“Forks Over Knives” is the punch-in-the-gut doc that makes you rethink lunch and side-eye your doctor’s food pyramid poster from 1992.
Trailer for “Forks Over Knives”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- The China Study (a 20-year research project) tracked diet, lifestyle, and disease in 65 counties across China—and found that counties with the least animal product consumption had near-zero rates of heart disease and cancer.
- One patient featured in the film was taking over 10 medications and told she needed immediate heart surgery. After going plant-based, her chest pain disappeared and she was off meds within months.
- Dr. Esselstyn ran a 20-year study showing that clogged arteries could reverse themselves with a strict plant-based diet—no stents, no bypass surgery.
Watch “Forks Over Knives”
You can rent “Forks Over Knives” on Amazon, Apple TV, or check streaming options here. Or you can watch it for free on Tubi (with ads) and for free on Hoopla (with a library/university card).
Ratings:
- My Rating: 85/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 79/100 (Users); 61/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Directed by Lee Fulkerson, who also narrates. It’s his most well-known work, but he’s done several nutrition-based follow-ups.
Release Date: May 6, 2011 (U.S. theatrical release)
My Review of “Forks Over Knives”
The Setup
This 96-minute doc follows Dr. T. Colin Campbell (Cornell) and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn (Cleveland Clinic), whose separate research projects led to the same conclusion: diet is at the root of nearly every major Western health crisis. They showcase real patients—including some who stop taking medication entirely—after switching to a plant-based, whole-food diet.
Their case? Processed food and animal products are the common thread behind America’s sky-high rates of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Features interviews with patients, including a firefighter, a teacher, and everyday people facing chronic illness. Their transformations are tracked on screen.
- Includes historical footage of early USDA food campaigns—and critiques how government guidelines often favor meat and dairy industry interests.
- Nutritionist Pam Popper and wellness guru Rip Esselstyn (a former firefighter and son of Dr. Esselstyn) offer practical tips for transitioning to plant-based eating.
- Raises questions about whether our healthcare system is more invested in treating disease than preventing it.
Cameos – Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- Rip Esselstyn turned his entire Austin firehouse vegan to prove the health benefits—and later wrote a bestselling book about it (“The Engine 2 Diet”).
- Dr. Campbell’s own father died young from heart disease, motivating his lifelong research into diet and nutrition.
- At one point, a doctor compares eating one egg per day to smoking five cigarettes in terms of heart disease risk.
Wrap Up
“Forks Over Knives” is a case for using food as medicine. It may not convert you to veganism, but it will make you rethink what’s on your plate.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc