Over the past decade or so, there has been a radical shift in regards to the focus we put on our health and what it truly means to be healthy.

We now know, without a doubt, that our diet, lifestyle and environmental factors absolutely play a role in the potential development of disease and that we, ourselves, do play a direct role in our health from the choices that we make every day.

What used to generally be thought of as out of our control, many are becoming aware that in a large way we have a choice in our overall health.

So, with that being said, many people are aware of this, but simply do not know where to begin. They want to make a change in their their lives and their diet and lifestyles, but simply don’t know where to start.

We are bombarded with so much conflicting information every day in regards to what it truly means to be healthy. Often, we feel overwhelmed and defeated and sometimes just give up.

Seems there is a scientific study to prove any point, so how do we really know what’s best for us?

Unfortunately, a lot of mainstream medicine is outdated and relies too heavily on treating symptoms rather than preventing illness. If we truly want to be healthy we have to know how to prevent illness before it occurs. We could be thriving rather than just surviving, if only we had the tools.

The following is a list of the top 10 documentaries that are focused on health and the many different aspects of it and how we can get ourselves on a path that involves energy, vibrancy and joy. True healing starts within, by healing our bodies we can heal our mindsets as well.

Most of these documentaries can be found on Netflix, Youtube or streaming sites such as TopDocumentaryFilms.com or DocumentaryStorm.

Maybe you are someone who is already on a path of health but can pass this list along to friends or family members who are intrigued and want to begin a healthy lifestyle but don’t know where to being.

1. Forks Over Knives (2011)

In this film, researchers explore the potential health benefits gained from switching their diets from animal-based to plant-based and whether or not this can help to eliminate, prevent, or control the epidemic diseases that are plaguing humanity today; diabetes and cancer.

Centred around the research provided in the most comprehensive study of nutrition ever, The China Study, Dr. Colin T. Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn share their insights on what they have seen over decades in the medical practice and why they believe that the key to longevity and health is a plant-based diet.

If you are apprehensive about this one, I say don’t forget to keep an open mind. If you don’t agree and don’t see the benefits that’s okay, but don’t disregard it until you’ve heard this perspective.

2. Fed Up (2014)

Filmmaker, Stephanie Soechtig and journalist Katie Couric, investigate the American food industry and how they may be a lot more responsible for the health epidemic facing the American people today than previously thought.

We learn about how sugar, which is in virtually every single processed food, even where you wouldn’t expect it, is one of the main causes of health problems and how to be aware of this so we can avoid it.

This is an eye-opener for sure, as many people are simply uninformed and completely misled by the big corporations and advertising campaigns.

This controversial documentary explores the biggest conspiracy in our food industry today, simply that meat and animal products are making us sick, causing us cancer, diabetes and that big meat and big dairy are paying to keep these findings a secret. When in doubt, always follow the money.

Filmmaker, Kip Anderson uncovers the secret to preventing and even reversing chronic illness. He goes in depth to uncover why the nation’s leading health organizations don’t want people to know about this. Don’t forget, the cancer industry is a multi-billion dollar per year industry.

Personally, I love this documentary. It is a simple story of a man, Joe Cross, who is morbidly obese and struggling with an autoimmune disease. In an effort to restore his health, he pledges to consume only fruit and vegetable juice for 60 days in a grand effort to reclaim his health.

The results are not only astounding, but super inspiring. The power of fasting is real, and this documentary shows how it is possible and how we can all benefit from it. Yes, we can survive without solid food, and sometimes, contrary to what we have been led to believe, we need to give our digestive systems a break.

This film goes into depth about the deceptive marketing tactics the dieting industry uses to manipulate us into buying their products keeping us from losing any weight at all or keeping it off.

True health has nothing to do with how many calories something has, but everything to do with what the food is made of. Don’t forget real food doesn’t have ingredients, real food is ingredients.

6. Planeat (2010)

Is it time to re-examine our love affair with meat and dairy? This film discusses this question in detail and bringing to light whether we need to be eating as much meat and animal products as we are and whether or not our current lifestyles and dietary choices could be directly related to our dietary decisions.

Following the story of 3 men and their lifelong search to discover which type of diet is truly best for our health.

Although this documentary is a decade and a half old, it is still very relevant in regards to a serious threat that is facing our food industry today, sadly, this issue has only gotten progressively worse. But before we can do something about it we have to be aware of the issue.

Unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods are changing the very nature of food production and still, we don’t know the long term health effects of consuming this food and the copious amounts of pesticides that is used to grow it.

This documentary exposes an extremely important issue that we should all be made aware of so that we can make an informed decision for ourselves and our families every time we shop.

8. The Beautiful Truth (2008)

After the death of his Mother, in an attempt to cope, a 15-year-old boy sets out to research Dr. Max Gerson’s claims that there is a diet that can cure cancer. It offers a practical guide to the intensive nutritional treatment of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Everyone should have access to alternative information so that they could choose if they were ever diagnosed with cancer themselves. The most important takeaway is that chemotherapy is not the only option and our diet is truly our biggest ally when it comes to the treatment of cancer.

“You are what you eat.”

This film is about nutrition and the direct role that a selective diet can play in treating a wide range of seemingly un-treatable conditions such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and even depression, acting as a substitute for mainstream medical treatment.

It exposes the healthcare industry as a “sickness industry” and opens our eyes to what the medical industry might have to gain from keeping us ill.

This list will certainly keep you busy and if you have any you would like to add, please let us know in the comments section. Don’t forget to pass along this list to your friends and family members who might need it the most.

The most important takeaway we can get from all of these films combined is that we do have the power to prevent and cure illness if we have the tools that we need to keep ourselves and our bodies functioning as they are meant to, in a healthy state.

The first step to creating change is to have awareness, if we don’t know, why would we do anything differently?

11 Netflix Documentaries That Could Change Your Life

Much Love,

Alanna Ketler