The China Study – My reading notes and thoughts

 

If you don’t want to read all the 370 pages of this thought-provoking work, you may try watching this movie that sums it all up:

https://www.plantpurenation.com/pages/plantpure-nation-movie

Dr Colin Campbell strongly states that most chronic diseases like Cancer, Diabetes and Heart disease can be avoided, even cured by following a whole-food plant based (WFPB) diet regime. Another learning for me is that these are “diseases of affluence” unlike the “diseases of poverty” like tuberculosis. Significant cause of these diseases is animal-based proteins is his argument backed by solid research and a study conducted in China which he claims as one of the most comprehensive ones undertaken so far on nutrition. I was proud to learn that an Indian study was the source of the authors interest on this topic. The study was about how protein intake combined with cancer causing aflatoxin consumption increases the risk of getting cancel significantly. Aside from this reference, there was no reference to India. I wonder if the author had explored the facts, studies, and artefacts from India, he could have gathered some rich evidence and revealing facts.

Casein found in Cow’s milk is a serious cancer promoter, he says/proves. It’s claimed that main cause of prostrate cancer is dairy-rich diet. Author claims that even children fed with dairy products at young age are exposed to Type 1 diabetes. Author clarifies that mother’s breast milk is the best for kids. Learning this furthers my concern that many Indian mothers are moving away from breast feeding and rely heavily on packaged infant food and other dairy products.  I was surprised to learn that heart disease can be reversed by right diet, and I ask myself why isn’t this public knowledge? I have two of my close relatives who have a heart disease, and they manage to live without surgery following some natural remedy. I am tempted to tell them about WFPB which I think will further help them recover from the disease. Author argues against the position that only animal proteins are quality ones. What was also very revealing is that the study conducted using reductionism i.e., Considering only a narrow set of parameters or studies focused on a particular nutritional component alone and the conclusions are seldom effective on a complex biological system like our body. Thus, author discourages the consumption of nutritional supplements except for Vit B12 and D and encourages to rely on WFPB diets for these nutrients.

Author calls Hotdogs as America’s deadliest missiles against humanity. What will I now do with my occasional obsession to Korean Corn dog and how will I explain this to my teenage daughter? I learn that genes alone are not causing certain health conditions, but the disease-causing genes must be expressed for disease formation. This process is controlled by stuff that we eat and the nutrients in them. Author reveals that anything that’s plant based cannot cause blood cholesterol. Indian marketing system killed coconut oil and ground nut oil consumption saying those cause cholesterol to promote and create a market for refined sunflower oil. Another aspect of plant-based diet is the high fiber content which avoids the chances of cancer. Author seriously questions all the low-carb diets esp. Atkins citing multiple side effects of such diets. Author promotes healthy WFPB carbs which reminds me of Celebrity Indian wellness coach Rujuta Diwekar who also promotes a similar health carb diet - https://www.rujutadiwekar.com/. The author exactly says what Rujuta recommends which is “stop counting calories” and adopt a health eating habit and active lifestyle consistently.

It is interesting to know about the natural bypass routes our hearts create when arteries get blocked called “collaterals”. In the chapter “Broken hearts”, the author explains how a heart attach happens in simple terms, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading - which was also a great eye-opener.  When it comes to obesity also the author argues the role of animal diet and diet that has excessive processed carbs combined (“junk food vegetarians”) with lack of exercise. Author says vegetarians have better thermogenesis, metabolism at rest compared to meat eaters. In the “Diabetics” chapter again author explains how one becomes diabetic and the difference between Type 1 vs Type 2 diabetes. It’s claimed that carbs (whole food) are not the main causes of diabetes. Author also seriously questions the campaign that diary-rich foods promote calcium which is essential for bone-health furnishing the facts from China study that women with low or no dairy intake had lesser bone fractures than those who consume more dairy. Explaining further, author goes into detail about calcium oxalate / kidney stones and their formation. It’s claimed that stone are also caused by animal protein. I shared these snippets with a close friend who suffers from kidney stones. I was also reminded of some advice by a Doctor I consulted in Chennai during a Gout attack who advised me to change immediately to vegetarian diet.  Author goes on to claim that eye health, our cognitive abilities are also related to the food we eat, and animal diet has negative consequences on these health factors too. I can read without eyeglasses despite being in front of a computer monitor for long stretches for work and otherwise. I assumed that it was due to the Sever-seas cod liver (fish) oil capsules that my grand father ensured that I regularly eat. Author goes on to prove that most of the policy makers and decisive bodies are often funded by large industry conglomerates who have a vested interest in what’s being promoted as good food. They make a conscious and focused attempt to conceal and hide these findings.

