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Understand and apply the latest research to make smarter health decisions
NERD is all about real-life applications. Should you consider changing your diet or supplement plan according to new evidence? What about your patients, friends, or family with health conditions? NERD gets down to the nitty-gritty of a study and distills it into its practical applications.
Get the highlights quickly
Low on time? Every article comes with easy-to-understand summary boxes, graphics that break down key concepts, and a “Quick Takes” section at the top so you can get the highlights quickly.
An unbiased team you can trust
Examine.com employs an entire team of researchers whose only focus is nutrition research. NERD has been published for over five years, with every single sentence in every analysis triple-checked by our team.
Save time
It takes time to download pertinent studies for a topic. It takes even more to properly understand what a paper finds. Our team saves you all that time.
Avoid endless acronyms, jargon, and boring papers
Research papers are written for scientists, not for the average Joe. While the heavy dose of jargon, acronyms, and complex language is useful to researchers, most people won’t get it.
NERD is specifically written with precise yet colloquial language so it’s accessible without being watered down.
Be the best you that you can be!
Whether or not you’re a health professional, you probably know more about nutrition than others in your circle and probably get questions about health and weight loss all of the time. With NERD, you’ll know what the latest research findings are and you’ll have access to our entire backlog of issues with over 500 articles that you can refer to when you need answers.
Learn while you read
If you read our full articles, you’ll get a better sense of the science behind nutrition that you can apply to other research, whether you’re a professional or an enthusiast.
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Have you noticed how research can be overwhelming? Full of academic jargon, you don’t know if the results matter or some kind of mathematical trickery was used.
Then there are so many other things to consider — where was it published, who funded it, was the sample size large enough, does it have clinical significance, and so many more things.
But you can’t just throw up your hands and ignore research! As overwhelming as nutrition research is, its takeaways can be gamechanging.
What you need is a team of experts you can rely on, a team whose full-time job is to parse the research, select the most notable nutrition studies, and clearly and concisely review them for you — so you can actually apply the research.
What you need is NERD.
Are you currently a student? Click here to claim a 50% discount from the regular price.
Are you a senior citizen? Contact us for our senior discount.
NERD is your go-to resource for distinguishing fact from fiction — and you can check it out for free!
This isn’t “education” with the intent to push a product. The product is the education. Examine.com is unbiased and untethered to the vast nutrition and supplement industry. We don’t sell supplements, recommend brands, or involve ourselves in any of the shenanigans that occur online — 100% of our revenue is from information we analyze.
Our only purpose is to deliver the most legitimate, actionable information for you and your clients.
We publish two volumes a month online so that you don’t get overwhelmed with all this information once a month! If you’d prefer to take all in, we tie each monthly issue together nicely as a PDF.
Some studies are highly nuanced, and need to be analyzed in-depth. Others explore controversial topics, or use novel techniques that need explanation. These are a few of the many reasons to go extra deep into study analysis, and most of the studies analyzed in NERD get our full deep-dive treatment.
While some studies are important, they don’t quite need a Deep Dive to explore. We analyze these studies in an easy-to-digest question-based format to quickly give you the information you need to know without skipping out on some important details.
NERD minis distill information from recent reviews and guidelines in order to give you the essentials you need to know. We also occasionally cover some interesting non-trial studies that have hit the press recently.
One of the dirty secrets about scientific research is that studies finding no benefit or harm (null results), they are often not covered at all by the press.
So we make it our job to identify and quickly report null results every few months so you not only know what works, but also what doesn’t matter!
Every month, we find experts from across the health industry and pick their brains to get the lowdown on important health topics.
We keep you up to date on some of the latest happenings relevant to the world of nutrition and supplementation to boot! Want to get the rundown on new pharmaceuticals derived from nutritional ingredients? Or interesting goings on in the world of nutrition research? You’ll find it here.
Supplements aren’t without their downsides. “What’s the Harm?” highlights recent safety concerns in the world of nutrition and supplementation.
Click here to see a preview of NERD.
