Forks over Knives

Have entire generations grown up eating post industrial food that's more commodity than sustenance? Can adopting a plant based, whole foods diet prevent diabetes, decrease cancer risk, prevent heart disease and help you maintain an appropriate weight?  Have we in the West become the victims of our own success?

Forks over Knives, Lee Fulkerson's compelling and widely viewed documentary takes Food Inc. and Fast Food Nation into the operating room and beyond. The film traces the evolution of the American diet during the 20th century and focuses on the testimony of two doctors, Dr. T Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. The doctors conclude that the Western diet with its heavy reliance on animal protein and processed foods has made us sicker and heavier than any people in human history. Based on their research and the results they've seen with their patients, adopting a 'veganized' diet can actually reverse its harmful health effects.

I'm always a little dubious when I watch shows like this. I think there are a myriad of reasons Americans are overweight, diet being just one of them. Nevertheless, it is a compelling argument. Even Ozzy Osborne found it inspiring. Worth watching if you wanted one more reason to go vegetarian.