Review – The Diet Fiction Movie

The Diet Fiction Movie

This movie discusses a variety of diets and explains how most ignore the preponderance of nutrition research. Along the way, physicians, researchers, dietitians and others share their evidence-based nutrition recommendations.  It is not surprising that all of them recommend a diet dominated by fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts/seeds.

The participants likely come to similar conclusions based on their personal experiences and their wholistic view of nutrition.  This view of nutrition allows them to see the major flaws in the arguments of those who recommend:

• Atkins-type diets
• Ketogenic diets
• Grain-avoidance diets
• Fruit-avoidance diets and
• “Paleo” diets

My Thoughts

I think this movie is most valuable to people who are frustrated with the conflicting nutrition information that is shared by all different types of “experts”.

Two of the most convincing people in the film are two dissident dietitians and one dissident dietetic student. They make it very clear that their formal education does not include any information on the benefits of whole food plant-based diets.  This is astounding when you consider that the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ (AND’s) position paper  on vegetarian diets includes this statement : “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. Well-planned vegetarian diets are appropriate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.”

You’d think the benefits of planned plant-based diets would be emphasized by education programs accredited by the AND, but apparently, to this day, these benefits are not even covered!  It’s clear that the AND is still strongly influenced by Big Food. I’m hoping that the dissident dietitians in the film will have a positive impact on all viewers —- especially dietitians.

Stay Healthy and Strong!