Conclusion
The China Study is a scholarly and well-written book. It recommends reducing the intake of animal foods, processed foods, and refined grains, and composing the diet entirely of unrefined plant foods. Reducing intake of some of these foods, such as processed meat and refined grains, are likely to lead to overall improvements in health.
We evaluated three of the book’s key scientific claims and found that they were not very well supported overall. After consulting the original data and having it analyzed by a professional statistician, we conclude that a large study in China that The China Study is named after does not support the book’s claims. We did find the claim that a whole food plant-based diet reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease fairly convincing.
The China Study generally cites references accurately and this is reflected in its high reference accuracy score. It received a middling score for healthfulness because although the diet will likely reduce the risk of obesity and some chronic diseases, it may also increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies unless carefully composed.
The diet would be difficult to implement and maintain for most people due to its extreme nature, yet it may be worth considering for people at high risk of cardiovascular disease.
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