan and Chris speak to Stephan Guyenet, Ph.D., the author of the book The Hungry Brain and the creator of the health book review site Red Pen Reviews, about hunger, obesity, and the highs and lows of debating a journalist on one of the biggest platforms on the Internet.

0:00 Introduction

2:00 How evolution shaped our brain

3:20 Hunger

9:00 The disconnect between hunger and energy needs

15:12 The stressed-out brain of an obese mouse

18:54 Weight loss drugs targeting the brain

21:50 It’s a thermostat… but not really

28:00 Stress and obesity

29:44 Debating journalist Gary Taubes on The Joe Rogan Experience

36:14 False balance on massive platforms

39:32 Rhetoric and the unstructured debate

44:42 Stephan’s eating habits

47:54 Informative reviews of health and nutrition books

51:40 Rewards: food, sex and gold

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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) Stephan’s book, The Hungry Brain: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29243729-the-hungry-brain

2) Stephan’s website: https://www.stephanguyenet.com/

3) Stephan Guyenet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/whsource

4) Red Pen Reviews: https://www.redpenreviews.org/

5) Stephan on the Joe Rogan Experience: https://youtu.be/vA3QavPp1Ho

It’s the case of the injured water-skier, which gets Chris to talk about painkillers (NSAIDs, opioids, and Tylenol) and how quickly you lose muscle mass when you’re injured. Plus: a cancer update! Should you pay thousands of dollars for a full-body scan to make sure you don’t have cancer? Can you legally send poop through the mail? And how can we make Pap smears obsolete?

Jonathan couldn’t speak much, so Aigul stepped up as co-host!

A Block: The Case of the Injured Water-Skier

(0:58) A man survives a water-skiing accident with two fractures, but he’s still in pain two months later. Is this normal or is he malingering?

B Block: Cancer Update

(28:24) Full-body MRIs promoted by Kim Kardashian: should you pay for one?

(36:29) Colorectal cancer screening test available for free in Quebec

(41:22) Is cervical cancer coming to an end?

* 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!

Episode 100 will be an “Ask Us Anything” special. Email us your questions at: thebodyofevidence@gmail.com.

References:

1) La Presse’s report on full-body MRIs (in French): https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/sante/un-examen-a-2500-qui-seme-le-doute/2024-02-10/vante-par-des-influenceurs-critique-par-le-corps-medical.php

2) Montreal Gazette coverage of free colorectal screening tests in Quebec: https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/quebec-to-make-free-home-based-test-available-for-colorectal-screening

3) Chris’ article about cervical cancer: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-we-can-now-envision-the-end-of-cervical-cancer

Salt: what is it and what does it do to the body? (with Star Wars references!) // Telling Australians to stop drinking // Q&A with our listeners // YouTube cracks down on pseudomedicine

* Vox pop by David Lonstein

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl

* Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com.

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

References:

1) Review of MSG: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10736382

2) Sources of sodium: He FJ, MacGregor GA. Reducing population salt intake worldwide: from evidence to implementation. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 2010; 52:363.

3) DASH diet study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11136953

4) TOHP study: https://www.bmj.com/content/334/7599/885.long

5) John Ioannidis’ editorial: https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/45/1/264/2364034

6) Prison study editorial: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.11103

7) Alcohol Abstinence in Drinkers with Atrial Fibrillation: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1817591

One day, Trysha Gellis’ heart just stopped pumping blood. She lost consciousness and almost died… but CPR saved her life. Today, we hear her story and our medical experts explain what doctors do to investigate what went wrong with her heart on that day. Thankfully, it involves cute anesthesiologists.

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

References:

1) Living Proof CPR Training: https://www.livingproofcpr.com

2) Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s CPR Videos: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/get-involved/learn-cpr

Drinking water: alkaline, thirst, bottled, lead // Interview with Olivier Bernard (thepharmafist.com) on vitamin C, harassment, and winning the John Maddox Prize // Vaping update: EVALI and popcorn lung

* Vox pop by Sarah Swinwood

* Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada

* Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com.

