I find that few Americans continue to learn about food and nutrition once they’ve graduated from school. At some point, learning how to change diapers or buy a house or advance a career takes precedent.
Only after a diagnosis of cancer do most adults begin to educate themselves regarding the relationship between food and disease. A lot of complex information has emerged regarding the production of food and its direct relationship to health. The body of knowledge on the topic is complicated, large and growing—it is almost insurmountable for folks who are beginning the process with no formal science or nutrition education.
The easiest and most entertaining way I have found to educate patients about diet and nutrition is by prescribing documentaries. The food documentaries of today are well written, beautiful to watch, provocative, and engaging. I have my patients start with King Corn (available on Instant/DVD Netflix & Hulu Plus) which explains why high-fructose corn syrup and genetically modified corn are bad for us. Food Inc. (available on Instant/DVD Netflix) explores the food industry in America and reveals shocking insider secrets that ultimately affect our health. If you’ve seen Morgan Spurlock’s Super Size Me (available on DVD Netflix & Hulu), I recommend following it up with Fat Head (available on Instant/DVD Netflix & Hulu Plus). If you haven’t seen either, don’t watch one without the other. Forks over Knives (available on Instant/DVD Netflix and Hulu Plus) supports a whole-food plant-based diet and the Gerson Miracle (available on Instant/DVD Netflix and Hulu Plus) promotes juicing and coffee enemas. Food Matters (available on Instant/DVD Netflix) supports anti-conventional medicine and self-healing through an organic plant-based diet and vitamin therapy. While not a documentary, Fast Food Nation (available on DVD Netflix) based on the book by Eric Schlosser, is worth watching. This compelling drama examines the environmental and social consequences of fast food.
So, the next time you are mindlessly flipping through channels, please consider watching a food movie. Although it might be difficult to stay focused from time to time (the beginning of Fat Head was rough for me) the truth is that you might actually live longer for watching.
Here is a complete list:
- Hungry for Change (2012)
- The Skinny on Obesity—An Epidemic for Every Body, 7 part UCTV series (2012)
- The Weight of the Nation (2012)
- Forks over Knives (2011) [See above.]
- Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (2010) [Wealthy, overweight Aussie seeks moderation in his lifestyle through juice fasts. A reinforcement film; less education, more feel-good.]
- Food Stamped (2010)
- Vegucated (2010)
- Dirt! The Movie (2009)
- Earth Voice Food Choice (2009)
- Fat Head (2009) [See above. Former health writer and comedian refutes Super Size Me in a creative and intelligent way.]
- Food Beware (French) (2009)
- Fresh (2009)
- Fridays at the Farm (2009) [19 minute short. Beautiful to watch. Watch on Vimeo.]
- Ingredients (2009)
- Sugar—the Bitter Truth (2009)
- What’s on your Plate (2009)
- The Beautiful Truth (2008) [Seems like a Gerson Therapy propaganda film for teens. Touches on mercury in dental fillings, MSG and aspartame.]
- A Delicate Balance: the Truth (2008)
- Food Fight (2008) [Shines the light on the government's role in feeding Americans cheap processed foods.]
- Food, Inc. (2008) [See above.]
- Food Matters (2008) [See above.]
- The Garden (2008)
- Killer at Large (2008)
- King Corn (2007) [See above.]
- Fast Food Nation (non-documentary) (2006) [See above.]
- Frankensteer (2006)
- Media that Matters: Good Food (2006)
- As We Sow (2005) [Well done short film. View on YouTube in 3 parts. Watch for Jan Weber's new project Farmlandia.]
- Bad Seed—the Truth about Our Food (2005)
- Our Daily Bread (European) (2005)
- The Real Dirt on Farmer John (2005)
- Super Size Me (2004) [See above.]
- The Future of Food (2004)
- The Gershon Miracle (2004) [See above.]
- Life Running Out of Control (2004)
- Supercharge Your Immune System (2003)
- Deconstructing Supper (2002) [Canadian restaurant owner learns about genetically altered foods and goes 100% organic.]
- Fed Up (2002)
The post Focus on Food Movies | Nutrition Education appeared first on Nurse Gail.