The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-term Health

by T. Colin Campbell
The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-term Health cover
Good Books rating 2.85
Technical:
  • ID: 938
  • Added: 2025-09-23
  • Updated: 2025-09-23
  • Reviews: 2
Reviews
audible.co.uk · Unknown · 2025-09-24
mixed 3.20

The China Study argues for a whole food, plant-based diet to combat health issues like cancer and cardiovascular disease, but its scientific claims are not consistently supported. While there is evidence that such a diet can reduce cardiovascular disease risk, the book's claims about animal foods causing cancer are not well-supported.

The China Study by T. Colin Campbell and Thomas Campbell II promotes a low-protein, very-low-fat, very-high-carbohydrate diet based entirely on unrefined plant foods to address health problems like cancer and coronary heart disease. The book's central claims are not consistently scientifically accurate. While there is fairly compelling evidence that a whole food, plant-based diet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the claim that animal foods are a major cause of cancer is not well-supported. The book's reliance on a large observational study in China does not hold up under scrutiny, and important evidence is omitted. However, the diet may still be worth considering for those at high risk of cardiovascular disease, though it may also increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies if not carefully composed.

Quick quotes

    The claim that a whole food plant-based diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease is fairly well supported.

    The claim that animal foods play a key role in cardiovascular disease and cancer is not very well supported.

    The diet may also increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies unless carefully composed.

redpenreviews.org · Unknown · 2019-06-29
critical 2.50

The China Study is praised for its comprehensive research on nutrition and its critique of the American diet, but criticized for its extreme conclusions and lack of justification for recommending a 10% plant-only protein diet. The review notes that the study's findings on life expectancy and disease rates are not fully supported by the data.

The China Study is commended for its extensive research and valid criticism of the American diet, which is linked to various health issues. The authors correctly highlight the potential of good nutrition to prevent diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, and critique modern medicine's failures. However, the review questions the study's extreme conclusions, such as the recommendation of a 10% plant-only protein diet, which is not fully supported by the data. The comparison between a 20% and 5% protein diet is deemed ridiculous, and the study's failure to address the health issues of animals and people who consume only plants is noted. Additionally, the review points out that life expectancy in China is lower than in the U.S., despite the study's recommendations. The high iodine intake in Japan is suggested as a possible factor for its longer life expectancy compared to China.

Quick quotes

    The Campbells correctly criticize the American diet with its junk fast food, widely advertised in such otherwise reputable publications as NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC and FAMILY DOCTOR.

    Comparing the effect of a 20% protein diet with a 5% protein diet is, a ridiculous argument.

    Gosh, eat only plants and die 7 years earlier!

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