The China Study

I would like to dedicate this post to the book, The China Study, Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health . In my post about Healthcare I included an excerpt from the introduction of this book. I was excited by the introduction alone. The rest this book as been exceedingly interesting. I mostly like it because it taught me a lot about the role of animal protein in our diets and it backs a lot of what I already believe--and have written about here-- about food and health. I understand that following my beliefs doesn't necessarily give these professional opinions validity. However the 30 years or responsible research from which it was based on does. I will always put the heaviest trust in my own experiences, but the findings and conclusions of Dr. Campbell does not flow against what I've already experienced in my journey with food and the trends I've personally noticed in health.

It is clear that Dr.Colin is an independent and critical thinker about the results of science in his studies. He relies more on his findings than the popular attitudes of his prestigious peers or his contrary upbringing(he grew up respecting the dairy farm he was raised on). This to me is key in respecting his conclusions.

So what has this book told me thus far? Among the biggest ideas featured is that our relationship to animal protein and health is often related to chronic and fatal illness. There is a very significant link to animal protein ( in meat and dairy) and cancer growth. This to me is significant. I would describe this relationship like this; Cancer is damage to your DNA caused by a carcinogen, I'll call it a cut on your hand. Animal protein then, is you picking the scab on your hand. In the body this protein hinders our ability to detoxify the carcinogen. The more you do it the worse your cut and infection gets. There is a direct relationship with how much and how often one picks the scab and how much more infected or healed your hand is. Now if you do the right things, like eat whole plant-based foods, then that's analogous to treating the cut and pushing your hand to be whole and healthy. If you do both--treat your hand well and pick the scab--your hand may or may not heal. Even if you have been picking your scab and then stop picking at a point and treat it your hand it would still get better!

This is a bittersweet science to believe in. It's good news for the those who have the ability to change or make lifestyle choices to consume the best foods that are available to them. This however is terrible news for those who don't believe food makes a strong enough difference in how they feel or the effects food has on their health. I grew up in the latter category and I am happy I changed my mind. I am happy for my own health and the astronomically higher chances of good health in the future I have because of it. What I can't do it change the mind's of everyone I love, and maybe I shouldn't. Their experiences should teach them more then I ever could. Reading this book however could be a good idea if you are at all curious about food and health and need science in your decision making.