Food Documentaries

I have been fascinated by the science of nutrition for quite a long time, in fact, for the past few years I have said if someone else would pay the bill I would go back to school and become a Registered Dietitian (any takers?).  It combines two of my favorite things, nerdy science stuff and telling people what to do. :)  Now that I have been diagnosed with so many food allergies and suspected of having a gluten intolerance along with a variety of other health issues-It's Personal!

My husband and I have Netflix, which can be dangerous.  I have watched several Food Documentaries and it just keeps suggesting more, so I watch them too!  The latest ones I watched were "Forks Over Knives" and the accompanying "Engine 2 Kitchen Rescue".  The description for "Forks over Knives" from IMDB (www.imdb.com) is:
"Forks over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods."

For more information, visit their website www.forksoverknives.com

One of the claims the movie makes is "food is medicine" and uses the quote from Hippocrates, "Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food."  I agree wholeheartedly!!   I am a firm believer that many diseases can be treated, prevented and even reversed simply by changing your diet (not that I am anti doctor or medicine as a whole).  I also agree that we should cut out processed foods and add much more plant-based whole foods to our diet, but I disagree with the notion that the only way is through having absolutely no animal-based foods.   I believe that we get necessary fat, protein and amino acids from consuming meat, though I think it's possible to be healthy on a vegetarian diet.  I do agree with eliminating dairy, as we can get even more calcium from green veggies, but I don't even think that's necessary for all people.  I also strongly disagree with eating "whole grains" and eating virtually no fat (see the article in the articles section about that).  We do need fat and don't need gluten based grains.  Overall, "Forks over Knives" was fascinating and I believe that they did see great results from their research and did see people with heart disease, diabetes and other degenerative diseases improve, but I think those same results can be achieved simply by adding more plant-based whole foods to our diets and eliminating processed foods, and in my opinion, gluten.

I also watched the documentary "Food Matters" and the description from IMDB is:
"Food Matters examines how the food we eat can help or hurt our health. Nutritionists, naturopaths, doctors, and journalists weigh in on topics of  organic food, food safety, raw foodism, and nutritional therapy."
For more information, visit their website http://www.foodmatters.tv/

The movie uses the same Hippocrates quote  and discusses similar ideas of using nutrition as well as vitamin therapies to treat, prevent and even reverse many diseases.  It does speak much more about the politics and profit of treating diseases with drugs and surgeries instead of nutrition and vitamin therapies.  I agree that most doctors are taught to target and treat the exact complaint, and not to treat the whole person and most doctors get very little training in nutrition, so quickly reach for what they "know works"-drug therapies or surgery.  The film also discusses the fact that the pharmaceutical business is highly profitable and that there is always money to be made when people are sick, but no money to be made when people are well.  From my time as a Pharmacy Technician I am even more convinced that many medications are simply a "quick fix" and often just mask the real issue or are a way to keep people well enough to keep taking the medication rather than an actual long term solution which will make the drug companies no money.  Sick sells, not healthy!

The film also talks a lot about the high risks and side effects of many medications and surgeries and the lack of risks with most vitamin therapies.  The number of deaths from drugs and surgeries is astonishing, even when there was no doctor or patient error!  While quite the opposite is true of vitamin therapy's.  Now, I am not saying just go to the store and buy up all the vitamins and take them, I still believe we need a doctor to guide us and give us the proper dosage, etc.  I do not promote self diagnosis and treatment.

I like that the film also discusses food safety and how we need to research and find out where our food comes from and if it contains Genetically Modified ingredients.  It also discusses knowing how the meat we eat was raised and choosing wisely as well as the importance of eating organic, which I agree with, especially since I can only eat organic lettuce.  There is obviously something in the non-organic lettuce that makes me sick and that makes me think.

There is no new information in "Food Matters", it's just information we have ignored or even chosen not the believe.  I am a huge proponent of using nutrition and vitamin therapies first, then look into drugs or surgeries to treat many diseases.  I want to state again that I am not anti doctor or anti medication or surgery.  I also like that the film features a wide variety or people and doesn't seem to promote only one specific lifestyle rather than just looking at how much food does matter.   They do discuss cleansing, of which I am not a big fan.  I believe that if we take care of our body and feed it right, it is essentially a "self-cleaning oven" and there is no need for cleansing or detoxing.

-Melissa