For each full-length article, the choice is yours. If you want all the nitty-gritty on background, methods, and results, read from top to bottom. If you’re in a hurry and need the actionable advice immediately, scan the “Quick Takes” at the beginning of the article and then skip straight to the “What should I know?” section at the end.
NERD will help you learn what’s what in terms of the latest nutrition research But it will also give you skills to understand other research you come across!
Each article is made even more accessible by colorful, insightful charts and figures. Cleaner and clearer than the black-and-white charts and figures found in the original paper, our infographics are designed to help you understand complex topics quickly.
Here’s an example of a graphic in a published paper and of us making it easier to understand:
We’ve been publishing NERD for five years now, and the entire set of content is available in our database, with all articles tagged by topic and easily searchable. So any time you want to learn more about a given topic, you can easily look up related NERD articles.
Your information should be as mobile and versatile as you are. Read an NERD article while chilling at a coffee shop or waiting in line at the DMV. Or, download any number of issues as PDFs so you can read them on your phone, tablet, or laptop during your next cross-country flight.
The entire team (and all NERD subscribers) are happy to discuss all articles published in NERD.
We love reading NERD ourselves, but we understand if you no longer want it - we offer an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee.
Lots of companies promise an unconditional money-back guarantee, but we stand by it. We even encourage you to search on Google about us - you won’t find a single negative review.
Included in your NERD subscription is access to Examine's entire research database, which unlocks all study details and topics pages on Examine.com!
Since we launched NERD in November 2013, we’ve written over 500 articles totalling over 2 million words. As long as you’re a member, you have access to all of that information.
We’ve put together a few studies we’ve analyzed over the past half-decade. Check out a sample issue.
Subscribe to NERD if you …
If any or all of these statements speak to you, you should strongly consider subscribing to NERD.
Academia has been using the same basic format for research papers for over half a century:
There’s nothing inherently wrong with this structure, but research papers are read mostly by other scientists — they are written by PhDs in a specific field for PhDs in the same field.
They’re dry. Complex. Full of jargon.
NERD is different. We make the study easier to understand than the paper itself does.
You’ll zoom out and learn how the study fits within the big picture.
You’ll zoom in and learn how you can apply the study’s findings.
This is how NERD structures each study analysis:
Be honest. Which article would you rather read? The original paper, which tells you all about the study … and leaves most of the interpretation up to you? Or the NERD version, which tells you all about the study, how it applies to the broader scope of nutrition and health, and what practical use you could make of this information?
Anyone who is a health professional or otherwise serious about nutrition will find NERD to be an essential tool in keeping them educated.
NERD subscribers are anyone who is truly interested in nutrition. They are doctors, health and wellness practitioners, registered dietitians, personal trainers, and science geeks like us.
Regardless of their background, they all have one thing in common — they love NERD. Here’s what a few of them have to say:
I have two Masters, so I know the rigmarole of reading and analyzing research. NERD makes all of that easy — it keeps me current on the latest research so I can focus on what is important — ensuring the health of my clients. A no-brainer. — Lavanya Krishnan
I’m expected to be constantly up to date. NERD helps me stay a step ahead of questions that my colleagues and patients ask me about the latest nutrition and lifestyle medicine research. — Dr. Natalie Walsh
It has helped me [an RD] stay up to date with research in a continuously evolving field. This helps me better educate family, friends, patients, and clients. It is delivered in an easy manner and a visually not-boring way. — Erik Bustillo
The research and clinical reasoning have helped me be a better practitioner and educate my patients at a higher level. — Jared Covarrubias
Lecturing about sports nutrition, and it helped me to find the information I need for my students without spending hours searching for references myself. — Mike Bikov
NERD helps me keeping up to date on most science topics regarding fitness nutrition, so I have more time to be there for my clients. — Mark Maslow
NERD has kept me on top of the most relevant and evidence-based approaches to dietary needs and supplementation for the last 5 years. I’ve utilized your literature for my own use and my clients’ needs. Invaluable. — Ariel Zeigler
I’m a Registered Dietitian and it helps me tremendously stay up to date. It’s the perfect amount of detail and perspective; worth so much more than what I’m paying — Dan Feldman
We examine the research and analyze the findings for you in plain English.