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

References:

1) The JAMA study on water intake and kidney function: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2680548

2) Filter numbers: http://info.nsf.org/Certified/DWTU/listings_leadreduction.asp; http://www.nsf.org/consumer-resources/water-quality/water-filters-testing-treatment/standards-water-treatment-systems

3) Places where you can test your water in Quebec: http://www.ceaeq.gouv.qc.ca/accreditation/PALA/lla03.htm?fbclid=IwAR2u1zqvmnb03uklvROVsjCPsLqljFdUcjO2qv3tM0XMyQJhRCRzLokkCMA#outaouais

4) SWET Trial: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21324289

Chris and Jonathan were interviewed on stage by a reporter from the McGill Tribune newspaper as part of their annual conference on journalism and the media. They discuss how they met, their respective backgrounds, the challenges of podcasting, and many more.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Prostate cancer: how common, how to detect it, how to treat it (should we?) // Artificial lights and sleep with Morgan Sweeney // Should we really be eating more meat now?

* Vox pop by David Lonstein

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl of Voodoo Jazz

* Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com (including "House of Leaves").

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

References:

1) ERSPC randomized trial of prostate cancer screening: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=10.1016%2Fj.eururo.2012.05.068

2) ERSPC randomized trial of prostate cancer screening: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30824296

3) Quality of Life study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1201637

4) Chemoprevention study 1, PCPT: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1215932

5) Chemoprevention study 2, REDUCE: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0908127

6) Surgery vs. radiation vs. active surveillance: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1606220

Chris and Jonathan speak to Anne Borden, Amanda Seigler, and Melissa Eaton who are campaigning against phony autism cures.

0:55 Alternative treatments for autism and why they exist

3:28 Going undercover on Facebook

5:00 MMS or the bleach cure

11:00 The pushback against activism

12:31 How social media companies have responded

14:10 Chelation therapy

23:45 Pro-science celebrities

26:00 Special diets

27:40 The medical community and applied behaviour analysis (ABA)

34:24 Humane interventions for autism

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

The petition against toxic “cures” in the US:

https://www.change.org/p/united-states-congress-bring-legislation-against-toxic-cures-in-the-united-states-eaa2029c-36c3-4d4d-97ca-08f0a06e1f84

Links:

1) Autistic Self Advocacy Network: https://autisticadvocacy.org

2) Foundations for Divergent Minds: https://www.divergentminds.org

3) Autistic Inclusive on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/autisticinclusivemeets/?eid=ARCCGmkCnb1ATBL515bePaUSQV_8izJNK01wQ1Ku9NXFjiD2a6Cs60-92t8dG3_WXfB1pUWkF23ArXuA&timeline_context_item_type=intro_card_work&timeline_context_item_source=100008073797054&fref=tag

Social:

1) Melissa Eaton on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissa.eaton.98

2) Amanda Seigler on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.seigler.3517

3) Anne Borden on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AgainstCures

4) Anne’s podcast: http://noncompliantpodcast.com

Breast cancer screening: self-exams, mammograms, ductal carcinoma in situ, Angelina Jolie // The book “Bottle of Lies” and the safety of generic drugs // When cancer research misses its target

* Vox pop by Morgan Sweeney

* Jingle by Joseph Hackl of Voodoo Jazz

* Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com.

* Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

References:

1) The Malmö Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3142562

2) The Canadian National Breast Screening Study: https://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g366

3) The 2012 Lancet Study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23117178

4) The Cochrane Collaboration Review: https://www.cochrane.org/CD001877/BREASTCA_screening-for-breast-cancer-with-mammography

A questionable plate of spaghetti produces something unexpected: Chris' teddy bear can now speak! Once the acid trip wears off, Jonathan and Chris discuss study aid drugs or "nootropics", like Ritalin being used by 12-year-olds to get better grades. Do these stimulants work and are there side effects? They also discuss Adderall, racetams, omega-3s, ginseng, gingko biloba, and the cocaine of Silicon Valley bros, modafinil. Also: a comprehensive look at the fluoride-and-IQ study that came out and should certain populations all get a combo pill regardless of whether individuals need it?

Vox pop by Ada McVean of the McGill Office for Science and Society.  

Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly, Epidemic Sound, and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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: The Body of Evidence video on ear candles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GfunNxHHkw

Fluoride and IQ study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2748634

REFERENCES: FDA warning letter against nootropics: https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-inve...

Ritalin and academic performance: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29353323

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/study-ritalin-doesnt-...

