Summary
The filmmaker, Lee Fulkerson, explores the possibility of reversing diseases that he refers to as a “diseases of affluence.” In the documentary, he claims that there is a possibility of reversing the occurrence of the diseases through the adjustment of diets to constitute animal-based foods and less processed foods. Through observation, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn realized that certain diseases were less prevalent on people who fed entirely on plant foods. A study carried out in China by Dr. Campbell revealed that an entire plant-based diet could reverse and prevent degenerative conditions such as heart conditions, some types of cancers and type 2 diabetes. In the film, Fulkerson examines Dr. Esselstyn’s and Dr. Campbell's theories. He follows the two doctors’ individual story arcs based on their upbringing that led to their astounding discoveries. Additionally, the film documents the experiences of patients ailing from chronic maladies while they participate in an experiment involving alteration of their diets (Fulkerson, 2009).
Reflection
The contents of the movie are relevant to the current society. The message comes in handy in solving the current health problems in the world. The movie drew to my attention that there are very many individuals living with chronic diseases in the world. Cases of diseases such as diabetes are exploding especially amongst the youthful population. I noticed that medical activities are routine, and this leads to the rise of medical costs. It is surprising that diseases such as stroke, cancer, and heart conditions are the leading killer diseases in the nation. Even though, the government spends billions in battling these conditions, millions still suffer from the very degenerative diseases. The association of the solution to these problems to environmental products interests me. My argument was that if the solutions provided by the doctors are quite straightforward and easy to implement, why is it that folks fail to take their recommendations seriously. Why are they reluctant to save millions that they spend on healthcare?
The results produced by the two doctors is crucial in the elimination and reduction of degenerative diseases. The information from the film has a stout foundation and practical backings. Proof that their prescription can work exists as they transverse the world to try to prove their point. I think that their observation of the fact that the degenerative diseases were less prevalent amongst those who fed on plant-based diets was significant in fostering the idea that their prescription is genuine. I established that any imbalance in the diet causes a given ailment. From the documentary, the researchers noted that children from third world states suffered from malnutrition due to the constant consumptions of protein deficient diets. On the other hand, they established that in Philippines wealthy children were likely to attract degenerative diseases due to overfeeding on animal proteins. Therefore, there is an urgent need to strike a balance in the diets that we consume.
Based on the practical evidences presented by the two doctors, I believe that individuals should embrace the natural options. It is because the solutions are simple and do not require much cash to embrace. Additionally, the government should consider increasing sensitization of individuals on the benefits of consuming plant-based products. Supporting this initiative will help them avoid spending more cash on routine medication with respect to the degenerative diseases.
The documentary puts the idea of the use of food as medicine to test. Throughout the documentary, the camera follows parents with chronic conditions ranging from heart diseases to diabetes. The doctors are dedicated to teaching patients on how to adopt plant-based whole-food as a primary method of treating and reversing degenerative ailments. The movie gave me adequate assurance that the use of natural foods is instrumental in containing chronic ailments.
References
Fulkerson, L. (Director). (2011). Forks over knives [Documentary]. U.S.A: Monica Beach Media.
Synopsis. (n.d.). Forks Over Knives. Retrieved October 21, 2014, from http://www.forksoverknives.com/synopsis
