Reviewed by Stacie Maguire
The rates of obesity and chronic disease are on the rise in the United States. This country spends more money on health care than any other country in the world and yet we continue to have a high prevalence of deaths related to chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer. The China Study addresses the effect of diet on multiple types of diseases. It addresses heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, osteoporosis, kidney stones, blindness and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Campbell presents the results from a large epidemiological study that examined diets and the prevalence of chronic diseases of residents in rural China. The study included sixty-five counties in twenty four different provinces and evaluated diets, lifestyles and diseases of over sixty five hundred people. Dr. Campbell suggests that a whole foods, plant based diet is the best protection against these diseases listed above. He proposes that western diets that are higher in animal protein lead to increased risk of chronic disease and eventual death. He presents an argument supported by one of the largest studies ever conducted. The book offers a great deal of science and research information. The author reviews information in order to ensure that the reader is able to follow his conclusions, but the reader should have a basic knowledge of science. It is divided into four parts: The China Study, Diseases of Affluence, Good Nutrition Guide and Why haven’t you heard this before.
Dr. Campbell has been doing research on proteins and diseases since the 1960’s. He is a well established and a credible expert in this field. His book is supported by evidence and cites hundreds of references including the American Cancer Society, American Medical Association, International Agency for Cancer Research and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. One study that Dr. Campbell cited from the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that blood cholesterol increased “with dietary intake of saturated fat, animal protein and dietary cholesterol” and blood cholesterol “was negatively associated with complex carbohydrate intake”. The amount of research presented is a major strength of this book. The China Study is one of the most comprehensive correlation studies ever conducted. Another strength of his book is that it examines whole diets, not individual nutrients like many other nutritional studies have done in the past. Research that studies one nutrient at a time is difficult to apply to practice when counseling patients or clients. Although the author is credible and well known, he does appear to have some bias toward government agencies, industry, medicine and some of the science community. He devotes an entire section of the book to his distrust of these sectors. Most of the book appears to be written with a very objective tone, except this last section which seems to be based more on emotion. Another weakness may be that the book is not written for the lay audience. The reader must have a basic understanding of metabolism and science to arrive at the author’s conclusions. Although the level of science presented may be necessary in order for the book to express the study’s credibility and evidence based information.
The China Study is very appropriate, given the health care crisis that our country is going through currently. Health care costs are at an all time high and our country continues to be getting more obese and rates of chronic disease are rising. Our televisions and newspapers are flooded with statistics about heart disease, cancer, and diabetes and Americans continue to search for new ways to lose weight and prevent or treat these diseases. Dr. Campbell presents quite a profound theory about diet and chronic disease that is very pertinent to our current health system today. This information is not without controversy. A whole foods, plant based diet may incite emotion among many citizens of this country who may have been raised to believe that milk is good for our bones and meat is necessary in order to have strong muscles. The author gains more credibility by sharing his testimony about growing up on a dairy farm and having these same beliefs and values. The study has such a strong impact on him and his family, that he and his family adopted a completely whole foods, plant based diet. While this book is very relevant to our current health issues, more information and support may be needed to persuade individuals to concur with Dr. Campbell and consider a vegan diet as an approach to preventing chronic disease and promoting a healthy weight.
The China Study is a research based book that also has the ability to reach readers on an emotional level. If anyone has ever lost a family member to heart disease or cancer, this book may have an even bigger impact on their diet and lifestyle. The book presents some very profound and interesting information that is based on evidence and research. It may be a catalyst for discussions and further research about our intake of animal products and how it relates to chronic disease. It could also be a tool for health care professionals in counseling patients on non-pharmacological approaches to better health and disease prevention. Readers may not immediately convert to a vegan style of eating, but they may begin to think more about what foods they are using as fuel for their bodies, which is a huge step in promoting better nutrition and healthier lifestyles.
Like this review? Read others by VT Dietetic Interns: more book reviews
Like this review? Read others by VT Dietetic Interns: more book reviews
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