Hey 

Have you ever met an "evidence-based" reductionist? I bet you have.

I put evidence-based in inverted commas for a reason. Being evidence-based can lead some people down the path of toxic tribalism, where the only information they share is that confirmed by the tribe, and then repeated as a soundbite. This gets messy when you are dealing with individuals, as the evidence-based soundbites that can be generalised to some may not be applicable to the individual in front of you.

 

Let’s run through some examples…

“Don’t worry about when you eat your meals, just worry about your total calories”

This is a relatively sound, evidence-based statement that would likely help a lot of people if put into practice. Calories are a more important concern than meal timing, or how many meals you eat.

However, what if you are an athlete? A GAA player who wants to OPTIMISE performance, not just get by. 

Well, it’s a different story, and that soundbite may not apply to you. In this case, when you eat is more important, as is the number of meals that you eat, as both may affect 1) performance, and 2) recovery, which are pretty important for you as an athlete.

This is one of many examples that illustrate the importance of actually thinking (crazy, huh). It is incredibly easy to pick up a handful of evidence-based soundbites that you spew to the masses, but for you as an individual, it is my job to provide you with recommendations most likely to suit you based on evidence in populations similar to you, with your goals. If you are trying to chase a specific goal, then you must ask yourself what soundbites that you have picked up on social media are most relevant to you. For example, instead of asking “does it matter when I eat?”, ask “does it matter when I eat, considering I already track my calories, and have the intent to perform as best as I possibly can during an upcoming tournament?”. Different questions, with different answers.

The lesson to take away from this?

 

Ask better questions. Be specific. You will get far better answers (hopefully). When you ask us questions, we always try our best to 1) get you to specify, or 2) provide a nuanced answer.

Generic soundbites do not make one “evidence-based”, but rather, a parrot. This also applies to the information we put out. Be sure to appreciate the nuance, and don't just regurgitate it without its accompanying context. It's important.

 

Got any questions for us? Feel free to reply!

 

Kind Regards,