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Turned off by food documentaries?

I saw a few suggestions from a couple of other threads to watch some of the food/health documentaries on Netflix. I recently watched Hungry for Change and Forks over Knives. I've got to say that while interesting, I find these documentaries mainly serve to turn me off towards the eating styles they focus on. Both have a theme of processed foods being the bane of healthy living, (though forks over knives focuses more on a vegan lifestyle), but they're so adamant about what they do is right vs what everyone else does is wrong, that it reaches the point where I find myself wanting to eat a cheeseburger out of spite. Whether literally calling feeding your children sugar the equivalent of giving them cocaine or heroine, to saying eating any animal products practically gives you cancer/heart disease, with very little source citing past interviewing various doctors, I feel like they spend more time scare mongering and stretching the truth than giving factual information.

I'm not saying that what they claim is wrong, because I agree that eating too much processed junk and shirking fruit and veggies for excess meat and carbs is unhealthy, but they leave no room for debate about what people with different lifestyles, tastes, or dietary restrictions may do for their well being. The message was so cut and dry, and I feel that saying the lifestyle or diet that worked for you will work for everyone, and anyone who doesn't follow your ideas exactly is doomed to die early is narrow minded and unfair. I would like to see a documentary or story that shows there are many ways to be healthy, and the best lifestyle towards better health is the kind that you will enjoy and stick with.

Any thoughts? Perhaps your view on these documentaries or lifestyles, or possibly a suggestion for one you found enjoyable and informative.
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I'm with you.  Even thought I don't eat meat or dairy and try to avoid processed food, I still get irritated by documentaries on the 'evils' of modern food.   Yes, I believe organic, locally sourced food is the best choice.  And that a diet consisting mostly of fresh veggies is even better.  But..... I'm not sure I'm actually any 'healthier' than people my age/weight who eat a diet of mostly processed food.  Perhaps the benefits will be apparent 20 years from now.  But, among my family, friends and colleagues there is no clear distinction between healthy diet and being diagnosed with a serious disease.  Conditions like heart disease, diabetes and cancer seem as likely to inflict people who eat tofu and steamed veggies as those who eat red meat every meal.   One could argue that my conclusion is based on a small number of people, too few to reveal a trend.  I accept that as a valid criticism.  But, its 'my world' and its made me aware that my diet might not have any impact on my long term health, not if my genetic makeup is working against me. 

 

Last night, when I got home from a hard cardio workout at the gym I ate a plate of veggies and pasta washed down with two Japanese beers, followed by a few Reeses peanut Butter chocolate cups.  Is this the healthiest meal possible? According to these documentaries, the answer is absolutely not.  But, as a  package, the combination of exercise, some 'good' food, beer and some 'comfort' food left me feeling relaxed, content and ready for a good night of sleep.   I think that is more important, and healthier in the long run, than sticking to rigid diet. 

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Exactly. Even for the studies, I feel like the results were cherry picked to show what they wanted. For instance, the China study that documented the cancer rates among various cities. Perhaps the people who live in cities and go out to fast food have a higher rate of cancer, but perhaps the people who have the money to afford going out to eat regularly also have the money to get tested for cancer, and therefore find more of it. Ware they going around testing everyone, or just drawing from a pool of people already diagnosed? What if the poor, malnourished children one of the doctora focused on were all just dying too young for them to actually developed any conditions? Or with the people chosen for a study based on their heart conditions and diabetes, when all they do is sit around all day eating junk, any positive change is going to have an effect. For me personally, I've had meat in my diet my whole life. But I try to work out and avoid junk food and eat well most of the time, and my blood tests come back fine. Everyone is an individual. Maybe my diet would be the worst thing imaginable for someone else. How could it be healthy if they hate it and stress about it all of the time? These documentaries at least seem to zoom in only on the data that supports their claims, and try to claim causality from correlation.
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Of course, at the end of the day most of these documentaries are no different to any other movie.  Its about selling tickets, DVDs, production rights, advertising space, etc.   I'm sure its good business for companies like WholeFoods (and even Fitbit) to advertise around documentaries like Food, Inc.  Many people will walk out of the theatre, or away from their TV/tablet thinking 'thats it, I'm going to exercise and eat right......' and think 'WholeFoods' is where I need to go shop! 

 

Personally, eating a lot of processed food leaves me feeling tired and generally 'not right'.  Thats my motivation to stay out of the center ailses in a supermarket.   I think for most people - myself included - the concept of long term health being linked to what I eat for dinner is rather abstract, and all to easy to ignore.  In which case, where documentaries like Food, Inc have value is by encouraging some people to switching their diet from fast food to a more healthy diet.  Perhaps for the first time in their life eat fresh vegetables instead of fries and realize they feel better just by eating a different diet. 

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Here, here!

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Yes, it's definitely rather sensational. I was joking with a friend about it to go in with the mindset like you would for a cheesy horror movie; just suspend your disbelief for now. I know a more open approach doesn't sound nearly as good as calling sugar cocaine, I just wish some of them offered a wider view on what is healthy besides se just one style.
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