A good documentary film can change your life.
When choosing a documentary film it is important to be aware of who made the film, who sponsored the film and what the agenda of the film is. Click To Tweet
In this post, I share a few of the documentary films that I think you should see for yourself and my daily journal in which I talk about my experience with the Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead cleanse.
Forks Over Knives
The title of this film, Forks Over Knives, may make you believe that the documentary is about being a vegetarian and not needing a knife to cut your food.
If you look a bit further beneath the surface you will find that what this film is really about is choosing food over surgery. This is not a preachy film about plant-based eating, though it is definitely promoting vegetarianism.
It is a film about health that speaks to the benefits of avoiding processed foods and eating a whole food based diet.
Purchase HERE.
King Corn
King Corn is a somewhat humorous film in which two best friends discover some of life’s reality as they trace the history of corn, lose money, gain knowledge and bring us on their journey.
The 2007 documentary film follows a crop of corn from seed to market and into your hair.
I recommend it for all to see as it brings a great deal of knowledge, insight, and conversation to the “table.”
Purchase HERE.
Tapped – The Movie
This is another great documentary designed to get you thinking.
‘Tapped The Movie’ – Trailer on Bottled Water Documentary
So many people are confused as to which water is best to drink.
Should we get specialized water filters? What about ph balanced water? Is it okay to drink from the tap? Is bottled best?
This film takes a deeper look at the bottled water industry and its effects on our health and environment. It even provides some answers.
Purchase HERE
Seeds of Death
Seeds of Death: Unveiling The Lies of GMO’s is a thought-provoking documentary that forces you to take a closer look at GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) and why they exist.
In this film, you will be confronted with questions about corruption, food labeling and the potential health risks of consuming GMO’s. Just how far do you think that the corruption goes?
The movie is provided above in its entirety.
Super Size Me
This is an interesting series that will even keep the kids entertained, or at least oddly fascinated.
The star of the first film, Morgan Spurlock, spends one month partaking in McDonald’s meals three times per day while at the same time reducing his exercise to the levels of the “average American.” He very quickly feels ill, is vomiting and feeling tired. At the same time, he is experiencing increased body fat, raised cholesterol levels and elevated blood pressure.
Now while the average American does not eat fast food for every meal on every day they do eat it fairly often which brings us to the very interesting questions of “What are we doing to ourselves? What are we doing to our kids?”
Purchase HERE
Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
This documentary follows the journey of Joe Cross as he attempts to get off daily steroid treatment, lose weight and get healthy by only drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juice each day for sixty days.
Along the way, we meet various people that Joe speaks with and some that he influences. The largest influence is on Phil Staples. Phil is severely overweight and, like Joe fits well with the rather dramatic title.
I enjoyed the film and found Joe to be quite personable. I very much enjoyed how open he seemed to be.
There are animated shorts in the film and I believe that these take subjects that people often have a hard time understanding and make it very simple to understand. I also believe that the film did a good job of explaining micronutrients but very simply stated that “macronutrients are everything else.”
I definitely believe that this film had some very valid points. As well, it makes the idea of daily juicing more accessible, whether that be for a fast or as a supplement to one’s normal diet.
Purchase HERE
My Journal Entries About My Experience With Fat Sick And Nearly Dead (August 2011)
Day 1.
In this entry, I am referring to the FSND video and Reboot program. Curiosity about this has gotten to me. For this reason, I have now decided to try the five-day program. I stuck 100% to all fruits and vegetables. I ate chilled raw soup and juiced, blended, and baked the rest of the day’s nourishment. Some great recipes were discovered. I have not yet watched the video which is a seriously backward way of doing this. I somehow never watch much TV, but I plan on watching the video tonight.
My initial impression is that this is not much different than my regular way of eating. However, I am not currently eating grains, beans, and such while on the program. Thus far I have had no headaches, dizziness, sore muscles, fatigue, nausea, low-grade fevers, runny nose, coughing, or mood swings. These are the possible side effects according to the website. I feel strongly that the main reason for this is that I eat whole foods and I stay away from sugar, alcohol, soda, and caffeine.
I have not been tired or hungry. In fact, I am well rested and full.
I am very curious to see how I will feel as the week moves on.
Day 2.
At this point, I have completed day two and have reviewed the day three menu plan. I am well aware of the fact that this eating plan is not really all that different from my normal eating plan.
One pound has been lost and I feel much the same as I always do.
I am enjoying trying new things added to my juice that I had not previously added such as jalapenos and raw beets. The raw beets remind me of the time I used cooked beets even though they do not have as much goodness in them. This might lead one to ask why I did that and the answer would be because I had it so I threw it in.
Day 3.
My hubby has decided to join me on the program.
Well, OK, truth be told he really is not going to do the program per se. He is simply interested in trying some of the things that I have been trying.
I start him off with the Maple & Cinnamon Baked Apples and Pears. I find this to be way too sweet. This does not bother the hubby. I suspect that it is because he started his day with cereal and milk.
About one hour before my beloved goes out to play 90 minutes of Racquetball. I give him my own version of the Minty-Fresh Berry Juice. It was quite yummy and he advises that he was feeling energetic and like he easily could have kept going. This one is definitely going into my repertoire of blended drinks.
Day 4.
I consumed everything that I was meant to. This was in addition to my tea and water requirements.
Today I drove, and drove, and drove some more. When I was all finished with that I went for a drive. Then I drove some more. I would like to note that with all of this driving I still was never further than 10 miles from home. What does all this
I would like to note that with all of this driving I still was never further than 10 miles from home. What does all this mean?
If you said that it means I drove in circles all day than you would be correct.
If you said that it means that most of the day I was far from the blender, juicer and bathroom than you would be absolutely correct and more on track with what I was thinking.
