|
Is this common food really the cause of cancer?
20th March 2009
• My views on The China Study by T. Colin Campbell Phd.
• 6 myths about disease dispelled
• Is animal protein really the SOLE cause of our major
modern diseases?
I've just finished reading a highly controversial book...
And while my head is buzzing I thought I'd quickly review it
in today's Good Life Letter so you can get an idea of its
conclusions.
Remarkably, this book claims to show how using only your
diet you can reverse heart disease and diabetes... and
'turn off' cancer like a tap.
Strong claims?
You betcha...
But before we go waving flags and dancing in the streets
like it's armistice day, I have to say upfront... I'm not
sure the book is absolutely everything it cracks up to be.
I've found some compelling arguments that counter some of
the claims. And I think a bit of common sense can be
applied before we make the sort of drastic changes this
author suggests.
But hey, this newsletter is all about giving you fresh ideas
and theories from many different viewpoints and alternative
approaches.
As you know, I'm not a medical expert. I'm a guy trying to
find out as much about food, diet and health as I can so I
can protect myself and my family. I'll look into anything and
everything if I think it will help. And as always I'm happy to
pass what I find out to you, even if I don't always agree with it.
Okay. Let's crack on...
6 disease myths dispelled
A few weeks ago a Good Life Letter reader recommended I read
The China Study, by T. Colin Campbell PHD. I snapped it up
on Amazon and haven't put it down since.
In the introduction Campbell sets out his stall by dispelling
6 commons myths about health in modern times.
He writes:
|
• Synthetic chemicals in the environment and in your food,
as problematic as they are, are not the main cause of cancer.
• The hope that genetic research will eventually lead to drug
cures for disease ignores more powerful solutions that can
be employed today.
• Obsessively controlling your intake of any one nutrient,
such as carbohydrates, fat, cholesterol or omega-3 fats, will
not result in long term health.
• Vitamins and nutrient supplements do not give you long term
protection against disease.
• Drugs and surgery don't cure the diseases that kill most
people in the West.
• Your doctor probably does not know what you need to do to
be the healthiest you can be.
These are fairly familiar statements if you're a long term
Good Life reader. You and I have always doubted that, while
they do an amazing job and can help in many ways, doctors
don't always have the answers. Too often we're pushed
towards drugs and surgery that can damage us as easily as
they can cure us.
Campbell also agrees with my point a few weeks ago. Simply
adding a load of vitamin supplements to your daily diet does
not protect you against serious disease.
If you are low on a certain nutrient, or need MORE of it to
target an ailment, supplements are a good way to up your
intake. And there are many natural extracts that can ease
pain and inflammation. For instance, in the past I've
recommended herbal supplements for joint and prostate
problems. If you struggle to eat properly or have no access
to the right amount of nutrients every day, then good quality
supplements are a must.
However, the best way to protect yourself from disease is by
upping your intake of real, whole food. Nothing processed.
Nothing that's modified or plastered with health claims.
As Michael Pollan, author of In Defence of Food puts it,
'Never eat anything your grandmother wouldn't recognise.'
So what how does The China Study claim you can benefit from
a change in diet?
|
How to reverse disease with food
Well, Campbell claims that diet is the cause of all our major
health problems - and that's it's also the solution to these
problems.
He makes 7 very strong statements:
• Dietary change can enable diabetic patients to go off their
medication
• Heart disease can be reversed with diet alone
• Breast cancer is related to levels of female hormones in
the blood
• Consuming dairy foods can increase the risk of prostate
cancer
• Antioxidants, found in fruits and vegetables, are linked
to better mental performance in old age.
• Kidney stones can be prevented by a healthy diet.
• Type 1 diabetes, one of the most devastating diseases that
can befall a child, is convincingly linked to infant
feeding practices.
The book then proceeds to set out the evidence for these
claims. As a basis for its conclusions the book refers to a
study of all the dietary and lifestyle factors associated
with disease mortality in China.
