https://en.rtdoc.tv/episodes/1403-the-food-revolution

The Food Revolution

Directed by Natalya Novikova (2024)

Film Review

This RT documentary provides an intriguing glimpse into life for ordinary Russians following the start of the Special Military Operation in 2022 and the onset of massive Western economic sanctions. The film centers mainly around the experiences of a former Olympic star turned organic farmer, two doctors and a handful of Russian officials.

Surprisingly the sanctions have been extremely positive from a health perspective. Two Russian holistic physicians describe their immense relief to see the end of constant junk food ads, as well as the closure of fast food outlets like MacDonald’s and KFC (Burger King refused to close in Russia – see Burger King partner refuses to close 800 locations of fast food chain) and sugary drinks companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola (which also manufacture 7-Up). Overall Russian citizens seem far more health conscious in the last 2 1/2 years, as reflected in a heightened interest in growing and eating organic food.

Economically the sanctions have also been great for the Russian state, opening up new markets in Africa, Asia and the Middle East to wheat and other grains. According to the French newspaper Le Figaro, Russia now totally dominates the global grain market.

This is in addition to supplying millions of tons of free grain to starving African countries. One Russian official observes that the West (where food is controlled by mainly US and Germany multinational corporations) has no interest in helping starving Africans. But are only interested in obtaining African mineral resources as cheaply as possible.

I was intrigued to learn that unlike the West, Russia heavily subsidizes (to the tune of $5.7 billion in 2022) its organic food industry. The subsidies enable Russian organic farmers to industrialize production, making it less labor-intensive and cost effective.

The doctors interviewed are Dr Aleksander Ogulov, founder of “visceral” medicine, and Dr Natalya Zubanev, who is also a trained dietician and preventive medicine specialist.

Both weigh in on

• gluten sensitivity –  both agree too many people avoid gluten unnecessarily and many manufactured “gluten-free” products contain harmful chemocals
• vegan and vegetarian diets – Dr Ogulov (who’s been in practice longer) has noted a link between vegetarianism/veganism and gallstones. Dr Zubanev has noted that that vegans and vegetarians tend to consume too many carbohydrates (leading to weight gain).
• coffee – okay on a full stomach but in excess can deplete essential nutrients.
• intermittent fasting – good for detoxification
• irritable bowel syndrome – Dr Ogulov specializes in treating this condition and recommends restricting raw foods, drinking hot water before meals and eliminating foods that cause bloating.
• sugar (including fruit sugar) – both agree excess sugar intake has increased diabetes rates in Russia
• GMO’s – 20% of Russians (including one of the officials interviewed, who compares it to selective breeding) believe GMO foods are safe). Both doctors feel they’re potentially dangerous. Dr Ogulov asserts that worms refuse to eat GMO apples.