For that purpose, we’ve tasked a team of complementary experts to painstakingly go through every study analysed for NERD — not once but thrice — as part of our peer-review process.
Why such an exhaustive approach?
We believe that having experts analyse a study then other experts review the analysis is key to keep our articles free of bias and oversights. More eyes assessing the data, then more eyes assessing the assessment of the data, ensures the quality and credibility you’ve come to expect from Examine.com.
With 5 contributing writers, 3 in-house editors, and a panel of expert reviewers, you can rely on us to bring you the most accurate assessment of the available research.
MA in Molecular Biophysics, PharmD
Gregory Lopez is editor-in-chief for NERD. He obtained his master’s degree in molecular biophysics from the Johns Hopkins University, and his doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. In his spare time, Greg pursues interests in meditation, psychology, philosophy, and swing dancing.
PhD
Stephan Guyenet is a researcher, science consultant, and science communicator who specializes in the neuroscience of obesity. He received a BS in biochemistry from the University of Virginia and a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Washington, where he completed a postdoctoral fellowship studying the neuroscience of obesity. His scientific publications have been cited by his peers more than 2,700 times.
PhD(c)
As a physicist — as a science nerd at heart — Adel was dissatisfied with the information available when he became interested in training and in workout supplements. In those days, when Examine.com didn’t exist and the term “evidence-based” was used only in the courtroom, he created SuppVersity to write about the latest exercise, nutrition, and supplement science. As a reviewer for the Nutrition Examination Research Digest, Adel makes sure that our articles are not just evidence-based but also pleasant to read and easy to understand, with a particular focus on clear illustrations of complex information.
MBA, MPH, PhD(c) in Nutrition
Kamal Patel is co-founder and director of Examine.com. He holds two master’s degrees from the Johns Hopkins University, in business and in public health, and is on hiatus from a PhD in nutrition for which he’s investigated the link between diet and chronic pain. He’s published peer-reviewed articles on vitamin D and calcium, as well as on a variety of clinical research topics. He’s also been involved in research on fructose and liver health, on nutrition in low income areas, and on mindfulness meditation.
Examine.com provides up-to-date, informative, factually correct and unbiased research reviews that I trust. Examine.com is a signal in a sea of scientific noise!
Stuart Phillips, Director, Physical Activity Centre of Excellence (PACE) | Director, McMaster Centre for Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Research | Tier 1 Canada Research Chair, Skeletal Muscle Health
Whenever I want unbiased, meticulously researched, and scientifically credible supplement information, I turn to my friends at Examine.com. They review thousands of studies and give bottom-line supplement recommendations better than anyone else in the industry. For me, my team, and my colleagues, they’ve become a trusted resource.
John Berardi, PhD, CSCS | Co-founder Precision Nutrition | Advisor to Apple, Nike, and Equinox
Examine.com’s updates help me to stay on top of current research on supplements and diet trends. I appreciate the detail on topics like supplement-nutrient interactions, and their in-depth summaries are a great way to get “the lay of the land” quickly and efficiently.
Jennifer Sygo, RD Cleveland Clinic Canada | Performance Toronto Raptors
Examine.com has been a long-time favourite resource of mine. Everything that the team at Examine.com puts out is relevant, trustworthy, and most importantly, actionable. I would highly recommend these resources to any fitness/performance professional or anyone interested in learning how to live a healthier lifestyle.
Bryan Marshall, Player Development & Applied Sport Science | Vancouver Canucks
Examine.com has been my “go-to” when looking for the latest in supplement research. I find the site easy to navigate and appreciate the easy access to scientific information, when time is of the essence. I appreciate the ability to view all citations and trust Examine.com as a sound scientific tool.
Lindsay Langford, MS, RD, CSSD | Sports Dietitian, Indiana Pacers
As the Head Performance and Strength Coach for an NBA team, I am responsible for delivering credible and relevant information on all things sport performance. Examine.com is my go-to source when it comes to nutrition and supplementation.
