What's up with 'What the Health' documentary?

(WJBK) - A new documentary on Netflix has many people rethinking the way they eat. Its tagline is, "The health film that health organizations don't want you to see."

This film examines the link between diet and disease, and the billions of dollars at stake in the healthcare, pharmaceutical and food industries. Many have shared on social media that, immediately after watching, they're motivated to switch to a plant-based diet.

But is going vegan really the right choice for our body? Is there any hold to the many claims this film makes?

FOX 2 regular Dr. Joel Kahn, who's a cardiologist, joined us on The Nine to help make sense of what's in the documentary. In the interest of full disclosure -- he's in the documentary, too.

He says the takeaway from the film should just be watch where you get your information.

"Is it the government? Is it the pharmaceuticals? Big farming industries? Big dairy? Even the health associations, diabeties and others, are giving you mixed and somewhat distorted information. Who are you going to believe?" he says.

It's confusing to all of us who aren't doctors, and even sometimes, you hear one thing from one doctor and another from a different doctor.

For example, the film states that eating one egg is like smoking five cigarettes.

"There is confusion about eggs, but that actually does from valid science - a Dr. David Jenkins in Toronto. They didn't pull that out of the air; it comes from a large study in over 1,000 people. It's one little piece of the overall big picture, which is, if the government and pharmaceuticals are promoting more meat, eggs and cheese - step back for a minute," he says. "Think, does that really resonate with what I think I should do for my body and my health? Or, should I be making a nice green smoothie and getting more of those farm-fresh fruit and vegetables? That's the real message."

Many have shared on social media that they're swearing off meats, cheeses and eggs after watching.

If you're in that boat, Dr. Kahn suggests trying it for 21 days.

"There are a lot of free 21-day programs to make great, easy, inexpensive food that doesn't have animal product," he says. "A lot of people, their stomachs are going to settle down; they'll have more energy; their skin will clear up; they're going to stick with it. Other people, at least, will be eating a little better from that point on."

If you want to give a plant-based diet a try, just search for "21 day plant based diet" online and you'll find a lot of free options. Or, for starters, check this one out here.

Or, if you're not wanting to commit to a vegan diet, Dr. Kahn also suggests to start with cutting out dairy.

"There is a relationship - do we know it proves it? Maybe not - [between dairy and] breast cancer and prostate cancer," he says. "So my bros out there who are putting milk on their breakfast cereal, I'd much rather they try almond milk, rice milk, soy milk for their prostate health, and women for their breast health. It's just the easiest step in the world to give up dairy. So many people are just going to feel better, and then they're going to keep on going in this health journey."

One last thing? Those who have seen the film know what we mean mean when we asked Dr. Kahn about "the puss."

His response?

"Shout out to the farmers doing a better job than average, but 95 percent of America is eating food made in factories where the majority of antibiotics are used to keep the animals from dying of infection, and when you're eating them there is a pretty good chance, if you bought it at local stores, that they have been treated with antibiotics, those antibiotics are changing your own body; it's a real issue," he says. "And, yes, there's puss in milk. No doubt."