Last week a new documentary called, “The Game Changers” was released on Netflix.  It is basically trying to say you should become a vegan.  It says your performance and overall health improves tremendously from a vegan lifestyle.  They perform a few crazy tests that seem a bit skewed to me and interview a bunch of vegan athletes to prove their point.  I am not buying it.

In the picture on the left I was a vegetarian for over 10 years.  As you can see I was overweight.  What you cannot see is how sick I was.  My lupus was at an all-time high and I was in a flare.  It was the change of seasons, the absolute worst time of the year for me.  This photo is from my 20 year high school reunion.  I remember feeling horrible, but putting on my happy face to go.  I was anything but healthy.

Being a vegetarian, I ate a ton of beans, soy, gluten free pasta’s, rice, potatoes and vegetables.  I really believed I was living a healthy lifestyle.  This is the diet being promoted in the documentary.  As you know 2 years ago I adapted a ketogenic/AIP lifestyle.  That brings me to the photo on the right. 

This picture was taken 9 years after the one on the left.  I am 25 pounds thinner and my lupus is in remission.  OH!  And, I am no longer a vegetarian.  I am a carnivore!  The only thing I still eat from my vegetarian diet are vegetables.  All those other foods are highly inflammatory and no good for my body.  A vegetarian diet is not for everyone.

The documentary leaves out so many dietary key factors.  What is the caloric intake of these athletes?  What are their macros?  Where are they getting quality protein?  What is their workout regimen?  How do they sustain such a rigorous workout schedule?  I am not saying this cannot be done.  I am asking, show me how you do it?  They also never mention contraindications.

The documentary was consistently testing with plant-based burritos.  They were a white flour tortilla filled with beans, peppers and avocado.  Do you have any idea what a burrito with those ingredients would do to someone with an autoimmune disease?  It’s a flare nightmare! 

I found this documentary reckless.  There are way too many people in my community that do not have the knowledge regarding inflammatory foods that would run to try this.  The autoimmune community needs to be educated on certain diets and their adverse effects on us.  There was not one disclosure stating you should talk to your medical professional before trying anything stated in the documentary.

What I am hoping comes from this documentary are a lot of questions and the need to raise awareness.  Blanket statements regarding diets cannot be made without consequence.  Someone needs to monitor what can and cannot be said.  People want a quick fix without research and this documentary proves that.  The first thing my husband said after watching it was, “I am going vegan!”  Really?  I would like to see him try!

This is a man that works out pretty hard 4-5 times a week, his stress level is through the roof and he is middle aged (I might get killed for that one, lmao).  I do not think he can sustain his health and lifestyle on a vegan diet.  The amount of beans he would have to eat to equal the daily protein required needs is ridiculous!  He would go over his allotted caloric intake and gain weight.

My point is, people need to stop looking for the quick fix and TV needs to be held to a higher standard.  Not every diet works for everyone.  We are all different and react differently to things.  The most important fact is, always talk to your medical professional before beginning any kind of diet!  Do not for one second think a TV producer has your best interest at heart!

For me, being a vegetarian did not work.  I was eating a crazy amount of inflammatory foods to get in my protein.  My lupus was in constant flare and I was overweight.  I wish this documentary did more than glorify a vegan diet and showed how to really make it sustainable.  In my opinion, this movie failed.  Maybe a part 2?

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