 

Now, my thoughts around accepting these arguments. I evaluate most of the new-age findings related to wellbeing by checking whether they are aligned to what our ancestors preached and practiced or not. While my religion (Hinduism – it’s beyond a religion and its way of life), blatantly advocates vegetarianism, I have never come across veganism. Tamil literary marvel Purananooru written 1000’s of years ago talks about feeding on meat.

புறநானூறு, 320. (இன்புறு புணர்நிலை கண்ட மனையோள்!)

பாடியவர்: வீரை வெளியனார்.

ஆர நெருப்பின் ஆரல் நாறத்

தடிவார்ந்து இட்ட முழுவள் ளூரம்

இரும்பேர் ஒக்கலொடு ஒருங்குஇனிது அருந்தித்

தங்கினை சென்மோ, பாண! தங்காது

 

Meaning this:

காட்டுக் கோழி, காடை, கெளதாரி போன்ற பறவைகள் ஆரவாரத்துடன், கவர்ந்து தின்று கொண்டிருந்தன. அவ்வேட்டுவனின் மனைவி, அவற்றைப் பிடித்து, சந்தனக் கட்டையால் மூட்டிய தீயில் சுட்டுத், துண்டு துண்டாக்கி, அறுத்த இறைச்சியை ஆரல் மீனின் மணம் கமழச் சமைத்தாள்.

Similarly, poet Kalamegam writes about Buttermilk (dairy product)

கார் என்று பேர் படைத்தாய்  ககனத்துரும்போது !
 நீர் என்று பேர் படைத்தாய்  நெடுந்தரையில் வீழ்ந்ததன் பின் !!
 வார் சடை மென்கூந்தல் பால் ஆய்சியர்கை வந்ததன் பின்
  மோர் என்று பேர் படைத்தாய் முப்பேரும் பெற்றாயே!!!

How come Tamil community known for its 1000’s of years of existential heritage and culture, promoted something (meat and dairy) that’s a health hazard?

1)      As the author himself points out – human body is an extremely complex subject, and one cannot research the cause and effect of certain nutrients in isolation. Is it so that the China Study had significant findings but not good enough to advise the global community based on its findings?

2)      Milk and Ghee are regular items we even offer to the Gods. So, I have serious doubts about why dairy is bad? Did the author take Organic dairy products into consideration while look at these facts? Is the dairy protein bad because the cows are no longer grass-fed these days?

3)      Throughout the book there is no focused research around sea food. Is it bad too?

4)      Author seems to take all the research findings that are pro-WFPB to make his point rather than presenting what China study revealed and how comprehensive it was?

5)      It the comprehensive research was the objective, which such a populous country like India was not considered along with China?

6)      Hunter Gatherers evolved with meat-based diet and there was no heart disease or cancer? Was that because they were physically active and ate all that was organic?

7)      I buy into the argument that shutting down meat production is and mass animal farming for meat production is not good for the environment – but that’s not a real argument for giving up animal protein from our diet?

8)      While America’s healthcare spending goes up, is it not true that life expectancy is also improving?

     While Japan has the longest life expectancy rate in the world, the province of Okinawa(Okinawa video)  has the higher life expectancy than the national average. Ikigai - the best selling book by Hector Garcia quotes that Okinawans diet has a lot of fruits and vegetables but they eat fish 3 times a week on an average and once or twice in a week they consume meat and pork meat is the most common. How does that factor in to this WFPB argument?

I need to read more on the subject before I can accept or reject the arguments put forward by Dr Campbell? Next on my list is “Lifespan – why we age?” by Dr David Sinclair 😊