Comparing Different Diet Plans: The Paleo Diet vs. The China Study

In an age of medical advancement, different studies are pointing a blaming finger on certain foods as the cause of the development of certain diseases. This pushes people to seek new diet plans that they think would help them prevent illnesses that can put their life at stake. It is no surprise that you will find various diet programs that are advertised to the market, promising that it will make you healthier and improve the quality of your life. The problem, however, arises when these diet plans contradict each other, as the case between The Paleo Diet and The China Study. To explain this further, this article will give you a brief rundown of the differences and similarities of the two.

The Paleo Diet got its name from the Paleolithic age, when cavemen roamed the planet. As hunters and gatherer, people at that time relied on lean meat, vegetables, and non-starchy fruits for their food sources. The author of the Paleo Diet, Dr. Loren Cordain, believes that this is how the human body is designed to eat. Processed foods, high carbohydrates, and dairy products, according to the Paleo Diet, are the culprits behind obesity, heart diseases, lowered immunity, diabetes, and other illnesses.

The China Study, on the other hand, all together suggests that you should avoid eating meat, dairy products, and eggs. This is according to Dr. T. Collins Campbell, who authored this diet plan. He believes that if you want to become healthy, you need to change your diet now and only include plant-based foods in it.

As you can see, the main difference between The Paleo Diet and The China Study is their perception regarding the benefits, or lack thereof, of eating meat. Campbell suggests that animal products will just increase a person’s risk of developing life-threatening diseases, like heart problems and cancer. Cordain, on the other hand, allows you to eat meat as long as it is lean meat. This is because lean meat contains less saturated fat and yet it can provide the necessary protein requirement of the body. It goes against Campbell’s premise that eating too much protein is bad for your health. This may confuse most people, but it may help to know that other experts who did the study on protein also disagree with Campbell’s study.

Although these two diet plans disagree on the subject of eating meat, they do agree that eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, and eating less dairy product are necessary for improved over-all health. There is just one minor difference here, which is the choice of fruits and vegetables. The China Study recommends all kinds of fruits and vegetables, while The Paleo Diet only approves the consumption of non-starchy fruits. Too much starch or carbohydrates will spike up the levels of sugar in the blood, which can result to heart disease or diabetes. Dairy products, on the other hand, are high in cholesterol and saturated fat, which could trigger inflammation, affect the immunity, and cause various diseases. 

The point for this comparison is for you to realize that you should study the science before following any diet program. Know more about the studies done that will support their claims. Most of all, consult with your physician before you start a diet program to ensure that you are not compromising your health.