All too frequently, we find ourselves binge watching our favorite T.V. shows on Netflix and finding the time quickly slipping by. But why not spend that same time watching something that is not only informational but also incredibly interesting? Over the Christmas holiday, I found myself watching a number of different documentaries that were so informative on a number of different subjects. Maybe this New Year, you can resolve to learn about something new every week? Here's a list of the five most interesting documentaries on Netflix.

1. "Blackfish"

"Blackfish" was originally presented at the Sundance Film Festival and received incredible attention for important reasons. The documentary looks into the history of the raising and training of orcas, or killer whales, that are held captive in marine amusement parks, more specifically, Sea World. A number of incidents regarding the orcas and death of three trainers shed light on the horrible conditions these whales are forced to live in, causing them to be extremely dangerous. With real footage from several of the attacks, this documentary is a shocking look at the consequences of meddling with nature for entertainment.

Next Up: "Planet Earth;" knowing what captivity can do, why not take a look at the beauty of the natural world filmed to cinematic perfection?

2. "Fed Up"

There are so many food documentaries out there that it is so difficult to choose one that will really inform you about the evils of the food industry. It is safe to say that this documentary, produced by the famed news journalist, Katie Couric, is one of the best. By putting away the assumptions that weight loss can be achieved through exercise and "energy balance," "Fed Up" enlightens its viewers by providing the true facts about the food we eat and how "fat free" does not mean healthy. Focusing on the epidemic of obesity, the documentary breaks down what is in the food produced by companies within the industry. As surprising and quite upsetting some of the facts presented in the film are, they are the realities that every U.S. citizen needs to acknowledge in order to change to a healthier lifestyle.

Next Up: "Food Inc." Continuing my food documentary binge watch, I'm going to see how the food industry is causing more problems than solutions for the health of humanity.

3. "Living on One Dollar"

This was one of those documentaries that looked somewhat interesting and was less than an hour, so I could definitely give my time to it. It follows four young men who challenge themselves to live in a small village in Guatemala, living off of only one dollar a day. The documentary goes day by day, showing where the young men are living, how they are planning out their purchases for food and living, and getting to know the other villagers living in poverty, interviewing them about how they are surviving. Through illness, lack of substantial food, and severe poverty, the men find themselves in solidarity with the other villagers. The best part of the documentary was that the men did not look at their experience with negativity, but rather, the relationships they formed allowed them to appreciate and understand what the others were going through.

Next Up: "Hecho En México;" the children in the village spoke Spanish, so I thought a documentary on Mexico would be a fun film to watch; sorry, it does not relate.

4. "Artifact"

This highly acclaimed documentary follows the rock band, "30 Seconds to Mars," and their legal struggles while trying to release a new album. At first, a documentary about legal struggles did not sound interesting at all, but after giving it a chance, I found this to be absolutely astounding. It looks at the manipulation of the record companies on their artists, "30 Seconds to Mars" being one of those victims. No longer was work owned by its creator, but the record label that originally signed you. For anyone interested in the music industry, "Artifact" puts into great perspective what happens after that new artist has been signed to a record label, no longer in control of their own creativity.

Next Up: "Soaked in Bleach," a documentary about the death (or murder) of Kurt Cobain.

5. "The Magic of Heineken"

This one is for all the beer lovers out there. Beginning with a montage of past and present advertisements, this documentary about the history and growth of the Heineken brewery company is filled with great visuals and information about the production of their beer and advancement of the brewery globally. One of the coolest aspects of this documentary was when it would cut to stop-motion, clay-animated clips telling the history of the brewery, rather than having a narrator just explain it through pictures. Let's just say that at the end of it, I was really craving a Heineken beer.

Next Up: "A Year in Burgundy;" five word summary: wine, wine, wine, wine, wine.