Why Muscles & Marbles
Navigating The Maze
Finding information is too easy these days. Not like the old days of encyclopedias (didn’t everyone have Brittanica?) and libraries. Remember the amazing ‘microfiche’?
Today, if you google topics from wellbeing to weight control to avoiding chronic disease, you’ll find thousands of results. The problem is too much info; not too little. You could drown in it.
Finding Conflicts
The deeper you dig, the more conflicting opinions there are. At least that’s what we found.
At first, we didn’t know who to believe. We didn’t know if the science was valid. We didn’t know if the authors were independent, paid or pushing their own barrows. We didn’t know if the research was leading edge or old stuff in a new wrapper.
Devising A Process
Over time, we developed this process. This is what we now ask ourselves when we find interesting new research:
- Who are the authors?
- How long have they worked in this field?
- What other papers have they written?
- Which journals published them?
- What methods did they use?
- Do they cite any sponsors or interests?
- Do they sell any products related to this or any topic?
In short, are they independent enough to be trusted?
The Real World
We add an extra step to the validation process: what we call the ‘real world check’.
A bit like weather forecasters who don’t stick their heads outside, some researchers don’t check their results against the outside world. We do and it’s often very clarifying.
For instance: Kim is a keen cook and, early on, discovered that the French cook with more butter, cream and fat – all the stuff that causes heart disease – than any other country on the planet.
Later on, looking outside the kitchen with his researcher’s hat on, Kim found that the French had half the rate of heart disease and obesity of the US, the UK and here, Down Under.
‘How can this be?’ he thought.
It’s called ‘the French Paradox’ because it turns the ‘fat makes you fat and cholesterol kills you’ mantra on its head. You can read more about it in this blog post – and it’s good news for foodies.
A New Perspective
That’s why Muscles and Marbles exists – and why it’s just us – Kim Brebach and Tracey James.
We’re professional information researchers. We know how to find and verify original research. We know how to sift facts from marketing spin. We know how to explain complex concepts so everyday people can understand them.
This is what we used to do for MedTech, Biotech and InfoTech corporate clients, for over 30 years. You can read what some of them say about us.
If we find a valid source, we’ll share it with you. If it isn’t valid, we may still share it – to explain what not to trust and why. In all cases, we link to our sources so you can check them.
We’re not clinical researchers, medical doctors or nutritionists. We don’t give advice. We’re not qualified to.
We share the advice of those who are quaified – whom we trust.
A TASTE OF OUR WORK
Secrets Behind 9 Medical Myths
