8 terrible health tips from Tom Brady

There's nothing wrong with avoiding coffee if you don't like it. But that's certainly not a requirement for being healthy.

Most research on coffee consumption indicates that coffee is not bad for us, and is actually associated with some pretty impressive health benefits. Coffee drinking is connected to reduced risk for a number of diseases, including liver conditions, various cancers, and Alzheimer's.

Brady subscribes to the belief that you can control your body's pH (acidity) based on what you eat. So part of his diet rationale is to avoid "acidifying foods." In his book, Brady argues that doing this improves bone health, boosts energy, and fights inflammation.

But studies indicate that this isn't the case. As one review of research on "alkaline diets" points out, most experiments conducted so far have found that you can't alter blood pH in a significant way with diet. In fact, As Mayo Clinic sports performance expert Michael Joyner told Vox, "If you actually eat a bunch of baking soda — even if you do that — you don't change [the pH level] that much."

The review also notes that "there is almost no actual research to either support or disprove" the idea that controlling your body's pH will fight off disease and improve bone health.

Brady's personal chef Allen Campbell has reported that the quarterback avoids "nightshade" vegetables, a category that includes tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Brady seems to steer clear of these items either because he thinks they cause inflammation, or because they supposedly aren't anti-inflammatory.

Brady also reportedly includes mushrooms on his don't-eat list, but those aren't nightshades — they are fungi and not from the Solanaceae plant family.

The vegetables Brady won't eat are in reality extremely healthy and do have anti-inflammatory properties. A food allergy or other sensitivity is, of course, a reason to avoid a certain vegetable. But most people should not cut these foods out of their diets.

Aside from the occasional banana, Brady reportedly avoids fruit.

People sometimes decide to stop eating fruit because they're wary of the sugar in it. While most nutritionists and dietitians would recommend avoiding foods with added sugar (which Brady also does), they don't think you should stay away from natural fruit sugars.

Fruit — when consumed whole, not in juice — is a great source of nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants that help fight inflammation.

Brady's strict salt preference is one of his practices that "register as full out kook," Timothy Caulfield, Canada Research Chair in Health Law and Policy at the University of Alberta, wrote for the Canadian publication Policy Options.

Salt is salt, for better or worse. Putting iodine in salt has done wonderful things to reduce rates of iodine deficiency, which can cause goiters, mental disability, and other serious medical conditions. Most people in the US with balanced diets now get enough iodine without the supplemental component in table salt, but it's certainly not harmful.

"Pliability" is the nonscientific physical principle that Brady espouses as key to his peak physical performance.

The idea was largely developed by Brady's body coach Alex Guerrero, and involves stretches and deep tissue massage that Brady says leaves muscles "long" and "soft."

But Guerrero has been banned from treating other Patriots players in the locker room and has tried to sell supplements that he said could cure cancer and prevent concussions (claims that are both false and dangerous).

"Pliability" it's not a real concept, according to exercise scientists. Stretching and massage can be great, but they aren't magic. And they certainly don't require a $200 foam roller or special "pliability" coach.

Brady's TB12 website sells expensive electrolytes, which are salts and minerals that almost no one needs as a supplement.

Even ultra-marathoners usually don't need to add extra electrolytes to their beverages. The vast majority of people — athletes included — get plenty of electrolytes from the food they eat.

With his book and website, Brady is selling unnecessary products and spreading ideas that may be harmful for some people. (Most people should not be encouraged to avoid fruits or vegetables!)

That said, eating a largely plant-based diet; avoiding processed food, added sugar, and alcohol; and consuming lean protein are all healthy choices.

Anyone who follows that advice will do well for themselves. Just skip the rest of it.