Health Canada warning on modafinil https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2019/70201... Cochrane reviews on omega-3s, gingko, and ginseng:https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007986.pub2/...https://www.cochrane.org/CD003120/DEMENTIA_there-is-no-convincing-eviden...https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007769.pub2/...

Chris and Jonathan discuss “the” healthcare system and how medicine is being practiced, with all its flaws and needs for improvement. Chris quickly starts going into too many details, but fear not: Jonathan pulls him back. This conversation will be of particular interest to Canadians, but we welcome anyone with open hearts (especially if you bring food).

01:29  There is no Canadian healthcare system

04:24  How do doctors get paid

08:16  Who decides how many patients a doctor sees in a day

12:54  Wait times and the US healthcare system

20:24  Our partially centralized medical record system

22:35  The quest to find a family doctor

27:43  US vs. Canada: FIGHT!

31:26  Pharmacare

34:48  Does the US have more cutting-edge medical treatments

39:19  “You’ve NEVER SEEN SPARTACUS?!”

41:30  Malpractice lawsuits

44:28  Access to healthcare

47:34  Publicly-funded, privately-delivered solutions

51:58  Chris’ #1 frustration

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Chris tries to shave Jonathan’s head as a poorly thought-out prophylactic measure against baldness. Meanwhile, comedian Jacob Meza interviews the cast of his comedy show: do baseball caps cause baldness… or treat it? Back in the studio, the boys talk about the many reasons why people lose their hair; Rogaine and Propecia; whether or not women can go bald; and the fact that it’s not technically testosterone that’s to blame for baldness. Also: peacocks; vaping may help you quit cigarettes but it many not help you quit nicotine; sunscreen chemicals in the blood; and the return of Dr. Bob Bobinovitz.

Vox pop by Jacob Meza, host of Comedy Crowd Off, the Heckling Game Show.

Jingle by Joseph Hackl.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

What does the body of evidence say on microplastics and their impact on our health? Plus: we talk about what we have learned about long COVID since 2020, and we discuss the very first approval for a clinical application of the gene-editing technology known as CRISPR.

A Block: Microplastics

(0:58) What are micro- and nanoplastics; microplastics in the environment and in our bodies; how they get into humans and animals; the infamous study that was retracted; occupational exposure to microplastics versus casual exposure; eating microplastics by consuming seafood; can they cause infertility; BPA and BPS; the latest study on microplastics; are plastic water filters bad; should you avoid bottled water; alternatives to single-use plastic bottles.

B Block: Long COVID Update

(37:55) The problems with diagnosing it; how to treat it; the involvement of the mitochondria; probiotics for long COVID; should people with long COVID exercise; the COVID vaccine protects against long COVID; direct-to-participant digitized clinical trials.

C Block: CRISPR Therapy Approved

(56:22) CRISPR therapy approved in the UK and US for sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. Jonathan initially mischaracterizes the therapy as repairing the mutation. Chris corrects him. Don’t email us, thank you!

* 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) Background on micro- and nanoplastics: https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/christopher-labos-is-bottled-water-bad-for-your-health

2) The recent study published in PNAS: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2300582121

3) The retracted study: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2017.21929

4) The WHO 2022 report on microplastics: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240054608

5) What kind of reusable bottle is best: https://wapo.st/3O1yy3R

6) Review article on long COVID from a Chinese team: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41392-023-01640-z

7) Mitochondria are involved in long COVID: https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.abq1533

8) Dr. Eric Topol’s commentary on the mitochondria paper: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/long-covid-mitochondria-the-big-miss

9) The positive clinical trial on probiotics for long COVID: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00685-0

10) Exercising can be bad for long COVID: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44432-3

11) At least 3 doses of the COVID vaccine seem to provide a 70% reduction in the risk of getting long COVID: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/sotp-state-of-the-pandemic

12) What happened to the NIH RECOVER Long COVID initiative funds: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/long-covid-mitochondria-the-big-miss

13) Direct-to-participant digitized clinical trials: https://erictopol.substack.com/p/long-covid-mitochondria-the-big-miss

14) Information on CASGEVY: https://pi.vrtx.com/files/patientpackageinsert_exagamglogene_autotemcel.pdf

It’s Not Twitter, But It’ll Do:

