Contributed by Guest Blogger & Freelance Writer Julie Reitz

Thanks to James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch for showing us just how much food matters in their documentary (both acted as producer/director) of the same name.

Food Matters, a film about the importance of food and nutrition versus the exaggerated authority awarded the medical profession in preventing and treating disease, is definitely a compelling, educational and interesting work. While none of the nutrition experts interviewed call out the medical profession or doctors as the blame, they do point the finger at the system in general (and well, mainly the business of pharmaceuticals) while encouraging people to be proactive in their own health.

The film presents a somewhat chronological perspective, beginning with Hippocrates and his basic premise that as human beings, we’re all equipped with an innate ability to heal ourselves. Then cut to the state of health and healing today, when heart disease and cancer are the top 2 U.S. killers and well, the business of prescription drugs takes precedence over people.

In order to take charge, the consensus is that we need to eat organic, raw foods and practice detoxification. Basically, eat healthfully and make sure that the body is able to absorb and assimilate the nutrients. Apparently at this point, we’re only taking in about 40% of the nutrients we need. And by need, they assert that reaching optimum nutrition and aiming to thrive rather than survive is a concept way off the medical radar.

While this sounds like stuff you already know, these experts supply some effective statistics, concrete steps to take towards increasing health, and never stray too far from a sort of dinner table conversation demeanor. Then of course the question becomes “How healthy is the healthy food in the store?” when on average it travels 1500-2000 miles and is at least 5-7 days old when you see it? And what about the depleted soil that it comes from, and potentially genetically modified crops? Thus the general and succinct advice to eat organic and to detox the body to move the garbage and chemicals out to make room for the nutrients. Makes sense.

The film highlights the fact that, as Andrew Saul puts it, “there’s a public relations problem with nutrients.” While a deficiency of 1 vitamin can lead to a myriad of problems, the increased intake or supplementation of 1 vitamin can help a myriad of problems- unlike the “1 drug/1 disease” medical model that just treats symptoms rather than the disease as a whole. They clearly paint a picture that shows why it’s not in the best interest of business to look to something that isn’t necessarily well, big business.

It’s worth your time to give it a watch if you can. You’ll likely find it entertaining and inspiring without feeling like you have a huge mess to clean up on the inside.

View the trailer:

Food Matters released June 2008 by Permacology Productions. Producers: James Colquhoun and Laurentine ten Bosch. Running time 80 minutes. See official website at www.foodmatters.tv