The China Study by Thomas Campbell

358 THE CHINA STUDY

diet. This is true even when vegetarians are included in the study be-

cause 90% of vegetarians still consume rather large amounts of milk,

cheese and eggs, while a significant number still consume some fish

and poultry. As is shown in the accompanying chart (Chart B.1),5 there

is only a small difference in the nutritional properties of non-vegetarian

and vegetarian diets as consumed in Western countries.

CHART B.l: VEGETARIAN AND NON-VEGETARIAN DIET

COMPARISONS AMONG WESTERNERS

Nutrient Vegetarian Non-vegetarian

Fat (% of calories) 30-36 34-38

Cholesterol (g/day) 150-300 300-500

Carbohydrates (% of calories) 50-55 <50

Total protein (% of calories) 12-14 14-18

Animal protein (% of total protein) 40-60 60-70

A strikingly different dietary situation existed in China. In America,
15-17% of our total calories is provided by protein, and upwards of 80%
of this amount is animal-based. In other words, we gorge on protein and
we get most of it from meat and dairy products. But in rural China, they
consume less protein overall (9-10% of total calories), and only 10%
of it comes from animal-based foods. This means that there are many
other major nutritional differences in the Chinese and American diets,
as shown in Chart B.2.l

CHART B.2: CHINESE AND AMERICAN DIETARY INTAKES

Nutrient China United States

Calories (kcal/kg body wt./day) 40.6 30.6

Total fat (% of calories) 14.5 34-38

Dietary fiber (g/day) 33 12

Total protein (g/day) (^64 91)
Animal protein (% of total calories) 0.8* 10-11
Total iron (mg/day) 34 18
"Non·fish animal protein