What You Eat Matters

Yes, this is true, what you eat really does matter! And no, not just for yourself, but for the animals, and for the environment.

I recently came across this new full-length documentary on YouTube called “H.O.P.E. – What You Eat Matters” (H.O.P.E. standing for Healing Of Planet Earth), and wow this is a very powerful documentary that really makes you think and feel! The documentary features discussions about the benefits of a plant based diet, based on science and researched, and the environmental impact of farming animals for consumption, as well as [most importantly] the welfare of these poor animals, and the moral aspect of consuming them.

Here is another documentary I wish everyone in the world could watch; it’s thorough, comprehensive, and does a great job at presenting all the facts (backed by research), and showing the harsh reality of animal consumption and it’s consequences. Anyway, I could go on and on here, but the documentary simply just needs to be watched! Please take the time, do yourself a favor, and watch this movie.

WARNING: Watching this documentary in it’s entirety may cause irreversible awareness and compassion. Precede at your own risk of awakening. 

 

Vegan 2017

Another year of eating kale, and another year in the advancement of the vegan movement! It seems now more then ever that the plant based movement continues to grow exponentially every year, with the sharing of information, books, documentaries, YouTube videos, social media, events, and festivals. Moreover, it’s so great to see how many more new vegan restaurants are popping up, vegan options in “non-vegan” restaurants, vegan foods and alternatives at the grocery store, vegan apparel, and vegan movements! Love it!

And once again, the folks over at Plant Based News have done a great job of putting together another short documentary (as they did for 2016) that recounts the growth of the vegan movement in 2017. I wish everyone could watch this video because it is packed with so many good clips, news worthy segments, success stories, and challenges that still lie ahead of/for the vegan movement. But the main takeaway is clear, the vegan movement is growing, and there is no slowing down! Check it out here:

Vegan 2017

 

Why Your Doctor Isn’t Talking About This

If living on a plant based diet is so healthy, then why isn’t your doctor talking to you about it? That is a common question (or sentiment) among omnivores when hearing about the benefits of a plant based diet. The truth is, most doctors simply don’t have the training and knowledge of using food as medicine (I wrote about this subject in a previous post); so they can’t really discuss a plant based diet as a prescription to better health, let alone as a means to reverse many common diseases/ailments. Moreover, their practice doesn’t make any money by prescribing vegetables to patients, but they do make money by prescribing drugs – “band-aids” that simply mask symptoms, instead of actually treating the causes of sickness and disease.

Here is a great interview with Dr. Michael Greger that perfectly explains this conundrum:

 

Pretty interesting stuff right?! This really helps explain what is going on in the health care industry, and why none of our doctors are talking about plant based diets as a means to healthier living.

And if that wasn’t enough for you, then check out this next video with Dr. Neal Barnard discussing the same issue:

I hope the information discussed in these two videos answers the question as to why doctors don’t discuss vegan/plant based diets as a means to health. I sometimes get asked, [or teased] the question of “if being vegan or plant based is so healthy, then why wouldn’t my doctor be telling me about this”? Well, this is exactly why I am sharing this information here; I hope this helps to better understand what is really going on here. And I don’t want people to be deterred from trying a plant based diet simply because “their doctor isn’t talking about it, or recommending it.” Do your own research about a plant based diet (and always check the source)…the learning never stops!

Olympic Level Compassion

It’s always great to come across inspirational stories, they leave you with a lasting feeling of hope, positivity, and they usually carry a learning opportunity within that message. This video is one such story; Dotsie Bausch is an olympic athlete that does an incredible job of explaining all the key points (the animals, your health, and the environment) of choosing a plant based lifestyle in such a short presentation. She really hits the nail on the head here, and I think everyone (omnivores and carnivores alike) can learn something from her journey. Take 15 minutes out of your day and give this video a watch; careful though, it might bring about irreversible awareness!

 

Good on Dotsie here to be living proof of an elite athlete doing it all on a plant based diet, and addressing that damn protein issue [myth]. Yes people, believe it or not, you can build muscles and excel as an elite athlete on a plant based diet! Meat/dairy is not the only answer to protein! Moreover, not only can you get your daily required dose of protein from a plant based diet, but you can also be an extreme athlete on a plant based diet – as Dotsie explains in the video.

Definition of Compassion: a feeling of distress and pity for the suffering or misfortune of another, often including the desire to alleviate it. 

