In class, we recently watched and reviewed some of the evidence in the documentary Forks Over Knives. In the film, the viewers are persuaded to stop eating meat and consume a whole foods diet consisting of vegetables and fruits. I love chicken and turkey, so I had a hard time accepting this the film's proposal.
The film followed different patients facing a wide array of diseases from type two diabetes to congenital heart failure. Every patient that was featured in the film was able to take their health into their own hands, and change their outcomes for the better. I felt that these little vignettes were hard to believe, but took most everything the movie argued with a grain of salt.
First, I want to explain what a whole foods diet is. This is a diet that is based main on plants and vegetables and whole grains. The diet tries to eliminate (or reduce) fish, eggs, poultry and refined grains. If you are interested in learning more about the whole foods diet, you can find more information and recipes on their website Forks Over Knives. Although I believe that it is important that we consume at least 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day, I also think that non -processed meat and fish are important parts of the diet.
One concern that I have regarding this diet is that if you were to eliminate all fish and meat from your diet, you would also be eliminating all heme protein sources (and along with that...a major source of iron). Even though iron and protein are found in vegetables like spinach, heme sources are more bioavailable. In a study from the Journal of Elementology, researchers discussed the importance of iron in the body, as it helps to transport oxygen in the blood and is crucial in DNA synthesis and repair. If one becomes iron deficient, they could find themselves at risk for anemia.
So, I am not saying to completely disregard the Forks Over Knives argument for a whole foods diet, just that meat might not be as harmful to the human body as they make it out to be.
As a non-vegetarian and non-vegan, I totally relate on having a hard time parting with meat and other foods that are animal products. In the documentary, they also use a lot of evidence from the China Study, interpreted by Colin Campbell, to back up their claims, which I thought was very problematic since the data was unconvincing at best. The movie also does not address the fact that our bodies need B12, which is only found in animals and animal products. The way I see it, our bodies seem to have evolved to be natural omnivores. People always argue about staying close to the earth in regards to nutrition but out in the forest, the only means of survival would be to eat a omnivores diet or else nutrient deficiencies would ensue.
ReplyDeleteYou brought up some interesting points about protein and heme iron bioavailability. There are also other micronutrients such as Vitamin B12, B2 and D, which are more bioavailable in protein sources. The evidentiary basis for their claims, the China Study, had many flaws and was not valid enough to show a casual relationship between animal products and pathophysiology. I am vegetarian and have been able to get enough of all nutrients, however this does not make animal products unhealthy. Eating organic, non processed foods will result in the positive health outcomes explained in Forks Over Knives.
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