Comments on: Summer Tomato Book Review: The China Study

By: Darya Pino

Darya Pino — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:08:38 +0000

Sadly our public health messages tend to be a few decades behind the science when it comes to nutrition research. Sounds like you have a lot of reading to do if you want to be less confused, there are several good references in this book review that might help:

http://summertomato.com/book-review-why-we-get-fat-by-gary-taubes/

By: Tom Utley

Tom Utley — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 18:59:31 +0000

I’m surprised or maybe more so confused when you mention …that you don’t believe [at all] that ‘a high fat diet causes heart deisease’…am I missing some essential context?

“Also, it is very important to understand the difference between blood cholesterol and dietary cholesterol. I was careful not to say that a high fat diet causes heart disease. I do not believe this at all. I did not even say that dietary fat raises blood cholesterol.”

By: George G.

George G. — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 16:22:50 +0000

There is hardly “science” in the China Study. I love objectivity and neutrality but so many of the conclusions they made from very little science are almost comical. For example, Campbell claims, “Western-type diseases, in the aggregate, are highly significantly correlated with increasing concentrations of plasma cholesterol, which are associated in turn with increasing intakes of animal-based foods.” The first part is easy to support. The animal-based part, though, has nothing to do with his study! He didn’t demonstrate once, with simple, black and white, objective data, that anything animal-based had a remotely detrimental impact on plasma cholesterol.
These are the same “scientists” who consider pizza as meat.

By: Darya Pino

Darya Pino — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:25:47 +0000

Wow, thanks for all the info!!

By: Dr. Craig Jones

Dr. Craig Jones — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:35:29 +0000

The China Study is very misleading, and probably confusing to anyone that is not a statistics junkie. First of all, a diet composed of raw vegetables with each meal can be very effective in maintaing proper digestion and elimination. It can also reduce immune stimulation that can result in allergies, chronic inflammation, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. But when small amounts of healthy and lean animal protein is added (along with, seeds, nuts, and berries) you have a variation of the Paleo Diet, which has been shown to maintain the brain, nervous system, and skeletal structures from premature degeneration. A vegan diet may be life-saving when diagnosed with various types of cancer, but animal protein added later can enable the patient to completely recover. The Gonzales and Gerson cancer therapies uses these principles in treating cancer patients. The other reasons to use small amounts of animal proteins and fats are to support the Phase 1 and 2 detoxification systems, which require proteins to support the Cytochrome P450 system. The other thing to remember is that the medical and drug establishment are committed to drug research and not nutritional research, that is up to us to do, using our own bodies. If you decide to change your diet, do a complete blood panel first. Stay on the diet for 4 to 6 weeks and retest your blood. You will see positive or negative effects based on your genetics and your choice of foods. APO e4 genotypes should avoid large amounts of animal fats and proteins, while the APO e 2 and 3 can eat more of these foods will no ill effects. Our genes are triggered by our diet and lifestyle to produce health or disease, that is why I genetically test my patients first, before prescribing ANY diet! I hope this helps.

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 09 May 2009 01:01:13 +0000

Thanks for clarification!

By: Darya Pino

Darya Pino — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:25:27 +0000

Shook! I’m so glad you are back!! I thought I sacred you away with my honey bashing–actually I eat it all the time now Glad you enjoyed the China Study, I did too.

You going to start posting books and recipes again?

I must admit, I’m jealous of your internet break. I’m taking one this weekend…

By: Matt Shook

Matt Shook — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:46:09 +0000

Holy crap! So I avoid the internet for a month or so and then find that this site just took off with the rest of the springtime goodies growing outside. It’s been awhile for me but, wow, it’s good to be back…

While the China Study has some flaws and annoyances (like repetition), I really enjoyed reading this book and have recommended it to others. So…thanks again for the recommendation Darya.

By: Steve Parker, M.D.

Steve Parker, M.D. — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:09:35 +0000

Wow. What a thorough review! Thank you.

This reminds me of Dr. Ornish’s book, “Eat More, Weigh Less.” He doesn’t tell you until half way through that it is a vegetarian program. That’s not on the front or back cover, or in the intro. With good reason: many fewer copies would sell. What percentage of the population will go vegan or vegetarian, even if we assume (for the sake of argument) it would add five years to average lifespan? Gotta be less than 5%.

[I have nothing against veganism and vegetarianism. Just tell me up front before I read the book. It's not on either cover of "China Study." But Ornish has a blurb on China's front cover.]

-Steve

By: Michelle @ Find Your Balance

Michelle @ Find Your Balance — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:31:36 +0000

What I loved about this book is how even not being a science person, I read it cover to cover and it didn’t put me to sleep. I thought it was excellent.