One of my favourite books on nutrition (and one most often quoted from by me) is The China Study by Colin Campbell, PhD and his son Thomas Campbell, MD. It was indeed a groundbreaking book as it was based on one of the largest comprehensive studies of human nutrition ever conducted, launched via a partnership between Cornell University, Oxford University, and the Chinese Academy of Preventative Medicine, with data collected over a span of 20 years.
The study they created included 367 variables, 65 counties in China, and 6,500 adults (who completed questionnaires, blood tests, etc.).
Here is a summary of some findings from the research:
1. Milk promotes the growth of cancer. The book’s author T. Colin Campbell, PhD, grew up on a dairy farm, so he regularly enjoyed a wholesome glass of milk. Not anymore. Dr. Campbell says that in multiple, peer-reviewed studies, researchers discovered that they could actually turn the growth of cancer cells on and off by raising and lowering doses of casein, the main protein found in cow’s milk.
Milk from cows has been touted as making our bones stronger, and preventing conditions like osteoporosis. It turns out that it's the complete opposite, that milk causes bone degeneration by leeching calcium from the bone.
2. The food you eat affects the way your cells interact with carcinogens, making them more or less dangerous. In other words, we should be more worried about what nutrients are getting into our body rather than the amount of pesticides. “The results of these, and many other studies, showed nutrition to be far more important in controlling cancer promotion than the dose of the initiating carcinogen,” they state.
3. Carbs are not (always) the enemy. Highly-processed, refined carbohydrates are bad for you, but not the healthy carbs found in plant foods. Research shows that diets like Atkins or South Beach can have dangerous side effects. While they may result in short-term weight loss, you’ll be sacrificing long-term health.
4. Heart disease can be reversed through nutrition. Using data gathered from the work of other respected physicians, they concluded that heart disease (and many other chronic conditions) can indeed be reversed with a plant based diet. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD, a physician and researcher at the best cardiac center in the country, The Cleveland Clinic, treated 18 patients with established coronary disease using a whole food, plant-based diet. Not only did the intervention stop the progression of the disease, but 70 percent of the patients saw an opening of their clogged arteries. Dr. Dean Ornish, a graduate of Harvard Medical School, completed a similar study with consistent results.
It’s not just heart disease that respond to a whole food, plant-based diet, the research showed it may also help protect you from cancer, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune diseases, bone, kidney, eye, and brain diseases.
This makes total sense. As I always tell my clients and those who attend my health talks, your body is making new cells all the time as the old cells die. If you take in good nutrients to build your new cells, you have a good chance of reversing any chronic conditions. And the downside? None.
The takeaway is simple: Make sure you have at least 5-7 servings of vegetables everyday to stay healthy for life.
I myself have been consuming FitLine PowerCocktail daily for more than 6 years now. I find it's such an easy and tasty way to keep my immune system strong and healthy. Email me at asiafitline@gmail.com for more information.
I myself have been consuming FitLine PowerCocktail daily for more than 6 years now. I find it's such an easy and tasty way to keep my immune system strong and healthy. Email me at asiafitline@gmail.com for more information.
