Since my transformation into a healthy plant-based diet, I’ve set out on a mission to learn everything there is to know about food and nutrition. Hungry for change is a vegan documentary that really helped me. The correlation between what we eat and how our bodies perform is something that interests me very much, being that I’m a plant-based runner. I have stumbled upon many different resources (some valuable, some not so much).
Recently I got in contact with the friendly folks over at Food Matters. They offered to let me review their newest movie, “Hungry for Change” and gave me two extra copies to let you (my readers) watch as well. I was more than excited and watched the movie immediately.
In this post, I will do a quick review and point out some key topics that the film covers. Then (at the bottom of the page) I will tell you how you can get a copy of the movie for yourself!
When Watching, Take Notes
From beginning to end, the film is full of extremely useful information, much of which I had never heard of or thought about. I would suggest that when watching the movie, have a pen and paper ready to start jotting down notes. Nearly every sentence spoken contains highly valuable information; tips that you should use to help determine your grocery shopping list.
Main Focus
The focus of the movie is on how the foods we are eating are no longer “real foods.” We are eating food-like products that the food industry has created for us which have little, to no, nutritional qualities, but contain high amounts of calories. The movie also illustrates the life of a woman who is struggling to combat weight gain, a fight that is familiar to most American women.
Unfortunately, the diets that Americans are choosing often don’t result in weight loss. In many instances, they result in the opposite, often adding new health problems. Once we get onto our “real diet,” the one we were intended to eat, we don’t have to concern ourselves with counting calories, watching fat intake, or feeling depressed because of what we ate.
Our bodies will naturally reward us with what it is capable of doing once fully nourished: lose weight, whitened eyes, glowing skin, look and feel younger.
Today’s Food
We have been programmed over millennia to put on fat whenever there is food available. We are wired to store that fat for the winter, but the winter never comes.
Foods high in fat and sugar send signals to our brain’s reward system, telling us to eat more. This was once an efficient and useful signal to follow. Regrettably, our environment has much changed; we no longer have the worries of our ancestors, such as famine, war, and wide-spread disease.
However, the foods we eat today are excessively high in fat and sugar, and our brains still use those reward signals which tell us to keep eating. This is one of the key contributors to our nation’s obesity, heart disease, and diabetes epidemic.
Hungry for Change Trailer
The film pointed out many key points and facts:
- The average American consumes more than 150 lbs. of sugar and sweeteners each year.
- “68 % of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.” Journal of the American Medical Association
- The difference between being hungry and nutritionally starving
- The food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry with the scientific and financial resources to identify very carefully what appeals to the average consumer. They produce chemical derivatives to add to their food-like concoctions that taste good and have addictive properties – Much like the way the tobacco industry adds extra nicotine to cigarettes, making them more addictive.
- The difference between industry-funded and independent studies. That’s right – typically the manufacturer of these “food products” are the ones funding the studies which deem them safe.
- The reason people fall off diets – tell yourself “I can have it but I don’t want it.” instead of, “I want it but can’t have it.”
- The best way to begin changing your eating habits – Start adding in the good stuff and the bad will eventually be crowded out.
- The real truth behind “DIET”, “SUGAR-FREE” and “FAT-FREE” products
- How to navigate your supermarket – what to buy and what to avoid* The most effective detox and cleansing strategies
- What is fat and cellulite and how do we get rid of it for good
They also break down why certain foods and ingredients are bad for your health, including:
- MSG
- HFCS Aspartame
- Caffeine
- Propylene Glycol
- Artificial Colors/Flavors
- Partially Hydrogenated Oils
- Canola Oil
- Corn Oil
- stable Foods
- Diet Sodas
- Processed/Refined Foods
My Conclusion
This movie kept me focused from the very beginning. Unlike other movies I have watched, it didn’t make me feel as if I were listening to a lecture, or sitting in a class. It made me feel as if the doctors and nutritionists were speaking directly to me.
