10 Healthy Movies To Watch This Weekend

Looking for something to watch this weekend?  Check out some of my favourite healthy movies below.

Supersize Me

I can’t believe that this film is over 10 years old!!!  It was the first documentary I watched about food and health.   Morgan Spurlock filmed his experience of eating nothing but McDonald’s three times a day for an entire month (supersizing his meals of course!) and tracked his physical and emotional health, which deteriorated at a shocking speed.  He also talked with other Americans who subsist largely on burgers, fries and fizzy drinks while showing how the fast food industry uses marketing to get us to consume more.  An oldie but a goodie.

 

That Sugar Film

In sort of the same vein, That Sugar Film follows Australian filmmaker Damon Gameau as he embarks on a unique experiment to document the effects of a high sugar diet on a healthy body. The twist with this film is that he’s not eating fast food but rather foods that are looked on as ‘healthy’ but in actual fact are loaded with sugar – health cereals, juice, yogurts etc.

 

Fed Up

Another film about the ill-effects of sugar is Fed Up.  Narrated by well-known US TV presenter Katie Couric, this doc delves into the role sugar plays in the obesity crisis and how big business is impacting the epidemic.  One for people who don’t really understand just how much sugar goes into the foods we eat every day and how it affects our bodies.  Eye-opening!

 

Food Inc.

Food Inc. is a film that covers the food industry from a corporate perspective.  It highlights how the way we eat and what we eat has changed over the last few decades and why.  It lifts the lid on some of the world’s most powerful food companies and why they want to hide what’s in the food they manufacture.  By the time you finish watching you’ll have a better understanding of the importance of food and how you can make the best choices in your daily life.

 

Hungry For Change

On a similar vein to Food Inc., Hungry For Change looks at the lies food companies tell us.  Part expert advice and part first-person testimonial, you’ll come away convinced that giving up processed foods and eating clean will make a huge difference when it comes to your health (and waistline).

 

Food Matters

Food Matters discusses why our food is so important and how it can and should be our medicine. It highlights the amount of pesticides, gmo foods and pharmaceuticals etc we are consuming and why they aren’t in the true best interest of our population.  It differentiates between managing symptoms with pharmaceuticals and healing our bodies with real health solutions.

 

Fat Sick & Nearly Dead

In this film Australian Joe Cross starts off fat, sick (and nearly dead) and decides to tackle his illness head-on with changing his diet and lifestyle.  He embarks on a juicing challenge and we get to follow him on his journey back to health.  There’s also a number of inspiring stories of people who get a new lease on life after redesigning their diet and exercise habits.  Uplifting and will have you reaching for the green juice!

 

Jason Vale Super Juice Me

Also touting the benefits of juicing is Jason Vale Super Juice Me.  Eight people with various illnesses are put on a juice fast in Jason’s retreat in Portugal.  The results are amazing.  I was particularly interested in this doc as there was an Irish girl who had Crohn’s disease who took part.  It’s made me want to go to that retreat!

 

Forks Over Knives

This film focuses on the scientific proof that a diet full of plants and free of processed foods is the one that works best for our bodies.  While it does take on some of the ethical principles of veganism, it’s more about the benefits of plant-based diets (and there are many eating styles that can be plant-based and not vegan).

 

Happy

While not about diet, this sweet and meaningful documentary looks into the history of happiness, how it differs from culture to culture, and what you can do on a regular basis to become happier, healthier, and more fulfilled in your everyday life.  Feel good film!

 

Have you any recommendations for me?  Always looking for inspiration.