Expand your world from your sofa: Wellbeing Documentaries
Given the events that have taken place over the last twelve months, it’s safe to assume that the time each of us now spends watching content on entertainment streaming platforms has increased. The most well-known providers of these services have also clearly realised this, judging by the amount of new content that is added to these platforms on an almost weekly basis. Most of us can probably admit to watching too much TV at present however, not all time spent watching TV should be considered a poor use of time; you may suppose it comes down to whatever’s being watched.
For the last few years, there’s been a noticeable trend in new content of a particular nature being added to streaming platforms, with documentaries that focus on a particular area of wellbeing certainly fitting into this category. On Netflix alone, there’s enough content in this area to create an entirely new genre. Given the wellbeing related resolutions that many of us will have made upon the turn of the New Year, we thought this as good a time as any to review some of the best wellbeing related documentaries out there right now.
The five documentaries that we’ve summarised in this article really do only represent the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health related documentaries that can be streamed online. There are many other documentaries available on popular streaming platforms with a focus on health, but these documentaries are a great place to start!
The Game Changers
Aimed at debunking the myth that in order to become bigger, faster and stronger a meat heavy diet is a must. This documentary assesses the impact that a purely plant based diet can have on athletic performance at the very highest level and you may be very surprised by the results. As the name suggests, it may leave you questioning the supposed benefits of a meat based diet.
The Mind, Explained
the focus of The Mind, Explained, is, obviously, all about the mind and its function. Emma Roberts narrates this mini documentary that delves into what's happening inside the human brain, exploring various functions like memory formation and retention, dreaming, the effects of psychedelic drugs, and mental health issues like anxiety
What the Health
If you have a friend that has recently decided to convert to veganism, whether on a permanent or temporary basis, there’s a good chance that they’ve watched What the Health. The controversial documentary draws links between toxins consumed through animal proteins and getting cancer, type 2 diabetes, among other conditions. Critics argue that the film’s claims (i.e. eating eggs is as bad as smoking) are frenzied and overblown, while supporters say that there’s nothing overblown about discussing the merits of a plant-based diet. Watch it and decide for yourself
The C Word
We are told on a regular basis in various news articles that there are links between many different areas of diminished wellbeing and an increased chance of developing certain types of cancer. In The C Word, film producer Meghan LaFrance O’Hara examines the connection between nutrition, stress, toxins, and cancer, alongside French physician Steven Servan-Schreiber
The Truth about Alcohol
When the UK introduced new guidelines recommending less alcohol consumption for men (lowering it to six pints of beer a week, the same as the recommendation for women), British ER doctor Javid Abdelmoneim set out to find—you guessed it—the truth about alcohol. In the funny yet informative documentary, he questions what prompted the change in guidelines, what the health risks (and possible benefits) of drinking are, and why some folks get drunk faster, and more often