Live and Let Live

This documentary starts with some german which I did not expect- I mean it starts with animal rights ethics conversations, it shows some animal footage for a minute or two, but it's pretty much not there compared to the documentaries who are solely focused on showcasing it. The first story is about people who rescue animals. I always find those people so admirable and interesting, there is a documentary called The Ghosts in Our Machine which is about that, it is so good. There are some more niche animal rights subjects shown like the first vegan news and they say how the term vegan was coined.

The documentary later transitions into showing an athlete, health concerns and a vegan cook.

I believe it uses the same melody at the end that Cowspiracy did so that was a bit odd. They have the same sonic mood so I wonder if these documentaries have shared staff members.

I really love the conversational tone of this one. It feels very holistic and encompassing.

I was just about to read Melanie Joy's book and here she is :0 Gary Francione and Campbell are just everywhere haha. But there are a lot of faces I haven't seen yet in this documentary. It has a lot of stories just like Vegan: Everyday Stories though these ones felt more everyday than of that documentary. Lots of lovely vegans here too.

This is a fine and well-done documentary, with a broad and comprehensive scope, and very watchable.

What I didn't like was the one-sidedness of the message, I would have liked a more balanced picture and some of the interviewees were rather extreme in their positions which could have been nicely counterbalanced by some more balanced viewpoints. As this was not done by the makers, the whole study gets a slight propagandist touch, which is why this documentary only scores 5 stars in my view. Also, too much time is spent on the ethical issues of veganism. Given that the health and environmental benefits of this diet outweigh the ethical benefits by far, it is a pity the makers chose not to emphasize these aspects more. As such, veganism still is presented as this thing only those 'freaks' are doing, which is a shame given the importance of veganism to combat climate change.

Also, if I hear people talk about 'Specism' and that killing and keeping animals for food production is so deeply unethical, I cannot help to wonder why these people do not see the flaw in their logic. Eating an onion also destroys another life, isn't it equally ignorant and 'Specism' to assume that killing the onion is OK, whilst killing the cow is not, just because the latter has two dark, big eyes that simply are easier to relate to? And how can vegan people talk about animal cruelty but keep a dog that is fed dog food? Where do they think their dog's food comes from? It was during these interviews that the makers of the documentary really lost me as a viewer, and I already eat a 99% vegan diet, so how do they expect to convince non-vegans with such a message?

For us to live other lives have to perish, whether they are plants or animals, and I really fail to see the distinction between the two. A life is a life and the moment I choose to consume it or a part of it, I implicitly decide that I am more important than this life. Hence, we'd better develop a sense of gratitude for our food, irrespective of the source, and really value every bite of it, instead of using the same flawed logic again by separating life into 'consumable' species and 'non-consumable' species.

I'm afraid that by the way, the makers chose to present the subject they scared more people away than they attracted to this diet, and given the environmental and health benefits of plant-based diets, this really is a shame and a missed opportunity.

Over 20 renowned individuals discuss their reasons for choosing to abstain from consuming and purchasing animal products. While the documentary primarily focuses on ethical motivations for veganism, it also touches on health reasons. It highlights the international non-profit Animal Equality and the practice of so-called open rescues. There is a degree of one-sidedness (although, for example, a butcher is also featured), but personally, I don't find the absence of discussions about animal proteins lacking at all when I aim to learn about veganism and animal welfare. This documentary ranks among the best on the subject and should not be so overlooked. It notably avoids depicting graphic scenes from slaughterhouses and large-scale farms, making it suitable for a wide audience.

Before one begins to view a vegan propaganda video, these irrefutable facts must first be considered:

When consumed in moderation, beef can improve muscle growth and maintenance. It's also rich in iron and zinc. Fresh, lean beef is rich in various vitamins and minerals, especially iron and zinc. Therefore, moderate intake of beef can be recommended as part of a healthy diet.

Animal protein is usually of high quality, containing all nine essential amino acids needed for the growth and the maintenance of ones body. As the building blocks of proteins, amino acids are very important from a health perspective. Their composition in proteins varies widely, depending on the dietary source. Meat is one of the most complete dietary sources of protein, its amino acid profile being near identical to that of your own muscles. For this reason, eating meat or other sources of animal protein may be of particular benefit after surgery and for recovering athletes (vegan "athletes") will fall very short of this important fact. In combination with strength exercise, it also helps with maintaining and building muscle mass.

Anemia, is a common condition that is characterized by a decreased number of red blood cells and reduced ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Iron deficiency (found in vegans) is one of the most common causes of anemia. The main symptoms are tiredness and weakness. Beef is a rich source of iron, mainly in the form of heme iron. Only found in animal-derived foods, heme iron is often very low in vegetarian and especially vegan diets. The human body absorbs heme iron much more efficiently than non heme iron the type of iron in plant-derived foods. Thus, meat not only contains a highly bio-available form of iron but also improves the absorption of non-heme iron from plant foods, a mechanism that has not been fully explained and is referred to as the "meat-factor." There is a study that indicates meat can increase the absorption of non-heme iron even in meals that contain physic acid, an inhibitor of iron absorption. Therefore, one can conclude, eating meat is one of the best ways to prevent iron deficiency anemia.

Humans are indeed, omnivores. We have been eating both plants and meat for hundreds of thousands of years. Enjoying both, is the best ingredients for a much healthier lifestyle.

Enjoy that Steak dinner, it'll be alright.

This is the only documentary I've seen that's on par with the quality of Cowspiracy and Forks Over Knives. It's perfectly executed and covers all of the messages that are essential to the vegan movement. What's more, it is by far the most heartfelt film on these subjects, and never loses track of the core arguments at any point throughout.

Not only is the vegan message delivered perfectly, but modern nutritional science is also well treated. If you took nothing else away from Live and Let Live, other than an awareness of the consequences of how what you eat affects you, that would be an achievement in itself.

If you want to make a fundamental change to the world that can begin this very instant, watch.