The documentary follows the journey of former MMA fighter, James Wilks on his journey into the world of plant-based nutrition. Throughout the documentary, we are bombarded with references to scientific studies and celebrity appearances featuring none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. The words ‘vegan’ and ‘vegetarian’ are purposefully replaced by the far less stigmatizing term: ‘plant-based’. By using this term plant-based we can see how Cameron and Wilks are really honing in on the nutritional appeal, and avoiding the typical ecological and ethical side of the argument altogether, which is definitely a very strong move in the modern world, considering how many people just shut themselves down at the mention of the word ‘vegan’.

Unfortunately for Wilks, using the words ‘plant-based’ to reduce the stigma does very little to admonish the fact that the swathes of scientific studies that are flashed across the screen in a way that screams: “Look! It’s Science Stuff!”, are not only often completely bogus but often they are conducted on population samples so small that they wouldn’t even count as a Kindergartener’s class survey. Let’s go through some of the points Wilks puts forward and assess what sort of scientific evidence he’s using to change the game.

1. Roman gladiators didn’t eat meat

Wilks uses this point to begin the documentary and helps creates the foundation of the idea that plant-based diets have been used to power elite warriors from day one. Part of this is true. A lot of research shows that gladiators did eat a predominantly plant-based diet. However, it’s not for the reason you’d think. Furthermore, the study that he references isn’t actually a study. It’s a short anecdotal article from a contributing writer, Andrew Curry to an archaeological journal. And what’s worse is, if you take the time to actually read the anecdote by Andrew Curry you’ll find that gladiators weren’t eating a plant-based diet to improve their performance or enhance their longevity.

They were doing it to get fat…

Having large amounts of subcutaneous fat creates a “cushion” around all of the gladiator’s blood vessels and nerve endings. A lean gladiator explains paleo-pathologist; Karl Grossschmidt: “would not only be dead meat, but he would also have made for a terrible show.”

Gladiators with large amounts of fat made surface wounds look spectacular which made it far more thrilling for the crowd. Not only did Wilks viciously stretch the term “study”, but he also managed to undermine his own point whilst doing so.

Ps. If you’re wondering why you have an association with Roman Gladiators as ripped, rugged and handsome; blame Hollywood. Good old cinema can’t resist depicting any ancient historical figure involved in combat through a sexy, sweaty lens; forever painting our screens with the glistening figure of 2000 Russell Crowe.

2. Plant protein provides equal and or superior athletic performance compared to animal-based sources.

Next on the list of misappropriated research: Wilks cites a 2004 study on nutritional guidelines for vegetarian athletes in which he correctly asserts that when all of the essential amino acids are accounted for the source is irrelevant. Wilks, however, again forgets to mention that the very same study also outlines that vegetarians and vegans will have a much lower mean muscle creatine concentration which greatly impacts the upper limits of athletes in extreme performance zones. Plants can be an extremely good source of protein if all essential amino acids are accounted for, but to say that it is on par with animal protein in terms of iron, creatine, and synthesis availability (which are incredibly important for high performing athletes) is an outright falsity.

3. Drinking milk lowers testosterone in men

Whilst milk has been proven to increase inflammation markers in most people, even in those of us that are capable of producing high quantities of the lactase enzyme; there is absolutely 0 evidence to show that milk decreases testosterone… Wilks cites a 2010 study that uses 7 men as its designated sample pool. 7 men. And in the analysis of these 7 men; it finds that the milk doesn’t actually lower overall testosterone permanently, it merely dampens testosterone secretion temporarily. Again, this is just another sleight of hand that isn’t an outright lie, but at this point, I could feel the reasonable doubt beginning to snowball.