🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Kip Andersen
- Genre: Documentary, Health
- Release year: 2017
- Runtime (length): 1h 37min
- IMDb rating: 4.8/10 (9.6k votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A dude calls a bunch of health organizations to complain about their dietary recommendations, discovers veganism, and then blames everything on meat and dairy while simultaneously claiming sugar is fine.
🍿 What the Health: Detailed Plot Synopsis
The Filmmaker’s Journey Begins
Kip Andersen embarks on a personal quest to understand the relationship between diet and disease. His journey begins with an exploration of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, seeking the root causes often overlooked by conventional medical approaches.

Uncovering the Truth About Food
Andersen investigates the influence of the food industry on major health organizations. He reveals the financial ties between these organizations and the meat, dairy, and processed food industries, suggesting a conflict of interest that affects public health recommendations. The film questions why these organizations continue to promote products linked to chronic diseases.

The Power of Plant-Based Diets
The documentary showcases the potential health benefits of plant-based diets. Through interviews with doctors and individuals who have adopted vegan lifestyles, ‘What the Health’ highlights improvements in various health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune disorders. It argues that a plant-based diet can reverse or prevent many chronic illnesses.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Kip Andersen (Kip Andersen): An intrepid filmmaker who investigates the impact of animal products on health and questions the motives of leading health organizations.
- Neal Barnard (Self): A physician and advocate for plant-based diets who provides insights into the health benefits of veganism.
- Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. (Nutritionist): A former surgeon who promotes a plant-based diet for preventing and reversing heart disease.
- Michael Greger (Self): A physician and author who advocates for evidence-based nutrition through a plant-based diet.
- Garth Davis (Self): A bariatric surgeon who advocates for plant-based nutrition.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Kip Andersen: “We’ve been told for years that saturated fat is bad, and now there’s all this new evidence that maybe it’s not.” – Kip expresses his confusion about conflicting nutritional advice, setting the stage for his investigation.
- Kip Andersen: “It’s like the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about.” – Referring to the potential health risks associated with consuming animal products.
- Dr. Neal Barnard: “The problem with cheese is, all the fat and the cholesterol. It is the worst thing you can eat.” – Dr. Barnard explaining cheese contains harmful contents that are bad for health.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $273,428
- Domestic Gross: N/A
- Worldwide Gross: $3,187
💥 What the Health Reviews
Personal Review
I went into ‘What the Health’ wanting to learn more about the impact of diet on overall well-being. While I appreciate the filmmaker’s passion, the documentary felt like a heavy-handed promotion of veganism, sometimes at the expense of scientific accuracy. The constant accusations of conspiracy made it hard for me to fully trust the information presented. It definitely sparked my curiosity to do more research on my own, but I wish the film had presented a more balanced perspective.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Individuals interested in health and nutrition”
- “Viewers curious about plant-based diets”
- “People seeking to understand the food industry’s influence on health”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Discussion of chronic diseases”
- “Critique of the food industry”
- “Advocacy for veganism”
Professional Reviews
- ScreenRant: “While not specifically a review of *What the Health*, ScreenRant includes it in their list of best food documentaries on Netflix, highlighting its impact and relevance in the discussion about health and diet.
- IMDB User Review: “This review argues that the documentary is “Vegan Propaganda”. It criticizes the film for presenting a biased viewpoint, claiming that ALL kinds of animal products are bad for you, and will cause you all the diseases under the sun. It notes some areas are misleading, and has holes in a LOT sections.
- IMDB User Review: “This reviewer says it’s a ‘disgusting propaganda’ and accuses the documentary of ‘cherry picking the evidence’.
- IMDB User Review: “In contrast, this review believes this is the ‘Best Documentary about Health this year!’. This reviewer is vegan and states that since making the change ‘I am 71 but feel as if I am 21’.
Audience Reactions
Some viewers found the film’s expose of the food industry and its influence on health organizations eye-opening and motivating.: Many viewers praise the film for being informative and thought-provoking, while others criticize it for being biased and scientifically inaccurate.
Overall Consensus: Reception is mixed. While some viewers praise its insightful investigation of the food industry and the benefits of a plant-based diet, others criticize it for being biased, scientifically inaccurate, and overly promotional of veganism.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The filmmakers funded the project through an Indiegogo campaign, raising over $235,000.”
- “The documentary is presented as a journey of discovery by filmmaker Kip Andersen, exploring the connections between diet and disease.”
- “The film gained attention for its critical stance on major health organizations and their alleged ties to the food industry.”
🖥️ How to Watch What the Health?
As a documentary film, ‘What the Health’ is widely accessible through various streaming platforms and digital retailers. You can find it for streaming on services like Netflix. Purchase options are typically available on platforms such as Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check these platforms for rental or purchase availability, as options may vary by region.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed What the Health, you might like these similar films:
- Forks Over Knives (2011): Both films advocate for plant-based diets and explore the potential health benefits of veganism.
- Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014): Also directed by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn, it explores the environmental impact of animal agriculture.
- Super Size Me (2004): Examines the effects of fast food on the body, similar to ‘What the Health’s’ focus on diet and health.
🛒 What the Health Related Products
- The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health: A comprehensive book on the link between diet and disease. This groundbreaking book correlates diet and nutrition with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
- Forks Over Knives — The Cookbook: Over 300 Recipes for Plant-Based Eating All Through the Year: Companion cookbook to the popular documentary. Provides practical guidance on how to implement a whole-food, plant-based diet.
- Vegan Protein Powder: Helps with getting enough Protein on a vegan diet.
- NutriBullet Personal Blender: Compact blender perfect for making smoothies and other plant-based meals.
🎧 Soundtrack
What the Health features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
‘What the Health’ explores the connection between diet, disease, and the healthcare industry. It questions the influence of the food industry on health organizations and highlights the potential benefits of plant-based diets for preventing and reversing chronic diseases.
You can stream ‘What the Health’ on Netflix and purchase or rent it from platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies.
The accuracy of ‘What the Health’ is debated. While it raises important questions about the food industry and health, some critics argue that it presents biased information and overstates the benefits of vegan diets. It’s important to consult multiple sources and consider diverse perspectives when evaluating the claims made in the documentary.
🔥 Bonus Content
‘What The Health’ Debunked by Real Doctor
Thinking of going vegan after watching ‘What the Health’? This doctor breaks down the film’s claims and offers a different perspective. It’s definitely worth a watch to get the full picture before making any big diet changes!
A DIETITIAN’S Thoughts on WHAT THE HEALTH Food Documentary
Ever wonder if documentaries are always 100% truthful? This dietitian dives into ‘What the Health,’ pointing out some interesting flaws in its arguments. Super insightful if you’re curious about the science behind the film!
MY INTERVIEW FOR ‘WHAT THE HEALTH’ WAS NOT INCLUDED… 🙁 My Vegan Story
Ever wondered what gets left on the cutting room floor? Here’s an interview that didn’t make it into ‘What the Health,’ sharing a personal vegan journey! It’s always interesting to see different perspectives, and this one’s pretty cool.
What The Health Debunks Dr Stork on The Doctors
Want to see the creators of ‘What the Health’ go head-to-head with Dr. Stork on The Doctors? This video shows them defending their claims and challenging the criticism. Gets kind of heated, but it’s definitely an interesting watch!
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