1) Jonathan’s article on mindfulness meditation: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-health-and-nutrition/mindfulness-meditation-often-fails-scientific-test

2) Jonathan’s article on the graveyard of skeptical projects: https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2024/01/the-graveyard-of-skeptical-projects-suggests-its-funding-not-talent-that-were-lacking/

3) Chris featured at Darwin Day on February 10th for the Humanist Association of Toronto: https://www.humanisttoronto.ca/events-1/hat-forum-240127-g3ja3-3g8g9

4) Chris being interviewed at Indigo Pointe-Claire by Ken Connors on February 17: https://www.facebook.com/drlabos/posts/926877516110207

Jonathan and Chris interview Ryan Armstrong, the executive director of Bad Science Watch, a consumer protection watchdog and science advocacy organization. They discuss what Bad Science Watch does; the lobbying forces surrounding Health Canada; homeopathy; the antagonist in Braveheart; the Stop Nosodes campaign; vaccine misinformation on social media; chiropractic complaints not taken seriously; innate intelligence; predatory practice building; how to lodge a complaint, the Ryan way; internecine squabbles between vitalists and evidence-based chiropractors; osteopaths and podiatrists; chiropractors and physical therapists; should pseudomedical practitioners have an order; Ryan’s dream of a national science agency; and Chris’ controversial question.

LINKS:

Bad Science Watch’s website: https://badsciencewatch.ca

Ryan Armstrong on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryarmst

Ryan changes his mind regarding the self-regulation of the chiropractic profession: https://posttruthhealth.ca/index.php/2019/05/17/the-failure-of-self-regulation-of-the-chiropractic-profession-is-an-urgent-public-health-crisis/

Stop Nosodes: http://www.stopnosodes.org

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

A discussion around ice cream reveals that Jonathan may have fallen into the Twilight Zone. Comedian Jacob Meza goes to ComicCon to talk diet pills and accidentally meets “a good swallower” he knows. Back in the studio, the boys discuss the green coffee bean marketing apocalypse; how to spot fake diet pills; and genuine pharmaceuticals that may kill you, give you hallucinations, or make you leak. The biggest question is: will losing 10 pounds make a difference to your health? Also: hot yoga (not to be confused with goat yoga) and an injectable drug for women who want… to want to have sex.

Vox pop by Jacob Meza, host of Comedy Crowd Off, the Heckling Game Show.

Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

References:

Retracted Green Coffee Bean paper: http://www.dovepress.com/retraction-randomized-double-blind-placebo-controlled-linear-dose-peer-reviewed-article-DMSO

FTC complaint against green coffee bean makers: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2014/09/green-coffee-bean-manufacturer-settles-ftc-charges-pushing-its

Dr. Oz statement: https://www.doctoroz.com/page/recent-developments-regarding-green-coffee-extract

Cochrane review on GLP agonists: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=21975753

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the McGill Office for Science and Society, a university-backed office dedicated to separating sense from nonsense, Jonathan moderated a panel discussion entitled “Talking Science in the Age of Fake News”. The panelists were Prof. Joe Schwarcz, the director of the Office; Timothy Caulfield, host of a User’s Guide to Cheating Death on Netflix; Carly Weeks, health reporter for The Globe & Mail newspaper; and Ryan Armstrong, director of Bad Science Watch.

They discussed trends in pseudoscience; how men and women are differently targeted by bunk; stem cells; newspapers running ads for quackery; false balance in the media; native advertising; the opioid crisis; deplatforming an antivaxxer; social media momentum; academic apathy; when scientists talk to journalists; mandatory childhood immunizations; chiropractors self-regulating; hate mail; Deepak Chopra; and whom should the public trust?

To watch the video for the entire event (which included a look back at the history of the McGill OSS and flash talks from each of the panelists): https://youtu.be/aztSt-hnS9I

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

An unexplained bout of amnesia leads Jonathan to completely change his mind about Chris’ interior decoration choices. For the 50th episode of their podcast, the boys have friends over who will help them explain what’s been in the news lately. A dentist and a paediatrician talk about human touch; a chemistry and gender studies double major comments on the line between male and female in competitive sport; and an Apple fanboy and his sui generis podcast co-host talk about wearables… IN MICE!

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

No bonus Patreon show this month because this episode is a mother!

