[Newsletter] The Smartest Coach in the Room

Rethinking refined grains Every Saturday, The Smartest Coach in the Room delivers helpful takeaways on the hottest nutrition and health topics and the world’s most effective coaching techniques. (Did some amazing friend forward this to you? [Subscribe here]( Are Refined Grains Worthless? “Whole grains are always better than refined grains.” As nutrition maxims go, this one seems pretty rock solid. Most everyone agrees with it, no matter what their nutrition camp. (And this is true even if said camp is anti-grain.) But is it really a universal food truth—one that applies to everyone, all the time? We say it’s not. That might be an unpopular take, we know. After all, whole grains are closer to a whole food than the refined kind. (Fun fact: All store-bought grains are processed.) Unlike refined grains, they preserve the nutrition-packed bran and germ—which contain phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. And that provides a host of benefits, as you can see in the chart below. There’s a flip side, though: For certain folks, under certain conditions, refined grains can actually offer advantages over whole grains. Here’s why... Make no mistake: We’re not saying to eschew your sprouted grain bread for Wonder. Nor are we suggesting refined grains are just as nutritious as whole grains. We are, however, saying this: While whole grains are usually a better choice than refined grains, it’s not as straightforward as many people think. It all depends on who’s doing the eating—and their goals, preferences, and health status. If you want to learn more on this topic, check out our infographic: [The Truth About Whole Grains vs. Refined Grains]( 10-Second Takeaways - If you want to lose fat, consume whole grains most of the time. They’ll help you feel full longer. - If you’re trying to pack on muscle, allow for some refined grains, especially if you’re struggling to eat enough. - If you’re recovering from a stomach bug, use refined white rice or toast to settle your stomach. - If you have GI issues, such as IBS, choose mostly whole grains to encourage regularity, but use lower-fiber refined grains during flare-ups. - If your diet is mostly (80-90 percent) whole food, there’s probably room for refined grains if you enjoy them. Want to learn more about nutrition science and how to use it to help people make healthy eating and lifestyle changes? Check out our [Level 1 Nutrition Coaching Certification](. It combines the science of nutrition with the art of coaching so you can help anyone make evidenced-informed decisions and achieve their most important health and fitness goals. [Become a Certified Nutrition Coach - Join the presale list for the #1 rated PN Level 1 Nutrition Certification]( Take care, Alex --------------------------------------------------------------- Alex Picot-Annand, PN2, Holistic Nutritionist Editorial Director Precision Nutrition Home of the world’s top nutrition coaches --------------------------------------------------------------- What did you think of this email? Precision Nutrition Business Insider's #1 Choice for Nutrition Certifications in 2022 --- To view this email as a web page, click [here.]( Precision Nutrition Inc. 18 King Street East, Suite 1400 Toronto, ON, M5C 1C4, Canada Finally, nutrition makes sense. Visit us at [www.precisionnutrition.com]( today. Follow us on [Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences](