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Meat/Dairy - What the Health Documentary Netflix

  • Thread starter Thread starter PierreBear
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PierreBear

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Hi PSers,

Has anyone watched the What the Health documentary on Netflix? I have family who just switched to the vegan diet recently because of this information. I decided to watch it just to be informed and understand them better. It wasn't much different from all the other health documentaries out there. I wasn't surprised by this information but it did scare me. Are there any nutrition/medical experts out there to provide some insight on it? I wish there was a documentary that would have rebuttals or explain the other story as I always feel like there are two sides to every story. Would appreciate some thoughts!

I personally try to eat as much veg as possible but I do still enjoy my meats/dairy/sugar etc. I just keep "bad" items to a minimum. Or is the bigger question, is it worth it to consume the items you like for quality of life but just understand it is at the expense of possible health issues?

Thanks in advance!
 
Oh, I love a good documentary, I haven't seen this one but definitely going to check it out!

I have a different appreciation for eating meat since my SIL who studies and works in the sustainable agriculture field explained the amount of cows needed to produce different cuts of meat. Never really thought of it like that. So we try to eat a little less but dinner is always a meat, sweet potato and green vegetable here. In an ideal world it would be from local farms but unfortunately our budget doesn't allow for that at this time.

What makes me crazy is one week they tell you butter is bad, eat margarine, then the next week it's something else. I happen to love bacon, I don't eat it daily but I have no qualms about it when I do, I accept the risk that comes with eating it because life is freaking short and to deny every indulgence would be unpleasant.
 
The keto blogs are all a buzz about this video and it's bad science. I don't think it is the meat that will harm your health but all the processed foods and sugar. I eat a fair amount of meat and uncured bacon and I can tell you that before I went keto, every joint in my body ached and within two weeks I had no more pain. I rarely even get a headache, I haven't taken a pain reliever in months. I feel better now than I have in many years. I don't eat grains or processed carbs or sugar. I eat some veggies and salads, fats and meat and have also dropped 28 lbs. Not only that I have zero cravings for anything. This is a 100% change for me and I will eat this way for my whole life. At my last dr appointment my cholesterol was even lower and my blood pressure too. I don't miss bread one tiny bit. I do make some baked goods with almond flour and a alternative natural sweetener, but not a whole lot.
 
Thanks for sharing luv2sparkle. I had to look up keto as that was a new term for me. I'm glad you found something that works for you!
 
StephanieLynn said:
Oh, I love a good documentary, I haven't seen this one but definitely going to check it out!

I have a different appreciation for eating meat since my SIL who studies and works in the sustainable agriculture field explained the amount of cows needed to produce different cuts of meat. Never really thought of it like that. So we try to eat a little less but dinner is always a meat, sweet potato and green vegetable here. In an ideal world it would be from local farms but unfortunately our budget doesn't allow for that at this time.

What makes me crazy is one week they tell you butter is bad, eat margarine, then the next week it's something else. I happen to love bacon, I don't eat it daily but I have no qualms about it when I do, I accept the risk that comes with eating it because life is freaking short and to deny every indulgence would be unpleasant.
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Would love to know your thoughts after you watch it. Yes, agreed that it does seem like articles/news contradict one another. In fact, it's confusing that atkins is the exact opposite of a vegetable plant base diet but both are supposedly the best way you should eat.

I do love bacon and only eat it once a week when we make brunch on Sunday. Or I chop it up and add it to veggies for flavoring. It is minimal and hopefully that's enough?! I think I could give it up but it would be a sad life!
 
I haven't eaten meat for 13 going on 14 years. I grew up on a farm--we raised cows.

I watched the doc a few weeks ago. Went vegan for a week, no problem. Unfortunately I have a really hard time giving up dairy. It's becoming easier to avoid as now I think about the pus in cheese and nearly vomit whenever I'm around cheese.

Are there medical merits? Of course. One for me is not getting ass cancer. Hopefully.
 
PierreBear I haven't seen this documentary yet but when I watch it I will share my thoughts. I am a pescetarian right now but was a vegan for over 10 years. I was a vegan not for health reasons but because I love animals. It was hard to sustain however so now I eat fish. I don't eat dairy (most of the time) or meat (with the exception of fish).

I know (for me) dairy causes unpleasant side effects in my GI tract as well as exacerbating my rosacea so I have been (almost) dairy free for over 10 years now. Though I do enjoy ice cream occasionally. I mean what is life if one cannot enjoy ice cream occasionally right?
 
I eat everything in moderation. As you say, every week there is something that was bad/good for you last week.

Morally I would like not to eat meat, but I can't deny that I do like the taste of it, and I would find it hard to be vegetarian or vegan. I don't particularly like fish (the exception being fish that doesn't taste fishy:roll:)

If I had to give it up for health reasons that would be different, but as I'm not overweight, have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or take any medication whatsoever, then I think my current diet can't be doing me too much harm.

