Most of us have got much more time on our hands as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. What better use to make of it than to try and improve our health.

How about taking a break from the latest COVID-19 news updates and from binge-watching box-sets. Over the years there have been a number of great documentaries which I have found really inspiring.

The interest in making them has no doubt been triggered by the spiraling rate of obesity, and diabetes in the World. There is certainly no better way to reduce your weight and improve your risk factors for all disease than healthy eating.

Here’s my list of top 5 healthy eating documentaries.

1. Eat, fast and live longer (BBC iPlayer)

We have known for decades that eating less calories makes us live longer!

In this documentary, Dr Michael Mosley travels to USA to see the latest in research about weight reduction and extending lifespan and healthspan. It focuses on different methods of fasting to do this.

Following this trip he wrote about and made famous the 5:2 diet which has become the rage all over the World.

2. The Game Changers (Netflix)

The Game Changers is a professionally-made documentary espousing the benefits of a plant-based diet on elite athletes. It is produced by Jackie Chan, and also Arnold Schwarzenegger who also makes a short appearance.

The documentary is full of interesting facts and dispels some of the myths about the inferiority of plant-based protein compared to animal protein. Did you know that the gladiators ate a mainly plant-based diet? Neither did I.

Well, if it’s good enough for Arnie, then it’s good enough for me.

3. Forks over knives (Netflix)

Forks over knives is the best of the documentaries that show how our current health problems are due to what we view as normal eating.

It features two scientists; Dr Colin Campbell who took part in the longest nutritional study in humans (The China Study); and Dr Caldwell Esselstyn, a cardiac surgeon who showed that you can reverse heart disease by changing your diet.

You would be well-advised to listen to what these gentleman have to say!

4. Super Juice Me! (YouTube)

What happens when you put 8 people with 22 different health conditions on nothing but freshly extracted juice for 28 Days?

Why not find out by watching this very entertaining and inspiring documentary about the benefits of fresh juice on sick individuals.

It is made by the UK juice master Jason Vale and is based on his life experience rather than hard science. Even so, the film is based on sound underlying principles. It gives a message of hope that there is an alternative to medicine to treat chronic disease.

5. How not to die (YouTube)

How not to die is the tongue-in-cheek title to Dr Michael Greger’s book on how to prevent, treat and even reverse chronic disease with a plant-based diet. This video is a presentation that he gave to a medical audience and presents the scientific evidence for his claims.

Michael Greger is an excellent speaker who will entertain you with his banter throughout this presentation. If you want to know the science behind a plant-based diet, then this is the film for you.