A boy carries his dog whilst wading in floodwaters brought by the monsoon rain, intensified by tropical storm Trami, in Paranaque city, metro Manila August 20, 2013. Heavy rains continue to batter the Philippine capital and nearby provinces, causing government offices, schools and some businesses to suspend work, and sending residents to flee their homes. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco (PHILIPPINES – Tags: ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY DISASTER) – RTX12R93

We are all compassionate individuals by nature; we have compassion for our family members, our friends, our pets, and even towards strangers. As a human, it would be very hard for anyone to actually be inside one of these factory farms and see the suffering of these animals, and then feel absolutely nothing towards them – especially as they are being dragged away to slaughter. Yet, as consumers, we are all completely disconnected from this harsh reality – it’s out of sight, and therefore out of mind (ignorance is bliss) for us. We simply go to the grocery store, see a nice package that we have been conditioned to see as food, purchase it, and then cook it and eat it. We don’t see that package as containing the decomposing remains of what was once a sentient being; the meat, and poultry industries do a great job of making sure that the masses don’t awaken to that fact. Unfortunately, this is the harsh reality, and for most it is too difficult to confront, so they intentionally continue on in a state of blissful ignorance.

Well personally, I choose awareness! See the truth, see it for what it really is! Open your eyes and your mind, educate yourself on the topic! As a consumer you have the power to vote with your dollar everyday; by choosing to spend your money on something, you are choosing to support that product/company/industry/option. So know what you are supporting and contributing to; see the truth, choose compassion, and execute accordingly!

 

 

 

 

Obscuring The Truth

You may have noticed that in my previous posts I have repeatedly said or posed the question: ‘why or how is it possible that this information [data supporting the evidence that a plant based diet is better for overall health] is not mainstream knowledge (yet)’? ! If a plant based diet is so much better for you, then why isn’t the general medical profession talking more about it – why hasn’t my doctor told me about this?  Well, it comes down to that fact that there just isn’t any money in prescribing a patient sweet potatoes or cranberries, but there sure as hell is plenty of money in prescribing a patient drugs! Furthermore, so much evidence out there is either obscured, or shown in such a way to be favorable [misleading] to the party actually funding the study. This simply means that you (the general public) are not getting the real objective truth!

 

Put another way, most animal based eaters might be thinking, ‘well if this plant based diet stuff was in fact so much better for our health, and could actually prevent and reverse major diseases, then why isn’t my doctor telling me about it?’ Well, the other reason you are not hearing it from your doctor is simply due to a lack of training in nutrition (yes, believe it or not, your average doctor does not know that much about nutrition and using food as medicine). I mean really, how much in depth knowledge about nutrition can you gain in 25 hours or training….? Answer: not much. And thus, doctor’s don’t lead with this information when it comes to consulting their patients.

 

So yeah, that’s why you aren’t hearing more about this food as medicine stuff, and how a plant based diet really is best for overall health. It truly is a systemic problem (see my post about the documentary Plant Pure Nation).

 

 

How Not To Die

Quite the question isn’t it? Well, this is actually the title of one hell of an eye opening book, and this is another source of information I wish everyone could be exposed to! It’s crazy to me that the information contained within is not mainstream knowledge…yet, at least.

The author of this book is Dr. Michael Greger; a physician, New York Times bestselling author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues. Dr. Greger is also a licensed general practitioner specializing in clinical nutrition, and is a founding member and Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. Not to mention he is also the man behind the amazing website and information source NutritionFacts.org. Hop on that site, and you can spend hours learning new information about a myriad of health topics affecting our human population.

No, this is not some vegan book for vegan people, this is a book for anyone and everyone that wants to learn about the best ways to nourish our bodies for health, how to prevent the leading causes of death in our society (hint, it’s not prescription pills and surgeries), and why it is that the general medical community is not talking more about food as a source of healing and disease prevention.

I love this section here in the very beginning of the book (Pg. 10 Introduction) that pretty much hits the nail on the head:

“In this book, I don’t advocate for a vegetarian diet or a vegan diet. I advocate for an EVIDENCE-BASED diet, and the best available balance of science suggests that the more whole plant foods we eat the better…”

I don’t understand how people can, or simply choose, to ignore the mounds of evidence and statistics offered in this book. Even someone like myself who has already been on a plant based diet for multiple years now was shocked by all the evidence and information contained in this book; I mean it’s simply so glaring! And yes, some people might be turned off  by the physical thickness of this book (it’s a hefty one), but you don’t have to read this front to back if you don’t want to, simply think of it as an encyclopedia on the leading causes of human death (or diseases), and nutritional solutions – just use the table of contents and learn about the particular issues that interest you. But fair warning, even if you do that, soon enough you will find yourself wanting to read the whole thing haha…you’ll see, it’s just too good not to!

