Film explores ‘food as medicine’

Published 11:20 pm Wednesday, March 20, 2013

A free screening of a film that advocates eating well to battle conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke will be held Friday in Suffolk.

“Forks Over Knives” will be shown as the latest installment in Paul D. Camp Community College’s regular movie night series. The Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community and Healthy People/Healthy Suffolk have been brought on as partners for the event.

Thanks to sponsors Dick and Carolyn Barry, there will also be door prizes, healthy food and a special question-and-answer session via Skype with one of the doctors from the film.

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“The doctors in the film make a claim we can improve our health through a plant-based diet, rejecting animal products and processed food,” said Patrick Edmunds, program manager for Healthy People/Healthy Suffolk. “It talks about the idea of food as medicine. If we eat the right food, we don’t need the medicine or the surgical intervention.”

Dr. Pamela Popper, who is featured in the film, will be the guest speaker. She is the executive director of The Wellness Forum and an author of several books on healthy living.

Edmunds said the film can sometimes be controversial. But the sponsoring organizations aren’t trying to “preach to anybody,” he said — only spark a discussion.

“We’re hoping it will get some good discussions started here in Suffolk,” Edmunds said. “I hope it offers a challenge to some of the conventional wisdom and insight into another option for a way to be healthy.”

Edmunds also said he hopes for a good discussion with Popper after the film.

“I’m hoping that the film with raise some questions for our audience, and they can follow up with Dr. Popper,” he said. “I’m excited to bring this to the community, because some of these topics are not widely discussed in our community.”

Refreshments offered during the event will be healthy and plant-based, Edmunds said. Door prizes include DVDs of the film and “Forks Over Knives” cookbooks.

Doors open at 4 p.m. at the college, 271 Kenyon Road. The film will last from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and the question-and-answer session will be from 6 to 7 p.m.

Tickets are free but are required to attend. To reserve tickets, visit www.healthypeoplehealthysuffolk.org.