The China Study (2005), by Dr. T. Colin Campbell, is a provocative and influential exploration of the relationship between diet and chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Supported by extensive scientific data, the book highlights how a diet rich in animal-based proteins contributes significantly to various health issues, advocating instead for a vegan lifestyle to maintain optimal health. The study has garnered recognition from The New York Times as the "Grand Prix of epidemiology" and the most comprehensive investigation ever conducted on diet-related disease risks. It also addresses the nutritional confusion fostered by powerful lobbying groups, government institutions, and biased scientific interests.
Dr. T. Colin Campbell, Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University, is best known for authoring The China Study, a groundbreaking work linking diet to chronic disease. Raised on a dairy farm, Campbell originally studied veterinary medicine before earning a PhD in nutritional science and biochemistry. With over 40 years at the forefront of nutrition research, his work has shaped the discourse on plant-based diets and public health.
His son, Dr. Thomas M. Campbell II, a board-certified family physician and expert in obesity medicine, carries forward this legacy. He co-founded the Program for Nutrition in Medicine at the University of Rochester and serves as director there and at the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. Through both clinical work and research, Thomas explores the impact of plant-based nutrition on chronic illness, helping individuals and groups transform their health through diet and lifestyle changes.