What the Health

[Sad Eyed Lady]

Has anyone else watched the documentary "What the Health"? It is showing on Netflix right now and is a very interesting documentary on the effect of food on health. I think most of it is going over things we already know, but some is more eye-opening, to me anyway, and worth thinking about.

[CathyA]

My DS just told me about this documentary yesterday. He thought it was very good. He's been a vegetarian/pescatarian mostly, but very occasionally ate meat, and sort of decided after seeing this to give up meat and dairy again. He says he feels so much better without dairy and only eating plant-based things. I wonder how "scientific" the studies were that were cited in this film?

[JaneV2.0]

It seems to be yet another vegan propaganda film, with the same predictable cast of characters. There are some good nutritional documentaries out there--I suggest Fat Head or That Sugar Film.

[Williamsmith]

It seems to be yet another vegan propaganda film, with the same predictable cast of characters. There are some good nutritional documentaries out there--I suggest Fat Head or That Sugar Film.

I second this. I watched this propaganda flick long enough to research the so called experts interviewed. The entire thing is more of an infomercial than a documentary. Disregard it as junk.

[pinkytoe]

Haven't seen it but find that how we eat sure seems as divisive as politics these days. I tend to believe that veganism (not vegetarianism) or any other extreme diet is probably not healthy in the long run. Yes, one looks and feels better for the first year or so but the nutritional deficits show up later for many who try it - hair, skin, bone health. I am sticking with omnivorism (is that a word?) but am cutting way back on the bread, crackers, i.e. wheat stuff.

[Rogar]

I've followed Dr. Greger, who is featured in the film, after reading his book "How Not to Die". I switched from a basic omnivore diet to mostly vegan a year and a half ago. I have trouble sticking to it when out dining with friends or have meal company to my house as about the only vegan exceptions. I feel fine, but really no better or worse, and no major health issues. I am in my early 60's and bicycled over 3000 miles last year. The major health markers the medical industry likes to monitor are about the same...blood pressure and other routine blood work. My cholesterol dropped about 10%, but is still slightly high and I'm down about 5 or 10 pounds. I don't take any routine medications. Cooking appetizing food has been a slight challenge, but I generally enjoy my meals.

I don't think it's all propaganda, but there is definitely some hype and what I think of as partial truths in the film. Mainstream medical groups like the heart association and cancer society are not very crazy about processed or red meats, but a little more forgiving on fish and chicken. It's no secret that wild ocean fishes are being depleted and many farm fish are not good for the environment. Then you get into the humane conditions on factory farms.

My opinion is to eat what ever makes good common sense, but to be informed of the consequences.

[razz]

I
My opinion is to eat what ever makes good common sense, but to be informed of the consequences.
Michael Pollan wrote after he researched food, diets etc., to 'eat food, not too much and mostly plants'. Not too much is a bigger item than most, I think. That is my diet but I do eat locally grown meat.

[freshstart]

Are Fat Head and That Sugar Film on netflix if you know off hand?

[HappyHiker]

Sure, eating wholesome food benefits our health in wonderful ways. Living on fast and processed crappy food is very likely to harm our health. Don't we all know that by now? But our diets have become so politicalized. Eat MY way or you're doomed. Takes a lot of the joy right out of food.

I endorse Michael Pollan. Eat "mostly" vegetables. To me that means that on the rare occasion, one can eat a bit of bacon -- or even--gasp a burger. Jeez, let's lighten up. It's not one way or the highway. Food has become a battle zone. Let's lighten up a bit. And enjoy our food--whether vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore.

Common sense, yes?

[catherine]

I endorse Michael Pollan. Eat "mostly" vegetables. To me that means that on the rare occasion, one can eat a bit of bacon -- or even--gasp a burger. Jeez, let's lighten up. It's not one way or the highway. Food has become a battle zone. Let's lighten up a bit. And enjoy our food--whether vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore.

Common sense, yes?

Yes.

[JaneV2.0]

Are Fat Head and That Sugar Film on netflix if you know off hand?

No, I don't know. They're both on Amazon, though.

I forgot my favorite of all--My Big Fat Diet, which used to be available on YouTube, but doesn't seem to be now. It told the tale of Dr. Jay Wortman's small study of a group of Canada's First Nations people and how they embarked on a life-saving eating plan. My library has it; maybe Netflix does, too.

[Rogar]

Sure, eating wholesome food benefits our health in wonderful ways. Living on fast and processed crappy food is very likely to harm our health. Don't we all know that by now? But our diets have become so politicalized. Eat MY way or you're doomed. Takes a lot of the joy right out of food.

I endorse Michael Pollan. Eat "mostly" vegetables. To me that means that on the rare occasion, one can eat a bit of bacon -- or even--gasp a burger. Jeez, let's lighten up. It's not one way or the highway. Food has become a battle zone. Let's lighten up a bit. And enjoy our food--whether vegan, vegetarian, or omnivore.

Common sense, yes?