Chris and Jonathan interview Timothy Caulfield, former guest of the show, health policy expert, and one of the major pro-science voices quoted in the Canadian media. They discuss solutions to vaccine hesitancy; “dancing” on Twitter; the rise of “bro science”; what recently made Tim very happy (hint: it involves the government); and Tim’s new TV show.

Timothy Caulfield on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaulfieldTim

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

The boys travel back to 1998 to change history (and inadvertently alter the course of cutlery). Ada speaks to autistic artists to know what the media gets wrong in its portrayal of autism. Back in the studio, Jonathan and Chris discuss why it looks like rates of autism are increasing, the likely cause of autism spectrum disorder, interventions real and imaginary, and how long you have to wait to get a diagnosis (Jonathan’s reaction will surprise you). Also: what’s happening with measles cases in New York; the mere thought of coffee leads to… what?; and our second winner takes home the coveted prize in our on-going raffle. 

Vox pop by Ada McVean of the McGill Office for Science and Society.

Jingle by Jillian Correia of Roctavio Canada.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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 mentioned by the artists interviewed:

* AspiGurl web comic: https://aspigurl.com

* Sara Luterman on Twitter: https://twitter.com/slooterman

* Autistic Self-Advocacy Network: https://autisticadvocacy.org

* Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network: https://awnnetwork.org

* Autistics United Canada: https://www.autisticsunitedca.org

* Autistics 4 Autistics Ontario: https://a4aontario.com

Jonathan and Chris interview Brian Nosek, a professor of psychology and the co-founder and director of the Center for Open Science. They discuss problems and solutions in modern scientific research, such as committing scientists… to stick to a protocol. 

Table of contents.

2:00 The culture of science. 

4:18 Publications as currency for career advancement. 

7:53 What researchers tell each other at the bar. 

10:22 Cynicism. 

12:48 The solution to climate change (not really). 

18:24 The paper is advertising for the research. 

22:16 Weaknesses of the peer review process. 

23:58 One data set, many scientists, different conclusions. 

27:29 Resistance to sharing. 

29:52 The road to the Center for Open Science. 

37:49 Signs of success. 

44:10 The generational gap in openness. 

46:55 Registered reports. 

LINKS:

The Center for Open Science website: http://www.cos.io

Project Implicit: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

For scientists, the Open Science Framework: http://www.osf.io

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

An ill-timed surprise spells heart trouble for our favourite cardiologist. But what exactly is a heart attack, and how does it relate to strokes and angina? Do you need a stress test? What are the warning signs of a heart attack? Is stress a trigger? And what do you do if your friend complains of chest pain, short of filming it for the ‘gram? Also: eggs are no longer sunny side up in the media, but it’s all due to deeply flawed data collection; the results of a local investigation into poop pills (will make sense); and the first winner of our raffle!

To register for the McGill OSS’ 20th Anniversary Event: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/channels/event/oss-20th-anniversary-event-talking-science-age-fake-news-295743

Vox pop by Jacob Meza of the So It Is Told podcast.

Jingle by Joseph Hackl.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod. This episode also featured “Are You in Heaven” by Lobo Loco.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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! This episode’s theme is CPR.

—

References

Differences between men and women in the symptoms of heart attacks: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1738716

Emotional triggers of a heart attack: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7671353

Natural disaster triggers of a heart attack: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(83)91439-3/fulltext

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?8651102

Can the World Cup trigger heart attacks? Carroll D, Ebrahim S, Tilling K, Macleod J, Smith GD. Admissions for myocardial infarction and World Cup football: database survey. BMJ. 2002;325:1439–1442.

Jonathan and Chris interview Jonathan Howard, a neurologist in New York who wrote a book that will make you, the patient, understand a bit more how your doctor is thinking. Howard is interested in how the brain fires (and misfires), which led him to write this book about the biases in the thinking of doctors and patients that can lead to correct answers… but that sometimes result in errors. 

This episode plunges you into a real-life episode of ER, with medical scenarios that will illustrate what went wrong. It’s medicine from the brain’s side of the gurney!

