How Can We Trust Hypertrophy and Nutrition Science? (Eric Helms) | Ep 391

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23d ago 1:35:34

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How can you tell when science is solid and when it’s just being sold to you?

Dr. Eric Helms returns for his third appearance to unpack how we interpret fitness research, why “evidence-based” doesn’t always mean “accurate,” and what it really takes to think critically about the information you consume.

We break down the philosophy of knowledge and why understanding how we know things leads to better results. Eric and I unpack skepticism vs. cynicism, spotting red flags in “sciencey” claims, and balancing real-world experience with research. You’ll also learn a simple framework to stay curious without getting misled.

Today, you’ll learn all about:

2:25 – Setting the stage for scientific thinking
10:50 – Why critical thinking beats blind belief
15:07 – The meaning of epistemology
25:01 – How empiricism changed modern science
34:52 – What black swans teach us about truth
48:27 – Cynicism vs. healthy skepticism
59:50 – Making sense of the hierarchy of evidence
1:12:56 – Turning data into practical results
1:28:50 – Where to find credible fitness research

Episode resources:

MASS Research Review
On Google Scholar: Eric R Helms, h-index: 35, i10-index: 68, and cited by 6811
On PubMed - PMID: 24092765, with 89 articles (including 20 preprints)
Instagram: @helms3dmj
YouTube: @Team3DMJ

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Chapters

1. Can We Trust Fitness Research? (00:00:00)

2. Introducing Eric Helms And The Mission (00:01:06)

3. Science, Hype, And Conflicts Of Interest (00:03:04)

4. Cynicism Versus Skepticism Online (00:07:51)

5. Ontology Before Epistemology (00:12:13)

6. Positivism, Constructivism, Critical Realism (00:18:38)

7. Why Empiricism Wins In Practice (00:25:04)

8. Falsification And The Black Swan Lesson (00:30:30)

9. Evidence Hierarchy And Meta-Analysis (00:36:48)

10. From Averages To Individuals (00:44:41)

11. Anecdotes, Placebos, And Real-World Decisions (00:50:59)

12. Using N=1 Without Fooling Yourself (00:57:44)

13. Diet Breaks, Refeeds, And Saying “I Don’t Know” (01:04:56)

14. How Studies Are Actually Born (01:10:41)

15. Where To Learn How To Learn (01:16:54)

16. Practical Resources And Closing (01:21:00)

554 episodes

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