The China Study by Thomas Campbell

154 TH E CH I NA STU DY

CHART 7.3: BLOOD CHOLESTEROL ON HIGH-CARBOHYDRATE,

HIGH-FIBER DIET

CONTROL I HCF DIET

(High-Carbohydrate,

High-Fiber Diet) N = 14

V1

~ (^100) Type 1 Patients
e
1: o CHOLESTEROL
u
'0 80

R. o
60~------~------~------~------~-----
-6 a 6 12 18
Days
58% fewer cases of diabetes than the control group. The drug group re-
duced the number of cases only by 31 %. Compared to the control, both
treatments worked, but clearly a lifestyle change is much more power-
ful and safer than simply taking a drug. Moreover, the lifestyle change
would be effective in solving other health problems, whereas the drug
would not.
The second study also found that the rate of diabetes could be re-
duced by 58% just by modest lifestyle changes, including exercise,
weight loss and a moderately low-fat diet.^23 Imagine what would hap-
pen if people fully adopted the healthiest diet: a whole foods, plant-
based diet. I strongly suspect that virtually all Type 2 diabetes cases
could be prevented.
Unfortunately, misinformation and ingrained habits are wreaking
havoc on our health. Our habit of eating hot dogs, hamburgers and
French fries is killing us. Even Dr. James Anderson, who achieved pro-
found results with many patients by prescribing a near-vegetarian diet,
is not immune to habitual health advice. He writes, "Ideally, diets pro-
viding 70% of calories as carbohydrate and up to 70 gm fiber daily offer
the greatest health benefits for individuals with diabetes. However, these
diets allow only one to two ounces of meat daily and are impractical for
home use for many individuals. "20 Why does Professor Anderson, a very