Review of What the Health (2017) by Kandace D — 13 Jul 2017

I have been a registered nurse for years. I have worked in hospitals-medical surgical and mental health. I have seen a lot of pain in the desperate attempt people have to regain their health. The options are medications, diet, and exercise. The medication is treating the symptoms. That is absolutely true. The root cause is diet and exercise.

The film tackled so many huge topics in health care. I have read the criticisms of the film. I went and checked a few of the studies that the film cited and recommendations that were made. I mainly used Up to Date, a physician database that compiles integrative and some small studies into practical recommendations. I found the film accurate in my search through recommendations. Granted, the film is extreme but perhaps that is because the health crisis of America is extreme.

I was impressed with the amount of information, teaching, and story telling the film achieved. I admit I have viewed the "vegan lifestyle" as annoying and hipster. I love streak and ice cream. So this message is difficult for me to swallow. But, I can't ignore the facts (the facts I checked on) to be true. Perhaps the most disturbing part of the film to me was the sponsorship of meat and dairy for the associations that America trusts. I'm disturbed but not surprised. Remember when physicians were able to accept large gifts from pharmaceutical sales reps? Laws were passed to stop this and now physicians can't accept pharmaceutical sales gifts/dinners/vacations and then turn around and sell the medication/equipment. Hello?? Bribery! So we stopped the physicians from doing it. Why don't we hold associations to that same standard? Especially if these associations are non profits and claiming to provide some public service to the public and receive tax benefits for that. Unfortunately, it all comes back to the money. Greed may be the root of all evil.