The Game Changers follows former MMA fighter James Wilks on his journey to recovery and discovery of plant-based eating.
Finding a diet that fits your nutritional needs can be difficult. Finding one that fits your lifestyle and your wallet can be even harder. During his recovery from a training injury in 2011, James Wilks stumbled across a study on Roman Gladiators. Analysis of thousands of ancient human bones in Turkey showed that the majority of gladiators lived meat-free diets.
Wilks made it his life’s work to find the Truth in Nutrition, traveling the world to find the strongest, fastest, and healthiest athletes who lived a plant-based lifestyle. Nutritionists, athletic trainers, and environmental experts Wilks consulted with agreed that veganism was a better way of living.
Produced by James Cameron, Arnold Schwartzenegger, Novak Djokovic, and Jackie Chan, The Game Changers promotes plant-based living for athletes and people looking to live a healthier lifestyle.
On the Red Carpet, director Louie Psihoyos talked about the film’s importance in his own life and saving the environment.
Image: Blake Farrington
The Knockturnal: How did you learn about plant-based eating, and how have you incorporated it into your life?
Louie Psihoyos: I went to a slaughterhouse in 1986 and saw how land animals were treated and became a pescatarian. I found out that I had mercury poisoning, and then found out about veganism. I found out that you can get all the nutrition you need from plants and thrive. Meat production is very bad for the environment. If you want to save the environment, change what’s on your plate.
Doctor Dean Ornish of the Preventative Medicine Insitute in California, talked with us about the science behind a plant-based diet.
Dean Ornish, MD
The Knockturnal: Why eat only plant-based foods? Why is this lifestyle most effective?
Dr. Dean Ornish: It’s the healthiest way to eat! Eating this way, moderately exercising, and keeping active can reverse chronic heart disease, prostate cancer, high cholester0l, high blood pressure, and early-stage alzheimer’s. It’s also more globally sustainable than any other diet. More global warming is caused by animal production than anything else. The Amazon is being burned to clear food for cattle. This is just wrong, and we can easily make a change to sustain ourselves and the earth for longer.
Comedian Jon Stewart said that he had become vegetarian for the environment, but realized that it was really for himself.
Jon Stewart
The Knockturnal: How did incorporate plant-based eating into your lifestyle?
Jon Stewart: When I first met my wife were were pack-a-day smokers and cheeseburger eaters, but as we got older we realized that wasn’t sustainable. For ethical reasons, we opened a farm for rescue animals and soon realized that conservation wasn’t just for them, but for us. I mean, the health benefits are ridiculous. When we first started, we thought we were doing it for the animals, but 3 weeks in, we said ‘forget that! We’re doing it for ourselves!’ I’m 127 years old, this is tremendous for me!
The Knockturnal: What was the hardest thing to give up?
Jon Stewart: Any deli food, man. Brisket, corned beef. But it’s like when I gave up smoking. I still like being around it, I just don’t put it in.
Intrigued by the benefits of the plant-based diet? Visit The Game Changers website and see the film when it hits theaters on September 16th!
