Health and Wellness Documentaries on Netflix: Stream or Skip? You know our answer. There’s plenty of gold to mine on Netflix, especially if you do a little bit of digging around. From one-hour immersive documentary movies, to 30-minute docu-series, one of these shows could give you added knowledge, or even change your life.
We’ve rounded up the most eye-opening, inspiring, and thought-provoking of the bunch. If you haven’t yet, include one of these shows on your next Netflix binge-watch schedule.
The Game Changers (2018)
The Game Changers follows UFC fighter John Wilks, who was recovering from an injury. He embarks on a quest to talk to vegan athletes and health professionals about veganism and its amazing health benefits.
The definite “hook”, or as they say, “stickiness” of the documentary, is seeing all these top athletes compete and win medal after medal, all while being sustained and nourished by a purely vegan diet.
When The Game Changers was released in 2018, plenty of health experts and wellness speakers said that while it was an entertaining film with excellent production value, it was biased and lacking scientific evidence.
Nevertheless, The Game Changers makes the case for a plant-based lifestyle (did you know that Roman gladiators were mostly vegetarians?) through superb story-telling and convincing firsthand accounts. And even if you’re not vegan or vegetarian, you can still improve your life through the nuggets of wisdom you’ll gain here.
The Mind, Explained (2019)
In our body, no other organ is as complex, mysterious and, well, as mind-boggling as the mind. So when Vox Media produced a docu-series like this, we’re naturally and intrigued and drawn to it.
Narrated by Emma Stone, The Mind, Explained examines the brain in detail. From the way our brain stores, processes, and retrieves memories, to what happens when we dream, and the chemical workings behind anxiety, this show breaks everything down to easily-digestible content.
There’s a lot of scientific discussion here, so it helps that the series makes use of snappy interviews, and colorful animation to keep things interesting, especially when explaining highfaluting terms and complex topics.
Clocking in at only 20 mins each episode, The Mind, Explained is worth every minute of your time.
(Un)Well (2020)
With people looking for ways to be healthier now more than ever, the release of a docu-series like (Un)well was very timely in 2020. Along with the popularity of “Dr. Google”, it’s easier these days to find alternative treatments, even if sometimes they venture to the extreme.
(Un)well’s premise is simple: each episode they explore a popular wellness trend. They talk to both believers and non-believers to present both sides. From essential oils, tantric sex, fasting, ayahuasca, consuming breastmilk for body-building, to using bee venom, the series holds useful information for anyone seeking to live a healthier life – whether or not you subscribe to these wellness trends.
Want to know more about wellness trends making waves this 2022? READ THIS STORY: 12 Wellness Trends That Should be on Your Radar This 2022.
The C-Word (2016)
The C-Word is a deeply personal documentary directed by filmmaker Meghan LaFrance O’Hara, who was battling Stage 3 breast cancer. As she shaves her hair, and undergoes radiation and chemotherapy, she embarks on a mission to find out how she can get better.
At the center of her investigation is French physician David-Servan-Schreiber who had been given a few months to live after a malignant tumor was found in his brain. But Schreiber went on to survive for another 20 years, by integrating anti-cancer methods into his treatments. These are nutrition, exercise, stress management, and avoiding toxins.
The C-Word doesn’t mince words. O’Hara asks pressing, relevant questions: why does Western medicine continue to perfect methods to destroy cancerous cells, yet fail to discuss how to prevent cancer from occurring? Do they take a step back and recommend ways on how a cancer patient can strengthen and heal the body? Shouldn’t diet be part of the treatment?
Another reason to watch this documentary: Morgan Freeman serves as both producer and narrator.
Heal (2017)
Similar to The C-Word, Heal is not afraid to ask pressing questions, questions that are often asked by patients who were told there’s no cure to what ails them.
Heal is a documentary that takes us on scientific and spiritual journey, that by changing one’s perceptions, the human body can heal itself from any disease.
Promoting mind-over-body medicine, Heal enlightens us to turn inward or connect to ourselves to be happier and healthier. Sure, the documentary was questioned by its lack of scientific evidence, but even experts agree that the mind and body connection makes perfect sense, and valuable insights can be learned here.
A User’s Guide to Cheating Death (2017)
This documentary is similar to (Un)Well in terms of exploring wellness trends, but it differs in its approach: this one’s hosted by law professor Timothy Caulfield. He does this in a humorous and informative way that engages the audiences.
Some of the controversial topics he tackles are detoxing, anti-aging treatments, genetic testing, organic products, and extreme surgeries for weight loss.
Wrote Good Housekeeping, it’s like going to the health expo with your smartest, funniest friend.
Headspace Guide to Sleep (2021)
Headspace Guide to Sleep is the second of series borne from the partnership between Netflix and Headspace, the popular meditation app, the first being Headspace Guide to Meditation.
In seven 20-minute episodes, the series unpacks misconceptions, and explores different aspects of sleep, such as stress, insomnia, pills and mobile phone. It also offers friendly tips, and concludes with a guided wind-down.
Whether you’re battling insomnia, or you just want to sleep better, this series is worth the binge, before or after bedtime.
If you want to know more about the value of quality sleep, READ THIS STORY: Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep.
How to Change Your Mind (2022)
Based from the book of author Michael Pollan, who also acts as narrator in this series, How to Change Your Mind delves into the world of psychedelics. LSDs, psilocybin, MDMA, mescaline—all these drugs that have carried a stigma for years.
Through talks with doctors, chemists, and researchers, Pollan makes the case for psychedelics, and how these have benefited people with mental health disorders.
One unforgettable case study is that of a man suffering from severe OCD. After one session with psilocybin, his symptoms began to reduce and eventually go away.
Pollen’s approach is clear, and if there’s one great insight we can take away after finishing the last episode, is that there’s more than one way of looking at the world.
The Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow (2020)
The Goop Lab is like the TMZ with the health angle. In each episode, The Goop CEO Gwyneth leads her team as they deep dive into a wellness trend – from psychedelic therapy, ice cold water therapy, to improving the immune system through breathwork.
It’s a fun and feel-good show that’s about health and wellness, as much as it is a peek behind-the-scenes of The Goop office.
Cooked (2016)
On the surface, Cooked would seem like it shouldn’t be included here, belonging more with the food shows like Street Food Asia, or The Chef Show.
But Cooked actually does more than explain the different aspects and history of cooking. It coaxes us to return to the inviting warmth of the kitchen, and discover the healing powers of food.
Cooked also uses a powerful device in dividing each story: fire, water, air, and earth. The stories unfold through the eyes of acclaimed food writer Michael Pollan.
After watching Cooked, we guarantee you won’t be ordering your favorite take-out anytime soon.
Conclusion
What do you think of our list? Was there anything we missed out, and should be included? Comment below.
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