The Vegan Starter Kit

When people ask me why I am vegan, or what prompted me to go vegan, it really comes down to information – I was simply exposed to new information that I could not unlearn or un-see. This new information came in the form of books and documentaries. Sure, some people could be exposed to the exact same information but it won’t resonate with them at all; well, not me. I simply could not deny all the facts, data, and research presented in these sources. So what was this amazing new information that I learned you ask? Here it is, these are the sources of information that I wish everyone and anyone would see – they will answer all your questions about the why, what, where, and when of a plant based diet/life. I truly wish this was common knowledge; I’ll take it one step further, I wish this was mandatory reading/viewing in school!

So if someone were to ask me “why or what made you go vegan,” my response would be – “just watch these documentaries here, all your questions will be answered.” I invite you to take a step behind the curtain of OZ, and see the truth! (These are all available on Netflix, or at least they were at the time of this writing).

WARNING – EXPOSING YOURSELF TO THIS INFORMATION MAY CAUSE IRREVERSIBLE AWARENESS

1. Forks Over Knives

This gem right here will answer all your questions about food and health, such as:

• What’s wrong with eating animal protein?
• What’s so wrong with milk and dairy? Don’t you need milk for calcium and strong bones?
• But since vegans only eat grass, where do they get their protein? (ugh, how many times I get asked this question – please do yourself a favor and watch this now, and forever have that damn questioned answered).
• What about fish?
• Well then, what the hell do you plant based people eat?
• Why should I even care about this plant based stuff? (hint, your health, the animals, and the environment ya dummy!)

 

2. What The Health

This is probably one of the most eye-opening documentaries to recently (2017) come out about the food industry and human health; and this is definitely at the top of my list when it comes to recommending any documentary! I myself was blown away by all the information presented in this film; it got me so riled up I just wanted to shout it from a mountain top! Finally, a documentary comes out that shines the light on all the corruption going on in the meat and dairy industries to keep the general public misinformed, confused, and most important of all continuing to consume their products albeit at the cost of their very own health. Moreover, this film also does an incredible job of hitting all the points on health in regard to consuming animal products, and all the common questions and concerns of switching to a plant based diet…extremely comprehensive! This documentary is a MUST!!

 

3. Cowspiracy

This one here will help you understand the environmental dilemma of sustaining a planet on animal protein, and how switching to a plant based diet can really help save the world (no, I’m not exaggerating – just watch it!). No, this video isn’t going to turn you into a tree hugging environmentalist, or Leonardo DiCaprio; BUT it sure as hell will inform you and create AWARENESS (and that is what’s all about)!! Moreover, this will shed light on what factory farming actually is, and the cold hard cruelty behind it – I know, I know, ignorance is bliss…but suck it up and watch it!

 

4. Plant Pure Nation

And lastly, this amazing documentary will help you understand why it is that the information laid out in the last two documentaries is not mainstream knowledge (yet). You may be asking yourself, ok well it seems like all you vegans know about this stuff, but IF animal products are actually not the best for your health, then why would the government still include it in their food pyramid, why are they still serving it at every school, why wouldn’t doctors be talking more about this, why is this the first time I am hearing such a thing?  Here is something to think about; the meat, poultry, and dairy industries are HUGE (as you may already know)! Well, you know what comes with that? Lots of money of course, but also lots of lobbying power. So what does that mean; it means they have the ability to actually influence what the people of this planet eat, regardless of what it might mean for your health. Moreover, believe it or not, it comes with the ability to manipulate or even suppress information! Yes, this is true, the meat, poultry, dairy, and fish industries hope you never see any of these documentaries or become of aware of any of the information they contain. Because heaven forbid, it might actually create well informed consumers, that no longer simply buy their food products blindly just because that is what they have been doing for years. Please, just watch this!

 

So there it is, these are three of my favorite documentaries that I wish every human being could/would watch! I honestly feel like any non-vegan/vegetarian person cannot have an actual intelligent debate with a vegan/vegetarian person until they have been exposed to the information contained in these documentaries. Regardless of what you choose to sustain yourself on, be it animal or plant based, if you haven’t seen any of these documentaries, please do yourself a favor and watch them…I challenge you!

 

As always, I would like to hear from you, what other documentaries would you add to this list? Leave a comment below.