We
recently watched a documentary called “Forks Over Knives”, which presented views
about obesity and the downward spiral of diets in America. Living in Colorado,
one of the skinniest states in America, I’m somewhat blind to the presence of obesity
in America. In America, one person
dies every minute of heart disease and one in three Americans will be diagnosed
with diabetes at some point in their life. One in five four year olds today are considered obese and the average American now carries 23 extra pounds.
This
documentary approached the issue of obesity by proposing a plant-based diet
that eliminates meat and dairy products.
Through studies, this diet theoretically helped to drop peoples weight, cholesterol
levels, and other significant medical measurements. It proposed that the protein from animal products is harmful
and can stimulate the growth of cancer cells. A few doctors in this film went as far as to say that eating
a plant-based diet can reverse the growth of cancer cells without the
assistance of any medicine.
Although
this documentary looked and felt reliable, I am having a difficult time
believing all of the information that was presented to me. I found it very difficult to believe
that eating a plant-based diet could “reverse” cancer or even the symptoms of
cancer. Cancer is a complex and problematic
disease that has been taking over our world. It has sent our doctors into a never-ending race to find the
cure to this hostile disease.
Could the answer have been in front of them the whole time? I think that although a plant-based
diet may help cancer patients feel better and maybe numb their symptoms, it
can’t cure the actual disease.
This is just one example of how this movie manipulated words to persuade
people to agree with their views.
I think that when watching a movie like this, it is very important to
think about the validity of the information they are giving you.
