Forks Over Knives: A
Response
I was not sure what to expect with a documentary entitled
“Forks over Knives”. Five minutes into watching the documentary in my Issues In Dietetics class it became
evident to me that the title refers to the method in which you would eat plant
based food compared to animal products (I guess you use a fork for plants and
knife for meat?). Anyway, the documentary is an argument for a vegan lifestyle
as a means to prevent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type II
diabetes.
The film begins with a fear tactic, showing the deadly statistics
of cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases of the western culture,
blaming them on the western diet. Specifically targeting diary and meat
products. The film compares the chronic diseases in America with nations that
eat mainly plant-based diets showing an overwhelming larger amount of deaths
from chronic diseases in America.
The documentary suggests that by eliminating all meat and
diary products from the diet we can eliminate chronic diseases. The Dr.’s that
star in the film believe that animal products activate cancer genes and plant
products turn them off.
Plant-based Diet:
The documentary had a lot of evidence supporting the
benefits of eating whole foods, plant-based diet and the evidence was hard to
ignore. Of course if you only consume plant-based products you will drastically
lower your cholesterol, most likely reduce your weight, and overall reduce your
risk of chronic diseases. However, the film ignores that fact that those same
benefits can be achieved by eating meat and dairy in moderation. The film also
compares the western diet to other nations such as Japan in the 1950’s and
suggests they eat a plant-based diet so it must be meat and milk making
American’s sick. However, I believe that while our over consumption of meat and
dairy in America may be a contributing factor to our decline in health other
factors such as technology, work, stress, fast foods, and processed foods are
all contributing factors to chronic diseases in America.
Overall, I think that adopting a plant-based diet may be a
healthy solution for some looking to reduce their risk for chronic dieses but
it is not the only solution. I believe the Dr’s used fear of disease to make
their argument against meat and milk and down played the evidence from the
previous American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics president that suggests
lean meats and dairy can provide essential amino acids, minerals, and nutrients
to the diet and need not be eliminated to lead a healthy lifestyle. Ultimately,
I support the movement towards whole foods and eating a more plant-based diet
but I also believe meat and diary can be a part of a healthy diet as well.
...I guess you can say I'm not completely sold.
...I guess you can say I'm not completely sold.
