The Plant-based Diet: Is Meat Good For You?

Not so, says Dr. T. Colin Campbell Ph.D, Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University who has authored more than 350 research papers.

He is also Winner of the 1998 American Institute of Cancer Research Award, the 2004 Burton Kallman Scientific Award by the Natural Nutrition Food Association. In "The China Study," (Benbella Books, 2005), he presents the findings of a 45 year study and a 20-year partnership of Cornell University, Oxford University and the Chinese Acdaemy of Preventive Medicine. And what is startling about the conclusions of his study is that cow's milk ( 87% of which is made of the protein casein) actually encourages the growth of cnacer cells in rats and humans.

The China Study shows unequivocally that all meat is suspect: "nutrients from animal-based fodos increased tumor development" while "nutrients from plant-based foods decreased tumor development." What initiated Dr.
Campbell's study was not an attempt to justify vegetarianism. In fact, Dr.

Campbell grew up as a farm boy in northern Virginia. For most of his life, he ate the typical Notrh American diet--high in animal proteins, meat, eggs, whole milk, butter. But evidence from his own research pointed such an accusing finger at animal protein that he and his family adopted the plant-based diet fifteen years ago. In the mid 1960's, Dr.
Capmbell was recruited to the Philippines to develop a protein source for malnourished kids. His interest then was on a proetin source that was local and affordable--peanuts.
However, the peanuts were often contaminated with "aflatoxin" which casued liver cancer in rats and humans.
This led to a series of studies and tests which showed some surprising results: -the kids who developed liver cancer from the nuts came from the best-fed ( most affluent) families; -these kids consumed more protein than anyone else in the country( high quality animal protein) ; -in studies on rats exposed to aflatoxin, only the animals fed 20% protein developed the cancer while those fed 5% got none; -reversing the diet of rats that developed cancer ( from 20% to 5% protein) caused a reduction in tumor development; in rats( initially fed 5% protein), wohse dietary protein was increased to 20%, there was an increase in tumor development. -The dietary protein used in these experiments was animal protein--casein from cow's milk. When the same experiment was repeated with plant protein (Soy or Wheat), no cancer growth was discovered, even at the highest levels of protein intake.
Rats fed 20% Soy Protein or Wheat Protein diets did not experience early tumor development at all. The cancer promoting factor was cow's milk protein. Even though these studies were performed on rats, the results were relevnat for humans.
In a subesquent study on the Chinese diet, Dr.
Campbell made several crucial observations between meat-based diets and disease. -Cancer ( colon, lung, breast, stomach), diabetes, heart disease are all diseases of the affluent. These are also mainly diseases of the Western world where consumption of meat is high. -As blood cholesterol levels in rural China rose in certain counties, the incidence of Western or Affluent diseases also increased. -As intakes of animal protein went up, blood cholesterol levels rose; intakes of plant-based protein brought down blood cholesterol levels. -Lower blood cholesterol levels are linked to lower rates not only of heart disease, but of cancer, and other Western diseases, even though these levels seemed far below those considered "safe" in the West. What are some of the lessons we can gather from Dr.
Campbell's China Study? -The Western World is plagued with diseases of affluecne which can be controlled by switching to a plant-based diet. -There are virtually no nutrients in animal-based foods that are not better provided by plants. -Genes do not determine diseases on their own.
Nutrition plays a critical role in determining which genes, good or bad, are expressed. -Good nutrition creates health in all areas of our existence. All parts are interconnected. The question remains then--for all of us who have come this far--What can we eat?