The film is also extremely credible, with references from authors, doctors, dieticians, nutritionists, fitness experts, and people who have lost weight and beaten disease using a natural, whole-food diet. I encourage you all to watch it and apply the principals to your dietary regimen.
This movie has certainly been a useful tool (among many) that I will continue to use, empowering myself with the knowledge to live a healthy and sustainable life.For more information on Food Matters, Hungry for Change, or to order their recipe book, click here. There is a plethora of information on their website that could be of use to you.
Unfortunately, fad dieting hasn't really worked well for me so I gave it up. I now just make an effort to make more healthy choices everyday and have realized that I don't crave junk food as much as I used to.
I never tried too much fad dieting.I lost 80 lbs doing it the hard way ha..But the best way..Lots of water, walking & cutting back portions..I eat healthy now, but desserts are still my weakness! Just found your blog and I like it!
I have never been one to try new "fad" diets out. Once I read the china study, that was all I needed. Now my parents on the other hand, have been on at least 20 different diets over the last 10 years or so,,,and guess what??! They are finally seeing the goodness of a plant based lifestyle 😀 I went through about a year of drinking "protein shakes" for my workouts, and trying to make sure I had some protein at every meal, but those days are long gone. It's so much better not worrying about it.
Diets on the whole have never helped. But changing my diet in the way I eat has helped immensely. First I gave up all meat but fish, then I went vegetarian, vegan and now I'm giving up most processed foods and have cut way back on added sugar and candy. It's my goal to eat a vegan plant based diet 90-95% of the time with some foods like Beyond Meat's Chicken-less Strips or vegan desserts making up the rest.
I switched to a plant-based diet in late April of this year and I've already lost more than 25 pounds and it's made a huge difference in my overall health. Now my husband has joined me in the new lifestyle and I'm hoping to reverse some of the years of damage that his previous diet has done to him.
Found your blog from Forks over Knives and appreciate the added nutritional info and recipes. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by Beth! I'm glad that you found the site helpful 🙂
That's awesome to be able to share something so great with one another. You two solemnly promised through sickness and health – glad you both are choosing health! 🙂
It sounds like you are eating like me. I agree that "diets" don't necessarily work. What we need is a lifestyle change, which includes the way we eat, but also involves the way we think. Glad you stopped by owsla!
That is possibly the best part about a plant-based "diet." (I still don't like that word, lol). We no longer have to concern ourselves with monitoring our caloric intake or fat or sugar. All we have to do is eat whole plant-based foods and our bodies will reward us!
Thanks Joey! I'm glad that you found the blog. If you want some awesome plant-based desserts, check out http://www.thisrawesomeveganlife.com. She has some amazing dishes!
I have found the same Amanda. I no longer crave the things I used to put into my body. I used to eat lots of processed cereals, and it caused my body to crave more. Since quitting heavily processed foods, I no longer have a desire to eat them. Making healthy eating choices is what it's all about!
Fad diets have never worked for me, but I'm also not getting any thinner. -sigh-
My husband and I are switching to a plant-based diet because it makes sense to us. We have never tried any fad diets
I am switching to plant based.
Plant-based has been amazing for me. I never count calories or fat and have plenty of energy to fuel my workouts. I hope that you will give it a try 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway!
That is so great that you are both open to changing your eating habits. You two will long and happy together!
That's great Maggie! I'm so glad to hear it. This DVD exposes some things that I never thought about and will teach you other things besides not eating meat, eggs, and dairy. I hope you win – Good Luck!
I have been vegan for about two years. Only for the last 5 months have I been making the transition to a full plant based diet. Meaning giving up nearly all processed junk and fatty foods. My health increased some once I transitioned to a vegan diet, but it's dramatically improving now that I am doing it in a more healthy way! I look forward to seeing this doc as soon as I can watch it.
I think you're right – Removing processed and refined foods from our diets is key to good health. I've noticed that my cravings for certain foods has disappeared since I stopped putting them in my body. I crave the healthy stuff now. It's great!
Good Luck in the Giveaway!