You see, in my humble opinion, these three items are the three most important items needed for this program.
None of these items were in easy reach today.
Today was a hard day for this program.
The fact that my tongue was itchy and irritated from the Kiwi and Jalapeno in my Mexican-Style Jugo did not help.
Day 5.
Today I completed the last day of my reboot express program. I had no stomach issues or any other negative side effects from the program.
This program is not inexpensive, takes a great deal of preplanning, requires regular produce runs in order to use the freshest fruits and vegetables and to have space in your refrigerator for that.
I feel good about this program and I am happy for the new recipes.
I have always loved how juicing and blending affects my body and this week definitely serves to affirm that thought.
If you are interested in a cleanse of your own you may enjoy the 5-day Juice Cleanse with 5 Juicy Recipes.
Have you ever tried the Fat Sick and nearly Dead program? What did you think of it?
What is your favorite documentary?
Please let me know in the comments below.
45 thoughts on “Health Documentary Films That You Should See For Yourself”
these movies but not the others (watched “Forks Over Knives” a few months ago). VEry interesting subject matters and a great post! Thanks for sharing at Party in Your PJs!
I am glad that you enjoyed.
Everyone a good film, worthy of being seen and changing habits. #fortheloveofBLOG xoxo
Hi. I had heard of a couple of these movies but not the others (watched “Forks Over Knives” a few months ago). VEry interesting subject matters and a great post! Thanks for sharing at Party in Your PJs!
You are very welcome.
I haven’t seen any of these documentaries but they all sound really interesting. I’ll make a note and try and get round to watching them. #TriumphantTales
That sounds great.
All sound like great picks. Other than a good comedy, these are the types of movies I enjoy, so I’ll check them out. Thanks for the recommendations and I do need to learn more about juicing.
You are very welcome.
Back again from #BrillBlogPosts and I made some notes on a few documentaries I need to see! Thank you. They are all life changing… Oy!
That is wonderful to hear.
I have only seen one of these – Supersize Me and that was quite a few years ago. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for the others. Thanks for sharing with #TriumphantTales, hope to see you again next week!
You definitely will.
Thanks for sharing these!
I hadn’t heard of a lot of them so will definitely check them out #MMBC
Debs @ tiger-mint.com
It is always great to learn of new things.
Elise, I’ve seen them all–and more! Love them. Of all the thousands of diets out there, I’ve tried none of them. Especially ones that are “5-day,” “8-week,” whatever. I just slowly incorporate what I call changes for a lifetime. A couple years ago or more, I started limiting my sugar intake to never more than 6 teaspoons in a day and have stayed with it every single day since I started and will be staying with it for the rest of my life. More recently, about a month ago, I decided to make another change for a lifetime, 16/8 Intermittent Fasting. I’ve already seen benefits AND it is so easy. I’ll be doing that as well for the rest of my life. AND I will continue enjoying all the fascinating food documentaries!
You are on a wonderful path! You have made wonderful life choices.
All these documentaries seem very interesting! The only one I’ve watched is “Fat Sick and Nearly Dead”. Although it was fascinating to watch and with some valid points, I’m still reluctant to try a juice fast. It seems to me like a juice fast is more of a last-ditch option, like it was for Joe Cross. I know I could be wrong, though.
Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll be pinning and tweeting this. Greetings from the Inspire Me Monday linky.
Thanks for sharing. Give some of the juices a try and then go from there.
Wow! I’m so afraid to watch documentaries like these because I’m afraid it will ruin food for me. Ha! I’m really interested in watching Tapped in particular
Ahhh… the worry is real. I do think we have to push ourselves to be aware though.
I have not seen any of these documentaries but they all look something I would like! And like you – I don’t think I would have too much trouble with the 5 day program as I already eat fairly healthy. I may need to try this over the summer when I don’t have to work! Thanks for sharing your results!
You are so welcome. I suspect you will find many recipes you will enjoy if you do the 5 day program.
I have watched a couple of these and they were both pretty interesting. I think that you would like cowspiracy if you haven’t watched it already
Great recommendation. I have not had a chance to watch it but I will seek it out and do so. Thank you.
Hi Elise,
Forks over knives has to be my favorite. Many decades ago, when I wanted to be a vegetarian there wasn’t much information to maintain a balanced diet. This is a subject close to my heart.
-Donna
FOK is a great one. I do love that there is so much more information available today for all eating styles.
interesting documentary… i started watching and i dont know how my hour spend <3
Time can go by quickly.
Thanks for this summary, I will look into these films. Sounds like great dinner conversation.
You are very welcome. It would be quite interesting conversation.
Great share Elise!
Will definitely watch them.
Thank you. Enjoy.
Such an awesome collection of documentaries! There are a few I haven’t seen and I’m so excited to watch them. Thank you so much
That is great. I love to expose people to new things,
The only one I’ve seen is Supersize Me. It was an interesting enough watch but I think common sense could see where it was headed. I might give some of the others a go – the one about the water I could definitely use!
Debbie
Yes, it was not hard to figure out where it was going. I was fascinated by my kids reaction to it.
Shared this with my Facebook group @seasons of wellness by Susan Seto insurance Great Post!
Thank you. I appreciate the share.
I love a good documentary. I will be sure to add these to my list.
Wonderful. Let me know what you think of them.
Nice collection of documentary films for health!!!! I really liked your post and will try to see them one by one whenever will I free time.
Thanks for sharing this stuff with us and waiting for next update.
You are very welcome. I hope that you will find them to be interesting.
Hi Dr. Elise, I think the videos you recommended are good enough as they will increase your knowledge as well.
King Corn may be a good taking looking at the trailer. Thanks for this amusement and knowledge enlightening listing.
You are very welcome. There is interesting information for you to peruse.