The China Study: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss, and Long-Term Health
What if everything you thought you knew about nutrition was wrong?
Dr. T. Colin Campbell spent over four decades at the forefront of nutrition research. As a professor at Cornell University, he led the China-Cornell-Oxford Project, one of the most comprehensive studies of diet and disease ever conducted.
After examining the eating habits and health outcomes of thousands of people across rural China, Campbell uncovered a powerful connection between animal protein consumption and chronic disease. Heart disease, diabetes, and cancer showed striking links to what we put on our plates.
This book presents decades of peer-reviewed research in clear, accessible language. You will discover why a whole food, plant-based diet may hold the key to preventing and even reversing many of today's deadliest conditions.
With over 2 million copies sold and translations into more than 50 languages, this book has transformed how millions think about food and health.
Interesting Facts
Father And Son Collaboration: T. Colin Campbell wrote this book with his son, Thomas M. Campbell II, who is a physician. The original edition was published in January 2005, and the revised and expanded edition came out in December 2016.
Two Million Copies Sold: The China Study has sold over 2 million copies worldwide. It has been translated into more than 50 languages, making it one of the best-selling nutrition books ever published.
The Grand Prix of Epidemiology: The New York Times called the underlying research project the "Grand Prix of epidemiology." The study collected data on 367 variables from 6,500 adults across 65 rural Chinese counties.
Campbell Grew Up On Dairy Farm: T. Colin Campbell grew up on a dairy farm and consumed meat and dairy at every meal as a child. He went to college to learn how to grow animals faster for more protein. His own research would later lead him to abandon dairy entirely.
Plant Protein Showed Different Results: When Campbell's team tested plant proteins like gluten and soy at 20% levels, they did not promote cancer development. This contrasted sharply with the cancer-promoting effects of animal proteins at the same concentration.
A Surprising Discovery: While working in the Philippines in the 1960s, Campbell discovered something puzzling. The children dying from liver cancer came from the wealthiest families who ate the most protein. This observation contradicted everything he believed about nutrition.
Bill Clinton Adopted The Diet: Former President Bill Clinton became a supporter of the plant-based approach after experiencing a heart attack. The book influenced his decision to adopt a predominantly plant-based diet for his health.
Chinese Population Provided Unique Opportunity: China in the 1980s presented researchers with ideal conditions because the population tended to live in the same area all their lives and consume the same regional diets. Their low-fat, high-fiber, plant-heavy diets contrasted sharply with Western eating patterns, allowing meaningful comparisons.
Featured In Documentary Films: Campbell appears in several documentary films including Forks Over Knives, Planeat, Vegucated, and PlantPure Nation. These films helped amplify the book's message about whole food, plant-based nutrition to broader audiences.
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