Book Review: The China Study
Posted on October 10, 2007
Filed Under Vegetarian Books |
The China Study is authored by T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D. and Thomas M. Campbell II. On its face, this book attempts to use statistics and research to draw conclusions about eating animal protein through meat, dairy, and eggs. The conclusions drawn are dumbfounding. The research that the authors cite, seems to back up their claims at a huge problem with the diet of Americans and the western culture.
In an example early on the book, the author explains a study done with animal protein and rats. The rats were systematically fed various proportions of animal protein to test if there is any positive or negative response. Not to spoil the story, but it turns out that, in rats at least, high percentages of animal protein contained in the food consumed appears to link directly to high cancer rates and death. Whilst a control group was given protein from animal sources, these rats did NOT show higher rates of cancer and death.
Even more shocking was the tests and conclusions drawn that at any point during the cancer’s growth a switch to plant protein appeared to dramatic reduce growth or even stop the cancer’s growth altogether!
Now of course we don’t know if these same results hold true with humans, but it definitely makes you reconsider what you eat on a daily basis. The book goes on to analyze Asian cultures and their food intakes and compares it to Western eating and cancer rates. This is where I feel that the book loses some luster. It gets kind of dull and I cannot personally draw a parallel between the diet and disease rates like the author would like. It is just impossible on that type of scale to hold other factors in constant.
Regardless, this book is well worth the read. It will cause you to reconsider your life food consumption choices, and that can never be a bad thing. Not only does it speak volumes for becoming vegetarian, but it has a good reason to support veganism as well.
Take a look at the book here: The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health
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