I read an article the other day about the Keto diet not being good for you long term, so who knows?
 
monarch64 said:
I haven't eaten meat for 13 going on 14 years. I grew up on a farm--we raised cows.

I watched the doc a few weeks ago. Went vegan for a week, no problem. Unfortunately I have a really hard time giving up dairy. It's becoming easier to avoid as now I think about the pus in cheese and nearly vomit whenever I'm around cheese.

Are there medical merits? Of course. One for me is not getting ass cancer. Hopefully.
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Way to go for living such a healthy life style for so many years. Did your body go through a dramatic change after the transition.

Yes, I can't get those pus images out of my head from the film. But I still love the taste of cheese!
 
missy said:
PierreBear I haven't seen this documentary yet but when I watch it I will share my thoughts. I am a pescetarian right now but was a vegan for over 10 years. I was a vegan not for health reasons but because I love animals. It was hard to sustain however so now I eat fish. I don't eat dairy (most of the time) or meat (with the exception of fish).

I know (for me) dairy causes unpleasant side effects in my GI tract as well as exacerbating my rosacea so I have been (almost) dairy free for over 10 years now. Though I do enjoy ice cream occasionally. I mean what is life if one cannot enjoy ice cream occasionally right?
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Oh missy.. I love all your ice cream photos! You might not want to watch this film as it discourages eating fish and all dairy. But I would appreciate your thoughts once you watch it.

In general, I don't eat much beef and chicken. When there is the option for protein, I usually lean towards fish or shrimp as well. Dairy is a big part of my life I suppose because I eat yogurt every single day.
 
Austina said:
I eat everything in moderation. As you say, every week there is something that was bad/good for you last week.

Morally I would like not to eat meat, but I can't deny that I do like the taste of it, and I would find it hard to be vegetarian or vegan. I don't particularly like fish (the exception being fish that doesn't taste fishy:roll:)

If I had to give it up for health reasons that would be different, but as I'm not overweight, have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, or take any medication whatsoever, then I think my current diet can't be doing me too much harm.

I read an article the other day about the Keto diet not being good for you long term, so who knows?
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Morally I would give it up too but yes, I really love the taste of a good steak or some smoked bbq.

I'm in my 30s with other good health habits such as working out and no drinking, smoking, etc. Similar to you, I don't think my current diet is harming me but I think my youth is also a big factor. I think there could be some medical benefits but have the fear that cancer or some other big health issue could be right around the corner! What if it really as preventable if I just ate less meat/dairy?! I might have a longer life but it might be a very sad life without the enjoyment of food.

Yes, good point on long term effects and the uncertainty. I think every body is a bit different too so perhaps I shouldn't take the film to heart.
 
See, I was a vegetarian for about six years but I was horrible at it. Relied on carbs way too much to fill in the hunger from not eating meat. I'm better as a carnivore, also with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, carbs such as beans, rice, potatoes and really anything starchy is just instant weight gain, at least from my experience.

The only thing that really bothers me is I have a friend on FB who recently went vegan and is extremely preachy, posting all these videos trying to guilt people out of eating meat. Can't stand that, fine if you want to live that lifestyle but it's not for everyone and essentially she is just coming off as pretentious and elitist.
 
IMHO, genetics have to play a role in how body processes food. There have been studies that identified certain markers for people who digest dairy better than other. So it's probable that some people digest meat better than others for whom eating meat might lead to internal inflammation and cancer.

I stopped eating meat and poultry 12 years ago because it was making me sick. I felt terrible after meals and had major skin sensitivities. Went vegetarian and started feeling so much better in couple of months plus my skin cleared up. I do crave it sometimes but if I eat a little meat or poultry, I get hives and feel sick. I started eating fish again about 5 years ago and it seems ok for me.

I had to go vegan for a year to breastfeed my son who was born with major food allergies. Being vegan was very difficult for me so I don't think I can do it long-term. Also, I saw no improvements in how my body felt after that year so giving up dairy doesn't seem beneficial for me.
 
baby monster said:
IMHO, genetics have to play a role in how body processes food. There have been studies that identified certain markers for people who digest dairy better than other. So it's probable that some people digest meat better than others for whom eating meat might lead to internal inflammation and cancer.

I stopped eating meat and poultry 12 years ago because it was making me sick. I felt terrible after meals and had major skin sensitivities. Went vegetarian and started feeling so much better in couple of months plus my skin cleared up. I do crave it sometimes but if I eat a little meat or poultry, I get hives and feel sick. I started eating fish again about 5 years ago and it seems ok for me.

