Wellness Jumpstart: Roundup of Healthy Movies
We can spend the weekend binge-watching TV even while we feel frustrated at our health or weight, or we can use that time helping to build inspiration and pumping ourselves up for real change. Fortunately, there are plenty of health-supporting movies that are as informative as they are engaging. We’ve listed an assortment of must-see movies below for anyone who wants to jumpstart their wellness goals or who needs a boost in determination.
Forks Over Knives
This movie has become a classic as it takes a look at the need for more plant-based meals in a culture obsessed with protein. The results from participants are startling and the science discussed is eye-opening.
Game Changers
For athletes looking to pursue a more plant-based diet, this movie shows in striking examples just how little we know about our need for protein and the best way to fuel an athletic body. The changes are astonishing and the performance is undeniable. Anyone interested in pursuing athletics at even an amateur level should consider this film required watching.
Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
Joe wasn't well. And he felt confused by his own unwellness so we watch as Joe takes off an adventure to change his health and to talk to others about their own views on health in the process. While it may seem a spoiler to say he gains incredible health in the process, it's how he gets there that's surprising. This one has a sequel.
What the Health
Those who watch this film seem to become converts to a better way of eating. And the health they find is as good a motivator as anything else.
Supersize Me
Supersize Me offers a glimpse into the life of a fast-food fan who hits the drive-thru three times a day for a full month. Morgan Spurlock, the star of the documentary, tracks his declining health, including weight gain and doctor’s visits, during this period. The movie was released more than 15 years ago, but its message is still relevant today: An overconsumption of fast food can destroy your body, both physically and emotionally.
Take Your Pills
Depending on who you ask, ADHD meds are a lifesaver or a horrible solution to the symptoms of this condition. Take Your Pills explores both perspectives in this controversial documentary, and it also tackles the reasons some adults feel compelled to take stimulants in the first place.
A Life of Its Own: The Truth About Medical Marijuana
As more states jump on the medical marijuana legalization bandwagon, some of us have questions about whether cannabis can help us or a loved one. A Life of Its Own: The Truth About Medical Marijuana chronicles the medical journey of a 24-year-old man who combines cannabis with chemotherapy. By the end of the movie, an entire town — including the man’s police officer father — gains a new perspective on medical marijuana.
In Defense of Food
You may recognize this title from the library, as In Defense of Food was a book before it became a movie. This documentary focuses on the dangers of following a Western diet filled with processed, packaged foods and highlights the importance of eating plant-based meals.
Prescription Thugs
The opioid epidemic is spreading across the nation, affecting everyone from suburban housewives to high school students. Prescription Thugs provides a heartbreaking look at how prescription painkillers destroy the lives of the ones we love. Several addiction experts are interviewed, and director Chris Bell even shares some surprising secrets about his own experiences.
Instead of Netflix and chill, try Netflix and fill — as in, fill your head with knowledge. These health-focused movies are a great way to start a journey toward greater health.
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