Ramsey Nijem, Head Performance & Strength Coach, Sacramento Kings
I’ll keep this simple: Examine.com is where I
go when I want to look up what the science says on supplements and nutrition.
If you want the truth on supplements and what works and what doesn’t, no one does it
better. You can tell they spend the time and effort to get the full picture. And as a
pro bodybuilder, that’s exactly what I need.
John Meadows, IFFB Pro Bodybuilder
I turn to Examine.com any time I need to understand complex nutrition topics. The team consistently delivers science-backed, practical, and digestible information that I can trust.
Michael Easter, Lecturer - Journalism, UNLV | Journalist, contributor to Men's Health, Outside, and more
Examine.com is the most trusted resource on the internet for making intelligent decisions regarding your health. I visit it daily and frequently suggest to my patients to visit Examine.com before purchasing any supplements or making any dietary changes.
Mike Hart, MD
The supplement industry can be tremendously confusing for a number of reasons. First, the margins are incredibly high — so there are a lot of unethical weasels with no scientific background making bold and unsubstantiated claims to separate you from your money. Second, it’s a dynamic industry, as new products, brands, and research emerge every single day. Fortunately, the guys at Examine.com have streamlined the process of educating us all by providing an incredibly up-to-date resource on the supplements we encounter on a daily basis, as well as some of the more obscure ones that are out there that might “stump” us. This is an excellent product not only because it’s a completely research-backed, unbiased perspective without any financial conflicts of interest, but also because it’s exhaustively thorough and well written. I highly recommend it.
Eric Cressey, MA in Kinesiology, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Examine.com has become THE repository resource for nutritional supplement information. Most other similar databases fail at what they’re good at, which is being accessible and being comprehensive. Their frequent updates stay on top of the literature as it evolves. Examine.com gives me an excellent overview of the body of work, which helps me filter and refine my search strategy when I’m looking up supplements that I get asked about that I’ve never heard of. The Human Effect Matrix provides interpretation that is lacking in every other supplement database in the world. Most people don’t have the time or interest to develop high-level expertise, but need somewhere to turn to to make informed decisions about their supplements. That information is at Examine.com.
Dr. Bryan Chung, MSc in Rehabilitation Science, MD, PhD
It’s insufficient to simply rely on belief, conjecture or internet advice to determine if supplements are right for you. Instead you need to rely on research. With Examine.com’s reference guide, not only will you find their summary of the research, but also links to the original papers should you want to do your own due diligence. Truly a massive and helpful undertaking.
Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, MD CCFP Dip ABBM
Founded in 2011, Examine.com is an education company led by a team of experts with degrees in public health, exercise science, kinesiology, nutrition, pharmacology, toxicology, microbiology, biophysics, biomedical science, neuroscience, chemistry, and more. With over 2.5 million visitors each month, our website is the trusted resource on nutrition and supplement research.
Health professionals, nutrition nerds, and fitness fanatics — active minds eager to understand the latest research in order to improve the health and performance of their patients, clients, loved ones, and selves.
NERD is a monthly publication.
We will notify you of each new issue via email, and you can browse all issues online at https://examine.com/nerd/ or simply download them from the Member’s Area.
We offer an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee on all our products. Should you be unhappy with the Nutrition Examination Research Digest for any reason, simply email us at support@examine.com and we will refund your purchase and cancel your subscription.
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Click here to claim your student discount.
Zero conflict of interest
Examine.com is an unbiased resource on nutrition and supplementation. We are not influenced by commercial interests, product manufacturers, or any other organization, and we will not advertise products or brands. Examine.com does not accept donations, third-party funding, or sponsorship of any kind. One hundred percent of our revenue is generated through our information products.
100% money-back guarantee
All Examine.com purchases are risk-free. Our Nutrition Examination Research Digest comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee — no questions asked. If you don’t like what you see, just email us via support@examine.com within 30 days for your full refund.