I had to go vegan for a year to breastfeed my son who was born with major food allergies. Being vegan was very difficult for me so I don't think I can do it long-term. Also, I saw no improvements in how my body felt after that year so giving up dairy doesn't seem beneficial for me.
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Thanks for sharing your experience and sorry to hear that meat and poultry was causing you to get sick. I'm glad you saw improvements when you went vegetarian. Being vegan does seem difficult and gosh I start off my day eating yogurt every single day! I thought it was the healthiest part of my day by far with probiotics and going with a yogurt that was plain with less sugar. I'm thinking about giving it a try to seeing what it does for my body. Thanks again for discussing!
 
I started watching it, and as they started becoming deliberating misinforming, I had to turn it off. I am not a dietician but do work in research. This "documentary" is very one-sided, and some of the science is not right, such as how people develop diabetes or making eating processed meat the equivalent of smoking cigarettes. They are correct in that most Americans eat too much fat, meat, and dairy for their body's needs. If we all ate less factory-farmed meat, our health and planet would be better off.
If one wants to know how to eat a healthy diet, have a healthy lifestyle, it would be to look at the "blue zones" of the world such as the Mediterranean area. There they eat diets high in grains, produce, and smaller amounts of meat, fish, and dairy such as cheese and yogurt, as well as desserts and drink. However no food is excluded. They also have a healthy lifestyle of not rushing, eating junk food/sodas, and live in a way that incorporates physical activity, family and social interconnectedness (i.e. meaning). I do not like documentaries that use scare tactics, fear and misinformation to spread their message. The vegan diet is extremely restrictive. The people I have known personally who were vegan, all ended up having to modify their diets (some under direct doctor's orders) because their health had deteriorated.
 
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partgypsy said:
I started watching it, and as they started becoming deliberating misinforming, I had to turn it off. I am not a dietician but do work in research. This "documentary" is very one-sided, and some of the science is not right, such as how people develop diabetes or making eating processed meat the equivalent of smoking cigarettes. They are correct in that most Americans eat too much fat, meat, and dairy for their body's needs. If we all ate less factory-farmed meat, our health and planet would be better off.
If one wants to know how to eat a healthy diet, have a healthy lifestyle, it would be to look at the "blue zones" of the world such as the Mediterranean area. There they eat diets high in grains, produce, and smaller amounts of meat, fish, and dairy such as cheese and yogurt, as well as desserts and drink. However no food is excluded. They also have a healthy lifestyle of not rushing, eating junk food/sodas, and live in a way that incorporates physical activity, family and social interconnectedness (i.e. meaning). I do not like documentaries that use scare tactics, fear and misinformation to spread their message. The vegan diet is extremely restrictive. The people I have known personally who were vegan, all ended up having to modify their diets (some under direct doctor's orders) because their health had deteriorated.
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Oh goodness, I'm so glad that someone like yourself chimed in! I too found it to be one-sided but just didn't know the rebuttals and the responses other than "well it tastes good and I don't have any major issues." Do you have more details on how the vegan's health has deteriorated instead of improve? Or have any sources to recommend to understand the other side of the story?
 
Part Gypsy, I hear you re veganism seeming very restrictive. For me, cutting out meat/poultry and every so often dairy opened my dietary horizons. I began trying new vegetables and grains and really branched out into all kinds of foods. Yeah, not everyone has that experience or is so open-minded about trying new things, I get that. But, I think it is definitely possible to be vegan in a very healthy way.

Pierre Bear, in my former meat-eating days, I would have a petite filet and 20 minutes later be in the bathroom in absolute agony. I can't remember the last time I've had a GI ailment in the past decade +. I went through an entire pregnancy as a vegetarian and never needed iron supplements or had any issues whatsoever.

My family are all heavy meat-eaters. My grandmother always had awful GI problems, diverticulitis, etc. My grandfather died of colon cancer. My father has had colon cancer. My brother is constantly taking antacids meanwhile posting pictures of bbq and piles of meat on Facebook, is overweight and has high cholesterol. My mother is constantly in and out of the ER with stomach issues; celiac has been ruled out, no gluten intolerance, etc. I'm the only person in my family who doesn't have health issues, and I attribute it to genetics and that I don't eat meat. Was there a huge difference in my health in general after I quit? No. But I stopped getting sick and don't have any of the problems my family does (so far.) So, I'm a believer. It works for me, and that's all that matters to me. I don't have any agenda to get others to follow suit. You do what works for your body and don't feel pressured by anyone else.
 