This was a rare type of study... because all the subjects
were genetically similar. The difference in their health
levels all came down to whether they are a diet rich in
plant-based foods... or one VERY rich in plant based foods.
Those who are a diet VERY rich in plant based foods had
significantly lower rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease
and dementia that those who ate fewer plant based foods.
Campbell points out that this is even more potentially
damaging here in the west. Because our diets are so high in
meat and process foods, our society simply doesn't HAVE a
diet that's 'very rich in plant based foods'.
In most cases in the west we're talking about diets HIGH in
meat and processed carbs... or SLIGHTLY LOWER in meat and
processed carbs.
So no wonder we are so stricken with disease!
|
Campbell shows how, by converting to a diet super-rich in
vegetables and fruits, you could 'reverse' heart disease,
diabetes and obesity.
He claims you can use whole, plant-based foods to prevent or
even 'turn off' cancer, autoimmune diseases, bone problems,
kidney dysfunction, vision loss and brain disorders.
Okay, so that's the gist of the book.
Now here's why The China Study has not fully converted me...
Is animal protein really the cause of all these modern
diseases?
Campbell claims that the cause of 'diseases of affluence' is,
quite simply, too much animal-based protein. He doesn't waver
from this. It's all about the demon animal protein and pretty
much nothing else.
His conclusion is that to avoid cancer, heart disease and
other major disease, we should all convert to a diet with NO
animal products whatsoever... EVER.
That's no meat, no eggs, no milk.
In short, a vegan diet.
Now, while I'm always recommending plenty of fruit and
vegetables in The Good Life Letter... I regularly point out
the benefits of eating high quality locally sourced fish,
meat, cheese, chocolate and eggs.
And while The China Study book has re-emphasised that I do
need to eat far more whole foods, fruits and vegetables
every day... it hasn't turned me into a vegan.
Why?
Firstly, Campbell attacks all extreme diets that restrict
certain food groups. But then he goes on to advocate an
extreme diet that restricts ALL animal-based protein. This
not only seems contradictory. It sounds like the man has an
agenda.
|
Common sense dictates that it's okay to include fish and meat
as part of a healthy balanced diet. As long as it's good,
nutritious, well cooked and humanely sourced, I'm not going
to stop doing that.
And there are some more scientific objections too...
Why this study isn't 'proof'
One online report by 'Beyond Vegetarianism' claims that The
China Project is cited as 'proof' that vegan diets are more
healthy, when it proves nothing of the sort.
The report says:
'Strict vegan diets, hunter-gatherer (evolutionary) diets...
are not in the set of diets in the China Project, i.e., are
outside the range of the data from the China Project.'
And it continues:
'Claims by dietary advocates that the China Study 'proves'
all omnivore diets are bad and (some) vegan diets are better
are a logical fallacy. It would be better if the
(interesting) results of the China Project were not
misinterpreted or misrepresented by the 'popular' health
media or by dietary advocates.'
So perhaps it's not as black and white as Campbell makes out.
Chris Masterjohn of 'Cholesterol and Health' objected to the
China Study on the grounds that it selected only evidence
that backed up the vegan agenda.
He writes:
'[Campbell]... entirely ignores the role of wheat gluten, a
plant product, in autoimmune diseases, so he can emphasize
the role of milk protein, an animal product. The book,
while not entirely without value, is not about the China
Study, nor is it a comprehensive look at the current state of
health research. It would be more aptly titled, A
Comprehensive Case for the Vegan Diet.'
In my view The China Study is a fantastic wake-up call. It
shows you how food can seriously influence your health and
even reverse many serious diseases.
And while I don't agree that the villain is only protein and
that the answer is to turn vegan, this is a seriously
thought provoking book.
If you want to pick up a copy, there are plenty available
here on Amazon:
Amazon - The China Study
Or you can check out the website for the book
here:
www.thechinastudy.com
|
|
|
|
