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2011/12/02 3:07 PM

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The Great Protein VS Plant debate

The Great Protein VS Plant debate

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Dr Colin Campbell, Professor Emeritus at Cornell University and one of the most respected nutritional biochemists in the world, was the key note speaker at South Africas first ever International Health Conference hosted by Fedhealth in both Johannesburg and Cape Town. His message was clear and powerful - change your diet and dramatically reduce your risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Campbell, who has devoted his life to studying the correlation between diet and disease and is best known for his Grand Prix study The China Study the most comprehensive study of its type ever undertaken discussed the frightening relationships between disease and animalbased foods. He provided some invaluable insights dispelling a multitude of health myths and misinformation and convincingly proved how a plant-based diet can in fact reverse many of the lifestyle symptoms experienced in the Western World. With the key message being disease is linked to diet and lifestyle, the overwhelmingly positive message projected was that if this is indeed the case, then it is lifestyle and diet that can reverse the pattern of disease in our country. In a country where we spend more per capita on healthcare than is acceptable, where two thirds of our population are overweight and where an unacceptably high percentage of people suffer from diabetes, cholesterol, heart disease and cancer, it would appear that the findings of this study may assist in reversing the downward spiral and should at least provide some food for thought. In the case of cancer, for example, it was found that by simply lowering the amount of protein in our diet from 20% to 5% of total calories consumed, there is a rapid and comprehensive effect on many mechanisms that lead to more health and less disease. The study showed that all proteins are not alike, and this is key. A study conducted using soy protein, gluten protein and then animal protein, Casein, which is found in 87% of cows milk protein, found conclusively that the former two proteins did not react in the same way as Casein, even when they were fed at the 20% level. Throughout the research a consistent pattern developed showing that nutrients from animal-based foods increased tumour development while nutrients from plant-based foods decreased tumour development. Campbell cited a number of studies where similar positive outcomes had been proved.
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Odyssey Magazine

2011/12/02 3:07 PM

The big question is so why with all this overwhelming evidence that a plant-based eating plan can make such a fundamental difference to ones health, are more people not embracing this way of thinking? Campbell says the answer is really quite simple. He says when it comes to nutritional information and education the problem is that very little of the nutritional information that makes it to the public consciousness is soundly based in science. The China Study attempts to redefine how we think about nutrition information, eliminate confusion, make health simple and base claims on evidence generated by peerreviewed nutrition research published in peer-reviewed professional publications. All of the information contained in the study can be whittled down into eight core principles which can assist people to live longer, healthier and disease-free lives. Principle 1: nutrition represents the combined activities of countless food substances. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The nutrients we get from the foods we eat are engaged in a series of reactions that work together to produce good health. Our bodies have evolved with this complex network of reactions in order to derive maximal benefit from whole foods, as they appear in nature. Promoting the virtues of one specific nutrient is too simplistic. Our bodies have learnt how to benefit from the nutrients in food as they are packaged in nature, by using some and discarding others as they see fit. Principle 2: Vitamin supplements are not a panacea for good health Because nutrition operates as an infinitely complex biochemical system involving thousands of chemicals, it makes little sense that isolated nutrients taken as supplements can substitute for whole foods and may in fact cause unforeseen side effects. Principle 3: There are virtually no nutrients in animal-based foods that are not better provided by plants Plant foods have dramatically more antioxidants, fiber and minerals than animal food. There are only four nutrients and nutrient like substances which animalbased foods have as opposed to plant-based foods. These include cholesterol and vitamins A, D and B12.Three of these are non essential nutrients and are made by our body naturally Vitamin A from Betacarotene, Vitamin D from sun exposure and cholesterol. Vitamin A and D are toxic if consumed in high amounts hence better to absorb them naturally. Vitamin B12 is made by microorganisms found in soil. Unfortunately, in our sanitised world we live in we may not get enough of this specific vitamin and this may be a supplement exclusion. However our bodies hold a three year store of B12, so only a small supplement would be necessary. Principle 4 Genes do not determine disease on their own. Nutrition plays a critical role in determining which genes, good and bad, are expressed. If the bad genes are not activated or expressed, they remain biochemically dormant. So while genes give us our predispositions, we all have different disease risks. Knowing how to control these risks and expressing the right genes is dependent on providing our bodies with the best possible environment ie the best possible nutrition. Principle 5 Nutrition can substantially control the adverse effects of noxious chemicals There is a widely held perception that cancer is caused by toxic chemicals we end up eating. The reality is that these chemicals can mostly or even entirely be controlled by nutrition. Principle 6 The same nutrition that prevents disease in its early stages (before diagnosis) can also halt or reverse disease in its later stages (after diagnosis) Chronic diseases take several years to develop and an ounce of prevention
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Odyssey Magazine

2011/12/02 3:07 PM

Chronic diseases take several years to develop and an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure. Fortunately good nutrition can maximise health at every stage of a disease. Principle 7 Nutrition that is truly beneficial for one chronic disease will support health across the board. The same good nutrition will generate health and prevent diseases across the board. There are no catchy formulas for different diseases. Quite simply you can maximise health for diseases across the board with one simple diet. Principle 8 Good nutrition creates health in all areas of our existence. All parts are interconnected. Our food choices have an incredible impact not only on our metabolism, but also on the initiation, promotion and even reversal of disease, on our energy, on our physical activity, on our emotional and mental wellbeing and on our world environment. All of these seemingly separate spheres are intimately interconnected. So from a study that started off narrowly focused on diet and cancer in rats then grew into an ever expanding universe of questions about human and societal health around the world, The China Study has managed to reduce public confusion regarding food and health. We can now view science more intelligently and ask better questions because we finally have a sound framework relating nutrition to health indeed good food for thought! concludes Campbell.

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