LINKS:

The book: https://www.springer.com/us/book/9783319932231

Jonathan Howard on Twitter: https://twitter.com/JHowardBrainMD

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Chris loses his mind when he misses his after-dinner cookie, which leads the boys to talk about fasting! Ada asks students about their thoughts on the issue, which range from mentioning Terry Crews to believing monks can survive for months without eating. Back in the studio, it’s time to catch up on the hundreds of definitions of fasting and to answer the questions: does fasting work? compared to what? and can people stick with it? Oh, and does it make you live longer? Also: Color Genomics’ DNA kit and what happens when you bypass a genetic counsellor and medical geneticist to find out if you have disease-causing mutations in your genes; young blood transfusions and the confusion over Elizabeth Bathory’s fate; and our first ever contest with prizes! Don’t wait 3 months to listen to this episode!

Vox pop by Ada McVean of the McGill Office for Science and Society.

Jingle by Jillian Kate.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

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 4 of 4. The topic: fitspiration. Influencers on social media showing off their toned bodies and posing on a beach can encourage you to go to the gym, but how can you judge if what they say is based on solid evidence… or if it’s all lies, exaggerations, and undeclared sponsored content?

(0:29) Intro

(1:03) Influencers are not your friends

(5:12) What credentials should I look for in a fitness influencer?

(8:43) Sponsorships not disclosed

(9:50) Looks beget credibility

(13:44) How to read a scientific paper

(20:47) What to do to protect yourself from fitness misinformation

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/.

Chris gets surprisingly aggressive (and hairy) during a football match, which leads the boys to discuss concussions. Jacob goes to a hockey game and finds a lot of people who are intimately familiar with mild traumatic brain injuries. How common are they, what’s the treatment for them, and should you let someone with a concussion fall asleep? Perhaps more importantly, would you let your kid play football (or hockey)? Also: a new iteration of the Canadian Food Guide gets rid of food groups; talcum powder strikes back; probiotics make surprising appearances in our food supply if we are to believe Canadians; and a joke few people will get. It’s Skeptics with a—wait, wrong show.

Vox pop by Jacob Meza of the So It Is Told podcast.

Jingle by Joseph Hackl.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

—

References

*Studies showing that helmet use reduces injuries in sports

1. Johnston KM, McCrory P, Mohtadi NG, Meeuwisse W. Evidence-Based review of sport-related concussion: clinical science. Clin J Sport Med 2001; 11:150.

2. Sulheim S, Holme I, Ekeland A, Bahr R. Helmet use and risk of head injuries in alpine skiers and snowboarders. JAMA 2006; 295:919.

3. Russell K, Christie J, Hagel BE. The effect of helmets on the risk of head and neck injuries among skiers and snowboarders: a meta-analysis. CMAJ 2010; 182:333.

4. Hollis SJ, Stevenson MR, McIntosh AS, et al. Incidence, risk, and protective factors of mild traumatic brain injury in a cohort of Australian nonprofessional male rugby players. Am J Sports Med 2009; 37:2328.

*Study of cognitive rest in adolescents post concussion

Thomas DG, Apps JN, Hoffmann RG, et al. Benefits of strict rest after acute concussion: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics 2015; 135:213.

*Study about prognosis post concussion

Triebel KL, Martin RC, Novack TA, et al. Treatment consent capacity in patients with traumatic brain injury across a range of injury severity. Neurology 2012; 78:1472.

*Studies about CTE 

1. Bieniek KF, Ross OA, Cormier KA, et al. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy pathology in a neurodegenerative disorders brain bank. Acta Neuropathol 2015; 130:877.

2. Mez J, Daneshvar DH, Kiernan PT, et al. Clinicopathological Evaluation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Players of American Football. JAMA 2017; 318:360.

*Study linking NFL and Alzheimer’s

Lehman EJ, Hein MJ, Baron SL, Gersic CM. Neurodegenerative causes of death among retired National Football League players. Neurology 2012; 79:1970.

Don’t mind Chris’ newfound psychic powers: do fitness trackers like Fitbits actually work? They monitor our heart beats, they count our steps and calories burnt, but do they do it accurately? And can they help us lose weight? Also: you’ll never believe what actually motivates people to exercise; early detection is not as easy as it sounds; does Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder cause cancer and should you even use baby powder in the first place; and how to judge the merits of a scientific paper when you’re not a scientist.

Vox pop by Ada McVean of the McGill Office for Science and Society.