Yes, people should do what works for their body. The two people I knew, one their hair started falling out, and weak nails. They were b vitamin deficient. She first tried different vegan supplements, but then when that didn't correct problem, she had to get shots. At that point she reintroduced some meat back. The other woman, she never specified what she was diagnosed with, but one aspect was she couldn't regulate her blood sugar. she was vegan for many years and I was shocked when I walked in on her preparing a meal w meat. She told me it was for medical reasons, and she had to change her diet. My experience, I went vegetarian. And I was eating a very healthy diet (during that time I wasn't eating any refined sugars, no coffee, no alcohol, lots of yummy ethnic food). But I became severely anemic. And when I do lent, it's the same thing. There probably some who can eat like that like me and have a different experience. Doesn't mean i eat meat every day, but if I completely eliminate it, it impacts my health.
 
Pierre bear, the American journal of clinical nutrition published an article in 2009, about both the relative benefits of vegetarianism, being vegan, and potential pitfalls of veganism. There are def benefits to eating more vegetarian, because you eat more produce like fruits and veggies that have anti cancer properties, higher fiber, and lower fat which is also associated for lower risk of many cancers, as well as being cardio protective. Vegans have even better biomarkers in a sense than vegetarians, but there hasn't been any studies that finds being a vegan compared to vegetarian confers additional benefits long term either in reduction of these diseases or longevity. In turn, none of the blue zones eat a vegan diet. There are unique risks to being vegan, and very strict vegeterian, like lower bone mass, higher risk of hip fractures, depression from low cholesterol, and micronutrient deficiencies, some which can be very serious. Unlike cows, we cannot manufacture all micronutrients we need. It's something to be aware of. It's something I became interested in when I flunked the vegetarian diet, and wondered why if I was eating so healthily, it didn't work for me.
 
partgypsy said:
Pierre bear, the American journal of clinical nutrition published an article in 2009, about both the relative benefits of vegetarianism, being vegan, and potential pitfalls of veganism. There are def benefits to eating more vegetarian, because you eat more produce like fruits and veggies that have anti cancer properties, higher fiber, and lower fat which is also associated for lower risk of many cancers, as well as being cardio protective. Vegans have even better biomarkers in a sense than vegetarians, but there hasn't been any studies that finds being a vegan compared to vegetarian confers additional benefits long term either in reduction of these diseases or longevity. In turn, none of the blue zones eat a vegan diet. There are unique risks to being vegan, and very strict vegeterian, like lower bone mass, higher risk of hip fractures, depression from low cholesterol, and micronutrient deficiencies, some which can be very serious. Unlike cows, we cannot manufacture all micronutrients we need. It's something to be aware of. It's something I became interested in when I flunked the vegetarian diet, and wondered why if I was eating so healthily, it didn't work for me.
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Thank you for sharing such a detailed response! Very informational. I certainly hope everyone plans to eat what's right for them to live a healthy and long life. We are all built with different genes and have different perspective and by on means is using this thread to push an agenda. I'm just trying to learn what I can from the wealth of knowledge that other individuals have in addition to documentaries.

I'm going to share my part of the story in case anyone following this thread is curious or is going through something similar. I've had so much internal turmoil trying to figure out how to be good stewards of our bodies and health. I actually went to the grocery store yesterday and my goal was to not purchase any meat and dairy items. I did great until I saw some meat on sale. 25% off is hard to pass up! Delicious burger patties that we love to eat over a salad instead of a bun. However, decided to stick to my goal and at the check out line asked if I could put them back. So far so good on the first grocery trip.

I'm not a researcher/scientist/nutritionist but I'm going to give it the good ole college try. DH and I are not purchasing any more meat until everything is depleted from our freezer. When we go to social events with events or go out to eat, we won't shy away to eat but try to limit or get a very small portion. Hopefully this might be a step towards the best of both worlds of getting the benefits of eating like a vegetarian/vegan but not being concerned about the nutrient deficiencies and other issues you mentioned. Hopefully this plan will work with our bodies but will have to see!
 
Pierre, I think that's a step in the right direction if you are looking to reduce your meat consumption. That right there is something maybe a lot of people don't consider, that they can still eat meat but they don't need to eat nearly as much. Sometimes I think the issue of meat consumption is addressed as an all or nothing subject, and let's face it people will be more willing to take a smaller step like one less meat meal a week than going full on vegan.

We made fajitas last night and I had two packages of chicken tenderloins, after cutting them into smaller pieces it looked like more than enough so I put the other package in the freezer for next week. We even had leftovers just from the one package! If each family even just did that it would make a huge difference and it's just a very small step.
 
In my household I generally prepare 2 meals a week with meat. Also the kids like some meat based prepared foods, so they end up eating more meat than I do. What I'm trying to make an effort on, is cutting back on processed meat, and doing more bean based meals since my kids like beans more than veggies. I do love cheese. I eat less than I used to, but won't ever eliminate it; quality of life issue. And I try to make our own desserts versus store bought. No soda in the house.
 
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