Recommended healthspan TV shows

As someone who loves to watch much more than to read, I'm so glad that there are amazing TV shows that can teach us so much about the different elements that influence our healthspan.

What the Health (2017)

My rating: 10/10

A documentary film on the health impact of eating meat and dairy. If you want to know how to prevent and even reverse the most common chronic diseases - this 90 minutes movie is a must! It will also show you how world-leading health organizations don't want you to switch to a plant-based diet.

The C Word (2016)

My rating: 9/10

A touching 90 minutes documentary film about the personal story of Dr. David Servan-Schreiber who was diagnosed with brain cancer. It presents his efforts on raising public awareness of the many failures of Western medicine to fight cancer and changes that need to be made in our daily life if we want to avoid the disease. The film is narrated by Morgan Freeman and includes fun and cool animation.

The Mind, Explained (2019)

My rating: 8.5/10

5 very short and fascinating episodes (about 20 minutes each) on mind related topics: Memory, Dreams, Anxiety, Mindfulness and Psychedelics. This supposed to be a limited series, so hurry up and watch it before Netflix removes it. It is a great way to learn a bit more on what is going on inside our heads.

The Game Changers (2018)

My rating: 8/10

This 86 minutes documentary film mainly deals with the benefits of plant-based eating for athletes. It gives another good point of view of why we should all consider switching to a vegan diet. The film tells the story of the athlete James Wilks that also interview some other elite athletes on how and why they prefer a plant-based diet.

The Goop Lab (2020)

My rating: 8/10

Documentary series by the wellness company Goop, which is led by the actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who also hosts the series. Although some critics were mad about Netflix giving Gwyneth Paltrow a channel to promote her company, that's not really the case, and the content is really good. The 6 episodes cover topics like psychedelic drugs, the Wim Hof cold therapy, female sexuality, anti-aging, energy healing, and mediumship. Total time: 194 minutes (~32 minutes per episode).

Heal (2017)

My rating: 7.5/10

This 106 minutes documentary film proves us that our thoughts, beliefs, and emotions have an impact on our health and ability to heal. This is even more true in stressful environments, where most of us live in. The film shows that Western medicine is not the only option we have to cure our diseases, and that a combination of science, spirituality, and nature is something we should be aware of and consider when we try to heal (or better, avoid illness).

Other Netflix shows that will help you see the "full picture":

The following shows are not directly about healthspan, but I believe that general knowledge in some other topics is needed for us to see the "full picture", to understand the environment in which we live in, and to change some of our behaviors so we can achieve healthspan.

Connected: The Hidden Science of Everything (2020)

My rating: 9/10

Fun and fascinating to watch! The reporter, Latif Nasser, is investigating how things in our world are connected to one another. This is a 6 episodes documentary series on themes like Surveillance, Poop, Dust, Digits, Clouds and Nukes. Total time: 264 minutes (~44 minutes per episode).

Down to Earth (2020)

My rating: 8.5/10

Documentary series with Zac Efron and Darin Olien (Darin is also the author of the SuperLife book, which you can find in my recommended books post). 8 episodes in which both are traveling around the world to explore different views on wellness, health, sustainability and non-western ways to live. I found it light, fun and enriching! Total time: 312 minutes (~39 minutes per episode).

The Kindness Diaries (2nd season, 2019)

My rating: 8.5/10

To be kind and "complete" with the world around us is necessary if we want to achieve wellness. Leon Logothetis is the main character in this documentary series, and he travels around the world relying only on the kindness of strangers for food and shelter. In the 2nd season, his mission is to get from Alaska to Argentina, driving an old Volkswagen Beetle. I was sure it would be completely boring, but I found myself addicted and fascinated by the kindness of the people. Total time: 312 minutes (24 minutes per episode).

Minimalism (2015)

My rating: 8/10

A great 78 minutes documentary film about the important things in life. The movie will show you that you can live your life better - with less! Healthspan and lifespan is not a result of WHAT you have, but HOW you live. The film might help you start appreciating what you have while paying attention to the things that really matter.