Netflix's 'The Game Changers': Are Its Claims Valid?
Netflix's 'The Game Changers': Are Its Claims Valid?
The Benefits Of Plant Based Diets For Athletes
If you are interested in nutrition, you have probably watched or at least heard of the Netflix show ‘The Game Changers’, a documentary film on Netflix about the benefits of plant-based diets for athletes.
Although parts of the film are credible, it has been criticized for making broad generalizations from weak studies, and being one-sided toward veganism.
This review is looking into the science that supports the viewpoint presented in ‘The Game Changers’ Netflix show and offers an evidence-based, objective look at the claims made in the documentary.
A Summary Of The Film
‘The Game Changers’ is a documentary which supports veganism and follows the journey of several professional vegan athletes as they train and compete in major events.
The film supports a strong stance against meat consumption as it claims that lean meats like chicken and fish are bad for your heart which can lead to poorer health outcomes.
On the other hand the film suggests that vegan diets are superior to omnivorous diets because they promote heart health, decrease inflammation, lower the risk of cancer and improve your physical performance.
Arguments In Favor Of Veganism
Although the film has come under heavy criticism, it gets a few things right.
A well planned vegan diet can provide just as much protein as diets that include animal products, along with all nine essential amino acids - the building blocks of protein that we must obtain through food.
Still, most plant proteins are incomplete, meaning that they don’t provide all of the essential amino acids at once. In order for vegans to have a balanced diet they need to eat a variety of legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains to get enough of these acids (1).
Properly planned vegan diets can also provide sufficient quantities of nutrients like vitamin B12 and Iron, which can sometimes be difficult to obtain when you don’t eat animal products (2).
To meet iron needs, vegans should eat plenty of lentils or leafy green vegetables. Supplements are also an option in providing vitamin B12 (3).
Furthermore, vegan diets may protect against heart disease and some cancers as opposed to diets that include animal products (4). Vegan diets require diligent planning to ensure we are getting adequate protein and essential nutrients.
Limitations Of The Film
Despite some well thought research points in favor of veganism on ‘The Game Changers’, the research against the benefits of animal products diets is not adequately supported.
For example the two studies against omnivorous diets - One measuring the cloudiness of professional football players’ blood and the nighttime erections of college football players after eating meat - were informal and unscientific.
While vegan diets can be healthy and beneficial, a large body of evidence supports the health benefits of vegetarian diets, which don’t restrict all animal products, as well as omnivorous diets (5).
Additionally, the film’s focus on elite athletes’ diets presents some issues. The athletes profiled in the movie have access to significant financial support, along with teams of trainers, dietitians, physicians and personal chefs to ensure every meal is properly prepared and optimized.
Many vegans don’t have access to these resources and struggle to get enough protein, vitamin B12 and other nutrients (6).
What Does The Research Say?
‘The Game Changers’ show references several studies to support its claims. However, there is not enough research that presents both sides of the plant-based versus omnivorous debate.
Here’s what the research says.
Heart Health
The film repeatedly discusses the beneficial effects of the vegan diet on cholesterol levels and heart health. It is well documented that vegan diets have long been linked to lower levels of total cholesterol (7).
Vegan diets have been associated with lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, they are also tied to lower HDL (good) cholesterol - and they don’t appear to affect triglyceride levels. Omnivorous diets that include some animal foods may increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels, potentially lowering your risk for heart disease.
Additionally, processed vegan foods may contain high amounts of added sugar.
Inflammation
The show asserts that plant-based diets are anti-inflammatory, especially when compared with omnivorous diets. On the other hand the film’s stance on meats such as chicken and fish -which are widely considered healthy - is they should be considered inflammatory. This claim is unsupported and false.
Many foods, animal or plant-based can contribute to inflammation, such as added sugars, highly processed foods and various types of seeds oils.
Likewise there are several types of both foods that are considered anti-inflammatory, such as olive oil or salmon, rich in omega-3 fats.
Thus a poorly planned vegan diet might lead to issues with inflammation.
Cancer Risk
‘The Game Changers’ makes claims that vegan diets decrease your risk for any type of cancer by 15% (8). It claims red meat causes cancer and groups it together with processed meats like bacon, sausage and deli meats (9,10).
Yet, when studies investigate red meat alone, the association with these types of cancers disappears.
Ancestral Diets
The film also states that humans have historically eaten a primarily plant-based diet. But humans have hunted animals and eaten their meat for a very long time. Hunter-gatherers like the Maasai people eat a diet that’s nearly exclusively animal-based and high in saturated fat (11). Conversely, the traditional Okinawa diet of Japan is primarily plant-based and it is high in starch from potatoes and low in meat (12).
Comparing the two populations, they both have low historical levels of chronic illnesses like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, supporting claims of a good diet and health for both.
Workout Performance
Lastly, the film supports the superiority of the vegan diet for physical performance, particularly for athletes. Yet, it relies largely on testimonials from the athletes featured in the film rather than on a presentation of properly supported facts.
There is not much support for claims that vegan diets are superior for physical performance, especially when calorie and nutrient content are equal.
Exercise performance is related to hydration, electrolytes and nutrient intake and should be carefully considered.
Is The Vegan Diet Right For Everyone? : Nutrients Of Concern
A properly structured vegan diet is a fine option for healthy adults. Caution should be exercised on vegan diets followed by other populations like children.
Children And Adolescents
Children and adolescents have increased needs for several nutrients that may be difficult to obtain on a vegan diet. Infants in particular have special needs which are a combination of nutrients like protein, fat, iron, vitamin B12 and more. Children are in need of an appropriate plan for a vegan diet and it needs to be carefully planned.
Older Adults And People With Special Needs Due To Chronic Illnesses
Plant based diet can help prevent age-related weight gain when compared with diets that include high amounts of animal foods (13).
Furthermore, a low protein, plant-based diet may also be beneficial for people with chronic kidney disease (14,15). If you have any concerns about dietary needs for your age or health condition, consult your healthcare provider or a dietitian.
Can We Trust The Pro-Vegan Stance Of ‘The Game Changers’
The show chronicles the efforts of several vegan athletes and is correct in some ways.
However, the scientific methodology followed by the film does not fully support the arguments made. Vegan diets may provide several healthy benefits and the film supports them but the claims are ignoring eating patterns.
It is very important to emphasize on a plan that reaches the adequate amount of nutrients for a healthy life, along with enough protein and healthy fats while limiting added sugars.
‘The Game Changers’ may be thought-provoking, but veganism is far from the only healthy diet.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/game-changers-review