#585: Why We Think Poorly: Reason, Emotion, and Evidence-Based Reasoning

Can an athlete reduce the environmental impact of their diet while still meeting the demands of training, competition and recovery? Peter Res argues that these aims can be compatible, provided dietary changes are planned around the athlete's needs. The discussion looks at practical changes athletes can make to make their diets more environmentally sustainable. This includes tips on increasing the contribution of plant proteins, maintaining adequate energy intake, and making plant-rich eating practical within sporting environments. Timestamps

Men commonly feel that if their testosteone isn't "optimized" and high, they are missing out on greater health in a variety of ways. But what can a testosterone result actually tell us? How can results be interpreted with appropriate nuance that is needed? How low is low enough to be problematic? In situations where a test flags testosterone as low, there is a belief this means automatically starting testosterone replacement therapy. While TRT can be an excellent intervention in appropriate cases, when is it actually likely to benefit someone, and when is it not? For many people the decision seems straightforward: get a blood test, see whether testosterone is a little low, and start TRT. However, this simplistic thinking is full of potential issues that are important to understand. Dr. Austin Baraki returns to discuss how testosterone testing should inform treatment decisions, what benefits to expect, and the questions surrounding fertility and long-term safety. Timestamps:

Body composition testing is widely used in research, sport and clinical practice. But what are these methods actually measuring, and how much confidence should we place in the numbers they produce? In this episode, we examine the assumptions behind common approaches including DXA, bioelectrical impedance, and skinfold measurements. We discuss the distinction between accuracy and reliability, the value and limitations of repeated measurements, and how coaches, clinicians, researchers and individuals can select an appropriate method and interpret the data without overstating its precision. Joining Danny to discuss these issues is Professor Grant Tinsley, Professor of Human Performance at Texas Tech University and Director of its Energy Balance and Body Composition Laboratory. Timestamps:

Why do some foods feel difficult to stop eating, while others can be highly enjoyable without prompting the same tendency to overconsume? Answering this requires a clearer understanding of food reward, including the distinction between liking a food, wanting it, and perceiving it as easy to overeat. In this episode, we examine how nutritional composition, sensory characteristics, learned beliefs and the eating context may shape hedonic overeating. It also considers the limits of using broad food categories to explain complex eating behaviour. Discussing all this is Professor Graham Finlayson, professor of Psychobiology at the University of Leeds, whose research focuses on human appetite, food reward and the psychological processes involved in eating behaviour and weight control. Timestamps

Commonly people are talking about "peptides" to refer to a heterogeneous group of peptide medications or investigational compounds. These are increasingly promoted for injury recovery, tissue repair, performance and longevity, with BPC-157 attracting particular attention. But what evidence supports the claims made about these compounds? How should animal studies, biological mechanisms and personal anecdotes be interpreted? What is currently known about their safety? And what do recent regulatory discussions actually mean for their medical status and availability? In this episode, physician and Barbell Medicine founder Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum examines the evidence surrounding BPC-157 and other peptide medications, alongside the wider questions of risk, access and informed decision-making. Timestamps