[Newsletter] The Smartest Coach in the Room

The Tom Brady diet controversy 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]( Was Everyone Wrong About Tom Brady’s Diet? Back in 2016, the Boston Globe published an [interview]( with Allen Campbell, private chef to NFL star Tom Brady. Campbell told the paper that Brady doesn’t eat nightshades—including tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes—“because they’re not anti-inflammatory.” (Campbell goes on to say tomatoes “cause inflammation.”) It went viral, spawning a kajillion stories with headlines like “Here’s why Tom Brady’s ‘no-tomato diet’ is bogus” and “Why you shouldn’t follow Tom Brady’s diet” and our favorite, “You say tomato, but Tom Brady says toxic.” See the problem? Tom Brady didn’t tell people tomatoes are bad. Or that they should follow his diet. Later, in his 2017 book, The TB12 Method, Brady did share the nutrition principles he follows. (After all, A LOT of people were asking.) While some of his nutritional choices feel cringe-worthy (especially if you’re really into nutrition science), you’ll find no mention of “nightshades.” And he doesn’t tell people to avoid tomatoes, peppers, or potatoes. (Roma and cherry tomatoes and peppers even appear on “The TB12 Grocery List”.) “As an NFL quarterback, I need to do everything possible to … minimize even small amounts of inflammation. For that reason, I avoid ingredients that contribute to inflammation, like added sugars and refined carbohydrates, and pro-inflammatory foods like processed meats and fried foods. Again, my diet is engineered and matched to the job I need my body to do.” —Tom Brady (excerpted from The TB12 Method) Brady was looking for every edge to play professional football at the highest level. He got coaching to help with this. And he developed a way of eating that felt good to him. Brady played MVP-level football into his mid-forties, so it seemed to work for him. (And that’s true even if his diet wasn’t 100-percent grounded in science or appropriate for all people.) Dr. John Berardi can relate. (Sort of.) As the co-founder of PN and a world-renowned nutrition expert (zero Super Bowl rings, though), he’s frequently asked what he eats. So occasionally, he’ll share photos of a [single meal]( or even an [entire day of meals]( on social media. That sparks a lot of questions, ”most of them having to do with the physiological or health value of a particular inclusion (or exclusion),” he writes in a [brand-spanking new PN article](. Check out one of his recent photos, with annotated captions that give you an idea of the back and forth. As you can see, there’s not a scientific reason behind everything he eats or doesn’t eat. And there shouldn’t be, he says. According to Dr. Berardi, many of us are too caught up in hyper-analyzing every food choice. Not just what we put in our own mouths, but what others are eating, too. In the below article, he shows why this isn’t just annoying—it can be problematic for everyone involved. Spoiler alert: Dr. Berardi doesn’t eat tomatoes or peppers either. But not because he thinks they’re bad or unhealthy. To find out why (and pick up a few knowledge bombs along the way), read: [Superstition, sciencestition, and how to stop overthinking food.]( 10-Second Takeaways - People—including experts and journalists—often “cherry-pick” nutrition and health research that matches their own experience and beliefs. (Read: It can be heavily biased.) - Whether or not a food “works for us” has to do with more than just research. It also has to do with our goals, preferences, lifestyle, cooking skills, cultural background, and much more. - Your personal food choices shouldn’t be the basis for telling others what they should or shouldn’t eat. - A healthy relationship with food doesn’t require you to nitpick over every small decision or have a scientific justification for everything you choose. 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](