The China Study

The China Study by Campbell & Campbell (2006) has had the most profound affect on my current outlook on health and wellness.

In this hefty 368 page book, Campbell highlights study after study that points to one significant fact: consuming animal products contributes to heart disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer, autoimmune diseases as well as diseases of the bones, kidneys, eyes and brain.

One might argue that "yeah, eating t-bones every night is going to make you fat and probably sick." Campbell takes it quite a bit further as he demonstrates that even the diet recommended by the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Society, American Heart Association and the like is still likely to contribute to these devastating diseases.

Since reading this book in March 2007 I have for the most part, become a Vegan. I don't prefer the label but, it does describe my eating habits. I avoid animal products except on occasions I deem as "special" on which I will part take in very small quantities of... ice cream, cheesecake, shrimp, or steak.

Campbell & Campbell substantiate each every claim with sound, well documented scientific studies. Many of which they openly admit are simply correlation studies that do not have a proven cause and effect relationship.

Cancer
One of the most terrifying diseases in America. It is incredibly painful (treatments and the course of the disease) and seems indiscriminate as it takes both young and old. I think all of us can relate to having someone we love taken by this frightening illness. Here is a summary of what Campbell has found to be true of cancer.

• Cancer thrive in environments high in animal protein. Campbell compared cancer activity with plant and animal proteins and found that plant protein did not promote cancer growth (in fact they decreased tumor growth).
  

• Low-protien diets repress tumor formation
• Less of the enzyme that promotes cancer growth enters into the cells
• Cell multiplication is slowed
• Cancer enzymes themselves change

• We all consume or are exposed to cancer causing antigens
• Past carcinogen exposure can initiate cancer under poor nutrition conditions

• Foci (the bad guy in stage 2 of cancer growth) will not develop with less than 10% dietary protein. The average American is consuming 15-16% protien and in laboratory studies this increase risk by 8 fold.

• Cancer might be easily controlled, even reversed simply by decreasing the intake of the promoting nutrients and/or increasing the intake of anti-promoting nutrients.

Diseases of Poverty & Affluence
It makes perfect sense really. People who are rich or live in rich countries tend to have the luxury of eating more meat and animal products. Those who are poor or live in poor countries tend to subsist on a plant based diet.

Campbell has found a striking correlation between breast cancer and total animal fat intake amongst women in over 40 countries. At the top of the list: Netherlands, UK, New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland, Canada and the US. At the bottom of the list: El Salvador, Thailand, Ceylon, Taiwan, and Japan.

Those in poor countries are far more likely to die of pneumonia, tuberculosis, and parasites. These same individuals are far less likely to die of cancer (colon, lung, breast, leukemia, stomach, liver) diabetes, or heart disease.

Campbell admits there are always other factors at play. Factors that must be taken into consideration for breast cancer are: early period, high blood cholesterol, late menopause, and exposure to female hormones. However, these factors seems to be interdependent. In China (rural) the average age girls get their first period is 15-19 while in the US it is 11.

Other Factors to Promote Health

• Fiber: carries out chemicals that might be carcinogenic, creates fullness, and dilutes caloric density

• Antioxidants: we don't produce any naturally, we must get them from plants. Build protective shields for our cells against free radicals.
  

Hearth Disease
Amazingly, the small to medium accumulation of plaque, the plaque that blocks less than 50% of the artery, is the most deadly. The cause is entirely environmental. In the US we have the highest death rate from heart disease than any other country and share the top ranks with Finland, Canada, and Australia.

I know what you might be thinking... I'm young, I eat pretty well, I exercise.. that could not be me! In 1950 in North Korea 300 male soldiers killed in action (average age of 22) had their hearts examined. 77.3% of the hearts had gross evidence of heart disease! Active, young, strapping men. Yeah, the probably drank a little but.. give me a break!

Great new! The course of heart disease can be altered... even after the first heart attack. In a study run by Dr. Dean Ornish 82% of the patients in his trial had regression in their heart disease (in just one year) by following a largely vegan diet (eggs white were allowed along with one cup per day of non-fat milk or yogurt) paired with a modest exercise plan.

Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is an environmental disease and is considered more treatable than type 1 diabetes because the pancreas does not have significant damage. In a study run by Dr. James Anderson he put patients on a "veggie" diet for three weeks. The results were impressive: 40% reduction of insulin medication, blood sugar improved dramatically, and the average cholesterol dropped 30%. Anyone would pay 'big-bucks' for a drug that had such dramatic results!

A man with a 21 year history of diabetes was able to eliminate his need for insulin completely after eight weeks... simply by eating a plant-based diet.

Here are the specifics of the diet that yielded these amazing results:

• 70% of calories as carbohydrates
• 70gm of daily fiber
• 2oz or less of meat daily

Campbell's Nutritional Principles

• The whole is greater than the sum of its parts (isolating vitamins will provide less effect than consuming them as part of the food the came from)
• Supplements do not guarantee good health
• Very few nutrients need to be sought outside of the plant based dies: B12 being the outlier here
• Genes do not determine disease along: they can be activated or suppressed by environmental factors
• Nutrition can for the most part, control the negative effects in our chemical environment
• The same nutrition that can prevent disease may also halt it in its tracks
• Good for one, good for all. The plant based diet is truly beneficial for chronic disease across the board
• Good nutrition impact all aspects of our existence... we are being of interconnected systems