By Adam Rabiner
From Food to Freedom is written and directed by Nelson Campbell, son of Dr. T. Colin Campbell, father of the whole-food plant-based nutrition movement who conducted pioneering research on the links between animal protein and cancer. Forming the basis of his 2005 book The China Study, which he co-authored with his son, Dr. Campbell’s research found that animal foods increase serum cholesterol, heart disease, and cancer rates. The meat industry and other powerful interests labeled him a maverick and a quack, hoping to discredit and silence him. The filmmaker believes this is still the case. In granting us permission to screen the film, he wrote, “I don’t know if you are aware of this, but Facebook is censoring our film promotion. Facebook’s largest source of ad revenue comes from the pharma industry, so their policy toward us is not surprising given their heavy-handed control of the information they allow on their platform.”
“Facebook is censoring our film promotion. Facebook’s largest source of ad revenue comes from the pharma industry, so their policy toward us is not surprising…”
NELSON CAMPBELL, DIRECTOR
From Food to Freedom is a highly entertaining but very serious, documentary that translates all the hard science and statistics into real-life stories. In this kind of vegan version of The Real World, Campbell recruits six individuals with type 2 diabetes (and their spouses) to spend ten days in a house in Greensboro, North Carolina, where every meal is plant-based. All participants are monitored and counseled, one-on-one and in group sessions, by a licensed physician. Their blood is sampled and scored at the beginning and end, while their glucose is continuously monitored throughout—an inverted version of Supersize Me, in which a month-long diet of nothing but McDonalds nearly killed filmmaker Morgan Spurlock.
The volunteers are not cherry-picked. They range from 18 to retirement age, and are not healthy. In addition to diabetes, many are overweight, have high cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure, suffer from sleep apnea, have trouble with mobility and are on multiple medications. Someone drove four hours to the house from out of state only to discover she had a broken arm. All are eager and positive, but none feel it will be easy. One is fond of telling his wife, “Rome was not built in a day…”
And yet, positive results are almost immediate. In group discussions, they enthusiastically describe how they feel better, have more energy, and appreciate the food—salads and vegetable-based versions of meatloaf, lasagna, macaroni and cheese and other familiar comfort foods. They are not just passive eaters but are welcomed into the kitchen to assist Campbell’s wife, Kim, a cookbook writer, and another chef, Fernando Peralto, with meal preparation.
At the end of the 10 days the eight individuals have collectively lost fifty-four pounds, good and bad cholesterol levels have universally dropped, blood pressures have improved and many have completely stopped or severely restricted their use of insulin and other medications.
Of course, the real question is, can this awesome accomplishment achieved in a communal and supportive setting, translate into real, long-term change? From Food to Freedom does not shirk this vital inquiry. While six months later, people occasionally fell off the wagon for a Burger King onion ring or restaurant meal, most climbed right back on. Successful participants were supported by a spouse or benefited from friends and housemates.
Those who struggled were more isolated. One was hampered by her “meat and potatoes” husband who refused to eat much of what she cooked. Another lived alone and succumbed too often to her cravings for potato chips and soda. But she was still on the journey and trying.
From Food to Freedom alludes to the still-powerful forces in society that control the terms of the debate, for example the pharmaceutical industry with its highly effective marketing, public relations and advertising. The film, made during COVID, shows that most people who died from the virus had underlying pre-existing conditions and yet none of the advice offered by the experts—wear a mask, wash your hands, social distance—included a healthy plant-based diet.
Though the Campbells are not naïve they remain convinced that the truth will prevail. The movement in which they have played such an important part is growing by the day. Twenty years ago it was hard to find soy milk yet today there are supermarket sections dedicated to plant-based alternatives. From Food to Freedom and other similar films have companion websites, full of useful information as well as affiliated non-profit organizations promoting the cause of alternative food systems. In this, the Park Slope Food Coop and the Plow to Plate Food movie series play a small but important and proud part.
________________________________________________________________
From Food to Freedom, February 13, 2024 @ 7:00 p.m.
Screening link: http://www.plowtoplatefilms.com/events/
To be added to our mailing list for future screening announcements, please email a request to plowtoplate@mail.com.
Adam Rabiner lives in Ditmas Park with his wife Dina and two children, Elan and Ana.