I wonder how common the traditional American diet of bacon and eggs, meat and potatoes, and fast food is. It seems like people are more conscious of what they eat, but even the simple Pollen advice is a stretch for many or most. I certainly don't want to push my veganism off on anyone. It's a bit of a challenge and you have to want to do it.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I wonder how common the traditional American diet of bacon and eggs, meat and potatoes, and fast food is.

except for that last part about fast food, I often suspect that is healthier than what ACTUALLY constitutes the typical American diet, because the supermarkets are full of weird processed foods and someone must be buying them. OTOH some people are super health conscious of course.

People think the SAD is meat and potatoes (or fine chicken and potatoes and maybe a vegetable - the standard meat, starch, veggie combo), but those can be real foods (well if the potatoes aren't from a box etc.), and when we talk about SAD these days we might not even be talking about real foods like that at all (which might make worry about whether the villain is the steak or the potato or the butter on the potato a dead end as far as the SAD - maybe study it somewhere where they actually eat real food in that case ...).

[Rogar]

except for that last part about fast food, I often suspect that is healthier than what ACTUALLY constitutes the typical American diet, because the supermarkets are full of weird processed foods and someone must be buying them. OTOH some people are super health conscious of course.

Yes, I suppose that is right. I shop at a Sprouts that is in an ethnically diverse area and people seem to load up on their inexpensive vegetables and fruits and not a lot of processed foods. I'm routinely impressed when I visit the standard supermarket with all the inner store and shopping baskets full of various forms of processed foods.

All of the niche diets that are in the media, Wheat Belly, What the Health, Forks Over Knives, or whatever, might have their place but really get into territory where following the diet is not sustainable for most people over the long term. It might make better sense to promote a Pollen or Mediterranean style diet that people can at least try to stick to.

[gimmethesimplelife]

Ay Carumba, interesting issue, very interesting for me. Food for me is such a loaded and emotional topic, for several reasons. One is that for parts of my life I have dealt with food insecurity - when I say this please let me make it clear that I was never a starving third world world scarecrow (and yes I am grateful for that as it's just the luck of the draw that I have not had to deal with that as many of our fellow travelers on this planet do) - bur for some time growing up I was noticably underweight. Some of this was economics and some of this was also reaction to a stressful environment. In other words, when I was young and I was stressed out I had no real interest in food......I graduated college at the age of 24 weighing 129 pounds with a height of 5' 8". I also remember when I was working retail years ago I used to consider food an enemy as depending on how busy the store was, I might not have the chance to eat for eight hours or more and it was a real pain as stress cuts my wish to eat but the flip of this is being in a situation where I can't eat when I am hungry because of corporate policy or customers "needs" or because I'll get written up if I do and potentially fired - this is emotionally very trying to me, and one of the key reasons I gave up on retail years ago.

Moving along to my life waiting tables, I found that due to the stress and the complete and total lack of control of any of the variables I had to deal with and was directly responsible for - for some reason in this environment, I wanted to eat more and I sure did and for the first time in my life I gained weight. It's only been since I read YMOYL and got some kind of handle on my finances that I gradually became concerned with what I eat and what the consequences to both myself and the planet are from my food choices. Today I am a weight I am truly OK with- 160 which is within guidelines for my height - and am (mostly but not 100%) vegetarian. I will still eat chicken and fish from time to time but no more pork or beef. What makes it hard for me to eat meat (and I still hypocritically eat chicken, I know.......) is that I have read about the conditions that animals are forced to deal with before being slaughtered so that the profits of corporate agriculture can be maximized. The first time I became aware of such I had fantasies of getting on a life raft in the ocean in Florida and setting out for Cuba - the opposite direction from most of the folks on the life rafts lol. It's just so......dehumanizing is a good word - to discover how animals are treated and how the often go insane from being crowded together to maximize profit to such an extreme that some animals go insane as they are unable to behave how they normally would in the wild due to lack of space.

One thing I will say is that this is something I screen any potential employer for these days - whether or not I will be expected to work under conditions of food starring in the role of enemy. In other words, will I be forced to be hungry for long periods of time with my need to eat meaning absolutely nothing due to polices/employer expectations/this is life suck it up and deal if you wish to remain employed. Thankfully working on my current gig - banquet serving work for a temp agency - I do get a lunch (or dinner depending on the shift) break and the chance to eat and I also get a free meal too when I work most sites and sometimes the food is incredible, too, as it's usually the same meal the guests get. I honestly don't believe I could last long in retail or cringe, cringe, cringe, in health care, either - two environments where employees basic needs such as the right to eat mean absolutely nothing based on the level of business. I have a real hard time with my basic needs meaning nothing, especially in a for profit environment.

I guess my overall point is that I have had and continue to have a interesting relationship with food - at least at the moment it's not a relationship based on fear or worry and I'm grateful for that, and at this point in my life I am making what I consider mostly wise food choices, too. It's taken a long time to get here but I'm here finally!!! Rob