Jingle by Jillian Kate.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

Jonathan and Chris interview Pixie Turner, a London-based nutritionist who used to be, according to her, a “wellness wanker”. And then she publicly changed her mind about food.

They discuss her formerly obsessive relationship with nutrition; eating for Instagram; the turning point in her life; the vicious Instagram vegan posse; becoming an inadvertent Trojan horse on social media; why wellness mainly targets women; her thoughts on the carnivore diet; the demonization of carbs; orthorexia; Belle Gibson and the Medical Medium; which nutrition books to trust; how to fight misinformation; and why so many of her clients ask her, “Can I eat this?” 

LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pixienutrition/

Website: http://www.pixieturnernutrition.com

Pixie’s First Book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36272948-the-wellness-rebel?from_search=true

Pixie’s Second Book (pre-order): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40969801-the-no-need-to-diet-book?from_search=true

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

The boys end up in the jungle with varying degrees of immunological protection and Chris subdues a jungle cat. So what are the arguments against vaccination and are they warranted? They discuss arguments like better sanitation, Big Pharma conspiracies, aborted fetuses, autism, chemical preservatives and “too many, too soon”. In a surprising twist, the Catholic Church comes to their defence. Also: Jacob Meza sees a big difference in how young and old people view vaccines; the world’s first genetically edited babies are here (maybe); and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada recommends people with the disease up their dosage of vitamin D.

Vox pop by Jacob Meza of the So It Is Told podcast.

Jingle by Joseph Hackl.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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!

Jonathan and Chris interview Nick Saik from Know Ideas Media, a filmmaker who specializes in communicating about food and agriculture online.

They discuss trust in farmers; going to filmmaking school and ending up working on the set of Supernatural; GMOs; precision agriculture; antibiotics in meat; the A&W dilemma; the romantic ideation of food production; RoundUp; orthorexia; chemical-free food; trust in institutions; why only big companies can afford to sell you GMOs; lab-grown meat; what if almonds had nipples; the skeptical movement; how to argue online; and why raising money to do this type of communication is extremely challenging. 

WORD OF THE WEEK:

Ag = agriculture

LINKS:

The cat herding commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ0ur5GKC0w

Nick’s nut milking video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJCTIPWPNtw

Know Ideas Media on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/knowideasmedia

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Jonathan and Chris interview Cameron M. Smith, professor in the department of anthropology at Portland State University. They discuss what is anthropology; what it’s like teaching evolution in the United States; what the theory of evolution is; what we’ve learned from the fossil record; whether or not humans are still evolving; what a hominin is; the revival of Lamarck’s theory; and Cameron’s real-life adventures on inhospitable terrain and his prediction for humanity’s new space age. And you will learn a new word: gemmule!

Cameron Smith was a guest of the Trottier Public Science Symposium in October 2018 in Montreal, and you can watch his talk on the space suit he designed by clicking here: https://youtu.be/h7uIV2PFD70?t=2810

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

A risky session on Tinder brings up the topic of Chris’ cat allergy. Meanwhile, comedian Jacob Meza learns from college students that the rise in allergies might be due to chemicals, antibiotics, or GMOs. Back in the studio, the boys talk about just how common allergies are, problems with the hygiene hypothesis, and what treatments are available. Also: is there a link between organic food consumption and cancer risk, and Jonathan talks about how amazing QED was while Chris reports back on his conference experience and on the relativists who want more farm animals to save us from global climate change! 

This podcast is now available with more puppies than ever.

Vox pop by comedian Jacob Meza. His podcast is So It Is Told.

Jingle by Jillian Kate.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

It’s Two Men and a Baby as Jonathan realizes that Chris takes odd bets and ends up with an infant to care for. Has childbirth been over- or under-medicalized? Ada talks to clueless university students about the miracle of life. Do epidurals make mothers too “chill”? The boys discuss maternal mortality rates, what can go wrong while giving birth, and water births (wait! how does the baby not drown?). Also: how can crowdfunding platforms identify appeals for quack cancer treatments, and the difference between primary and secondary prevention when it comes to “an aspirin a day”. It’s episode 42, meaning it contains the answer to life, the universe, and everything. And there’s a special guest star who’s totally not the boyfriend of one of our contributors.

Vox pop by Ada McVean of the McGill Office for Science and Society.

