My last blog post about my favorite immune-boosting practices during the COVID-19 crisis got me thinking about how and where I learn about health. One place I learn about these things is through health documentaries. I know you’re looking for something to binge-watch while stuck at home. Why not fill up on some educational content that could inspire you to improve your health? Here are five of my favorite Health Documentaries. They can be found on Netflix or Amazon.
Forks Over Knives
This documentary follows the work of two doctors seeking to understand the health impacts of eating animal protein. There are quite a few documentaries about vegan/ plant-based eating. What The Health is a popular documentary on Netflix. I prefer Forks Over Knives because I believe the movie presents more solid science and is less sensational than What the Health. In this documentary, Dr. T. Collin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn share their research into what they call a whole-food plant-based diet. They believe that a diet low in animal protein and processed foods can prevent and in some cases, reverse chronic diseases.
Forks Over Knives is more than just a documentary. You can subscribe to recipes on their website or pick up one of their magazines at stores like Sprouts or Whole Foods.
Watch on: Netflix
Heal
I came across Heal on Netflix after watching I am Not Your Guru and looking for something informational or inspirational. This documentary explores the relationship between mind and body. At times it does get a little “woo-woo” but don’t let that scare you away. This documentary includes some powerful case studies of people who have been able to turn their health around by focussing on their inner selves. Think that’s BS? You’ve heard of the placebo effect, right? Doctors don’t understand how it works but it is a well-documented phenomenon. One story I found particularly compelling was when a woman shared about her research of people who made miraculous cancer recoveries. They all had a lot of things in common in terms of how they approached beating their illness. But many of those things were not diet-related, they were related to mental health and spirituality.
Watch on: Netflix
The Game Changers
This is one of the more recent documentaries about plant-based eating. A colleague of my husband reached out to me for advice on going vegan after watching this documentary. So, of course, I had to check it out. This movie is no joke. It’s produced by James Cameron, Arnold Schwartzenegger, Jackie Chan, and several other heavy hitters. The Game Changers tells the story of James Wilks – elite special forces trainer and Ultimate Fighting champion. After sustaining a terrible injury, Wilks started researching diet and nutrition in order to speed healing. What he found surprised him. There are MANY successful athletes eating a strictly plant-based diet. This documentary explores the impact of meat and busts a lot of the myths athletes have been taught about where protein needs to come from. Both educational and entertaining,
I highly recommend this documentary. Even if you have no intention of going vegan, this movie provides some inspiring stories of human strength and endurance.
Watch on: Netflix
The Science of Fasting
In The Science of Fasting, we learn about the idea of fasting for health. I’ve shared before about how I try to practice intermittent fasting. But, this documentary shares some pretty extreme fasting scenarios. We’re talking 20+ days! I admit that the idea of fasting that long scares me. But there were some compelling stories about people who fasted their way to better health. Toward the end of the documentary, one cancer researcher shares about the potential impact of fasting on chemotherapy side effects.
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
The Gut: Our Second Brain
Have you heard about gut health? How about the micro-biome? In The Gut: Our Second Brain doctors discuss the idea that we have another “brain” within our bodies – our gut. To be honest, it’s been a while since I watched this one. The basic premise of the film is that our gut is responsible for far more than just digestion. Our “second brain” includes billions of neurons and gut bacteria. Some say that the health of our gut can impact not only our physical health but our personalities and decision-making abilities. There are some truly fascinating ideas in this film. I encourage you to check it out.
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
Do you have any other favorite health documentaries you’d like to recommend? Drop me a comment and let me know!
Of course, you need snacks while you’re watching. Below are some of my family’s favorites!
My kids’ favorite! (not vegan!)
My son’s favorite. (Vegan)
Blow your kids’s minds with some old school Jiffy Pop!