The Protein Myth
Why The China Study is a must-read for anyone who cares about his/her health
“I need more protein” (and other iterations of this sentiment) is the number one concern I hear when discussing the vegan diet with friends and family during my DOT Project. While I embarked on this dietary change in an effort to decrease my ecological footprint, it has been The China Study that has provided me with the most compelling reasons to stay true to the change and to never go back.
There are, in effect, two things: to know and to believe one knows. To know is science. To think one knows is ignorance. — Hippocrates
The China Study is a gold mine of nutritional information backed by over 750 references, most of which are scientific articles. The book’s namesake, the China Study, occurred in China in the 1970s and 80s after the premier of China was diagnosed with cancer. He created the most far-reaching and all-encompassing survey of cancer ever created — 96% of the Chinese population (880 million people) was included in the survey. The initial result of this survey was the Cancer Atlas of China. However, this was only the beginning. What ensued was the most comprehensive study of diet, lifestyle, and disease ever taken and the results are stunning.
Eating a whole foods, plant-based diet leads to less cancer, less heart disease, fewer strokes, less obesity, less diabetes, less autoimmune disease, less osteoporosis, less Alzheimer’s, less kidney stones, and less blindness
What?! Yes. The evidence provided in The China Study overwhelmingly points in this direction. As the daughter of a man who has five of the above ailments, believe me when I say that this book had my full and undivided attention.
The genes that you inherit from your parents are not the most important factors in determining whether or not you succumb to any of the leading causes of death (see above)
A life without heart disease, diabetes, and cancer? It’s time for the happy dance!
Synthetic chemicals in the environment and in your food, as problematic as they may be, are not the main cause of cancer
Some might say I am hyper aware of environmental toxins. However, I argue that this is not without good reason. Cancer has woven a thread through my life story — beginning with the death of my 20-year old cousin, continuing with my Aunt’s serious bout with melanoma and my father’s prostate cancer, and solidified through 10+ years of working as a counselor at Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. What wonderful news to hear that my dietary choices could well be my best defense against this horrible disease.
How in the world is this possible?
The Cliffs Notes answer to this question is the following: Animal-based protein is too similar to the proteins in our own bodies (we are all animals, after all). As a result, our cells are able to function and multiply too quickly and this leads to problems. It turns out our bodies have a host of feedback systems that are meant to keep us healthy; by consuming moderate to high levels of animal-based protein, we are shutting these systems down.
If you are a Westerner like myself you might find this news hard to swallow — we have been indoctrinated to believe that protein isn’t “real” unless it came from an animal. However, humans have not always consumed the diet of kings (seemingly unlimited access to seafood, beef, chicken, dairy) that so many of us are able to enjoy today. Choosing a whole foods, plant-based diet is more about reverting back to original principles of nutrition as opposed to making a crazy, unheard of change to a diet suitable only for rabbits.
I have never pursued health hoping for immortality. Good health is about being able to fully enjoy the time we do have. It is about being as functional as possible throughout our entire lives and avoiding crippling, painful, and lengthy battles with disease. There are many better ways to die, and to live.
— Author of The China Study, T. Colin Campbell, PhD
Take time to read The China Study for yourself — it’s fascinating and could very well lead to the healthiest you.
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