Jingle by Joseph Hackl.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Lost on the highway, the boys look for a cell phone signal and wonder about the potential dangers of their lifeline. Comedian Jacob Meza explores the possibilities of groin cancer while learning that some people may be scared of cell phones but are unwilling to give them up. Back in the studio, Chris and Jonathan discuss fava beans; the Larry King Show and brain cancer; subgroup analyses (which lie, they always lie); what male rats got that other rodents didn’t; infertility; ICQ; and pacemakers. Also: how prevalent are peanut allergies and do peanut bans in school really work? Plus an interview with Dr. David Gorski on the U.S.’ right-to-try laws: how they compare to compassionate use and what is the link to libertarianism.

For more on right-to-try laws, David Gorski’s blog post from June 4th: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/right-to-try-is-now-law-let-patients-beware/

David Gorski writes for Science-Based Medicine and Respectful Insolence.

Vox pop by comedian Jacob Meza. His podcast is So It Is Told.

Jingle by Jillian Kate.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Jonathan and Chris interview Michael “Marsh” Marshall, project director of the Good Thinking Society and the vice-president of the Merseyside Skeptics Society in England. They discuss how Marsh and Simon Singh met; what a skeptical charity does; why Marsh interviews people with fringe beliefs; changing people’s minds with nudges; the Good Thinking Society’s campaign to stop the NHS from funding homeopathy in the UK; how PR releases get used by journalists to create “churnalism”; and crowdfunding campaigns for alternative cancer cures.

Michael Marshall on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrMMarsh

The Good Thinking Society website: https://goodthinkingsociety.org

The podcasts Marsh is involved with: http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/podcasts/

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

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 3 of 4. The topic: supplements. Which dietary supplements have been proven beneficial through scientific studies? Is caffeine a fat burner? And are supplements even safe to take?

(0:29) Intro

(1:09) Vox pop

(4:28) The 5 or 6 dietary supplements supported by science

(6:20) What outcome are you interested in improving?

(7:32) Will caffeine help you burn fat?

(8:56) The food first approach

(13:28) Chris wants to bench-press 10 lbs, which supplements should he take?

(15:33) The quick fix mentality of supplements

(16:08) Supplements are sometimes contaminated or adulterated

(19:55) How supplements are regulated (or not)

(25:05) Can supplements burn fat?

(29:20) L-carnithine

(30:21) Boosting your immune system with vitamin C

(32:05) Can you boost your metabolism?

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/.

Returning from a memorable fishing trip, the boys tackle the evidence behind omega-3s, a group of molecules known as “PUFAs!” (try not to laugh). They talk about the EPA; kinky and bent molecules; carnivorous chickens; cardiovascular disease and brain development. Also: how big trials can go wrong; and an interview with Dr. Emma Jones on palliative care, cultivating quality of life, collaborations in paediatric oncology, and myths about medicinal cannabis!

Julia Belluz’s article about the PREDIMED trial paper retraction: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2018/6/20/17464906/mediterranean-diet-science-health-predimed

Vox pop by Ada McVean of the McGill Office for Science and Society.

Jingle by Joseph Hackl.

Additional music by Seth Donnelly and Kevin MacLeod.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Part 2 of 2. Chris and Jonathan sit down to demystify how scientific research is conducted and what actually goes on in a lab. They talk about the following: data analysis; statistical literacy among scientists; cherry picking; biostatisticians’ greatest complaint; “students should figure it out!”; meta-analyses; hypothesis testing; publishing; structure of a paper; the secret appendices; peer review; open data; registered reports; types of journals; opening a Dairy Queen; and things are improving. Seriously, science is awesome… but its practice could be improved.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.

Chris and Jonathan sit down to demystify how scientific research is conducted and what actually goes on in a lab. They talk about the following: defining terms; Ang Lee’s Hulk; laboratory hierarchy; graduate studies; postdocs; salaries; job opportunities; what scientists do with the 61 hours a week they work on average; funding; managerial skills; hiring practices; harassement; rewarding results instead of the process; subpar research; and negative findings. Also, Simpsons references galore.

Theme music: "Troll of the Mountain Swing" by the Underscore Orkestra.

To contribute to The Body of Evidence, go to our Patreon page at: http://www.patreon.com/thebodyofevidence/.