Early this week we talked about
Ayurveda and rolling with the seasons. In the post was a quote from an OBS reader on her personal experiences with Ayurveda where she noted the movie
Forks Over Knives. Well, I finally got around to watching it. Have you seen it?
Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn have dedicated their careers (and lives) to research on the subject of whole foods plant-based diet, compared to a diet that includes meat and dairy, and its effects on health and disease. Not always with popular results.
We have become so accustomed to thinking that we need lots and lots of protein. That we have to have meat to be healthy and strong. Then there is the idea of dairy being the number one way to get your adequate intake of calcium. I did try a vegan diet and was concerned myself about calcium.
In the film Dr. Campbell shows that the body creates an acidic condition upon consumption of dairy, and this condition actually deteriorates bone density. When you think about it, mother cows have to be lactating to produce milk, the milk their bodies are creating for their own offspring. Who says it should be something we humans need?
This is not stuff we haven't heard before. I know it, live it sometimes, but inevitably go back to my "normal” way of eating--for me it is not too much meat/dairy, but refined sugary junk. Something about the way this movie presents the data and material really hits home. I actually had tears in my eyes during parts of the movie. For instance, the rate of obesity and diabetes in our children. You have probably heard before that experts believe our kids may be the first generation to not outlive the lifespan of their parents. All due to diet? That is just wrong! Kids eat what you put in front of them, at school, what mom makes for dinner, the selection in the cupboard or fridge at home. Once they are a little older and can make choices for themselves, they eat what they have been trained to eat, what they are used to eating. It is up to us, the adults in their lives, to make sure they have healthy foods to choose from and learn healthy habits at an early age.
Another area of FOK that really stood out to me was the possibility of halting or reversing cancer. My Mom is currently going through treatment for lung cancer. She started out with breast cancer seven years ago (which is what brought about my realization of toxins in cosmetics) which was successfully treated, only to return this year as a different cancer. I am excited to share this info with her as she is definitely a meat/animal fats lover.
These two brilliant (not to mention extremely likable) doctors share their years of tireless and interesting research that back up their thought on this way of eating being the way to go. They both also seem very healthy and happy "well into their 70s".
Technically this is a vegan diet, but this movement toward a whole foods plant-based way of eating is not focused on the vegan aspect per se, but the improvement of health and prevention of disease. Honestly, the thought of giving up my coffee creamer and chocolate isn’t very appealing. Like anything else, this endeavor just takes a little research and experimentation. Kind of like when you first begin using nontoxic cosmetics. Hmmmm…
I can tell you some of the important points from eating a whole foods plant-based diet, like:
- Marked improvement in cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar
- Healthy weight
- More energy
- Reversal or prevention of heart disease and certain cancers
- Lower health care and medication costs
But, truly, just watch it.
Forks Over Knives. I found it on Netflix.
Buy it on Amazon. It is inspiring to the max and a real eye opener. The thought of being able to stop or even prevent these major diseases by simply changing the way you eat seems like a no brainer.
So, have you seen the movie? Do you eat a whole foods plant-based diet?
Image from Amazon.com
