The Food Cure is a powerful and enlightening documentary that investigates the link between nutrition and cancer treatment. The film follows the journey of Kelly A. Turner, a cancer survivor and researcher who has spent the last decade researching alternative and holistic approaches to treating cancer. The film begins by outlining the conventional cancer treatment methods, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. While these methods have been successful in many cases, they often come with serious side effects and a high rate of recurrence. Turner's research has focused on using food as medicine, exploring the idea that the right diet can not only prevent cancer but also help the body fight the disease.
Turner interviews experts and patients who have adopted a whole-food, plant-based diet to manage their cancer. She also visits various clinics and retreats around the world that offer nutritional therapy as a complement to conventional treatment.
One such clinic is the Gerson Institute in Mexico, where patients are put on a strict organic, vegetarian diet and given numerous supplements and therapies to support the body's natural healing process. Another is the Smilow Cancer Hospital's Integrative Medicine Center in Connecticut, where patients receive a personalized nutrition plan and have access to alternative therapies like acupuncture and massage. The film also features interviews with doctors and researchers who have studied the link between diet and cancer, including Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. T. Colin Campbell.
Throughout the film, viewers see the transformation that can occur when cancer patients take control of their health and adopt a holistic approach to treatment. We meet a woman with stage 4 ovarian cancer who, after being told by traditional doctors that she had only months to live, opted for a radical lifestyle change and now lives cancer-free.
We also see the struggles that come with such a drastic change in lifestyle, particularly for those who are used to a diet heavy in meat and processed foods. One patient admits that his biggest challenge was giving up his daily bacon, but ultimately realizes that the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet far outweigh the sacrifices.
The Food Cure is not just a film for cancer patients and survivors; it is an eye-opening exploration of how our diet affects our overall health and wellbeing. It challenges viewers to rethink their relationship with food and to question the effectiveness of conventional medical treatments. The film is well-paced and informative, with beautiful cinematography and a moving soundtrack.
Overall, The Food Cure is a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of nutrition and health. The film encourages viewers to take control of their health and to consider the impact of their diet on their overall wellbeing. It is a powerful reminder that food truly is medicine.
The Food Cure is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes.
It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 9.0.
