This movie had me riveted from the get go. The graphic footage of factory farm practices was enough to put me off eating cow, pig and fowl immediately. The revelations about big corporate and pharma money buying silence did not surprise me, nor did governmental corruption. However, in studying for my degree in psychology and how research and statistics work, I have also learned the importance of critical thinking. I have been suffering with digestive issues for years and after watching this film, I thought perhaps this is the answer to my problems. But before becoming vegan, I wanted to verify the facts. Afterall, movies can be edited to suit anyone's agenda if they have a specific slant (in this case veganism). I read the research paper about the movie's claim that dairy intake has been positively linked to breast cancer. As someone with a family history of this awful disease, I wanted to know if I was truly at higher risk if I ingest dairy products. Although the study being relied on to confront the breast cancer support advocates was proper, random, controlled testing (RCT, truly the only way to completely verify and replicate results so that it shows a direct causation and not just a correlation - too many confounding variables) the study clearly states that while there is replicable evidence that dairy consumption is linked to breast cancer, it also clearly states that the evidence shows absolutely NO increased risk for those ingesting non-fat dairy. Why was this important fact not mentioned in the movie? This important omission bothers me. Although there were many good and salient points in the film that gave me pause, this omission made me think I should also check all of the other facts. Since watching the movie I have switched to mostly vegan, but that lack of full disclosure of a study that was used to make a heavy point about dairy reminds me that we all really need to listen, but to also be critical and skeptical (not cynical) until we research all the facts ourselves and not rely on movies that may edit out important info that might make a difference in helping us to make informed decisions. I have cut out most animal products but I continue to eat non fat dairy based on the full text of the study referred to in the movie.
Review of What the Health
