The book that rocked SmugMug
The last people you’d expect to read a book about diet would be thin, Coke-drinking, bacon and burger-loving young geeks.
But The China Study rocked the house, getting half of SmugMug’s 25 people and 3-dozen of our dearest friends to completely change what we eat. I didn’t dare blog about it for a year because who knew how many people would grow tired of our new diets and quit? Or gain back lost weight…
Amazing, but none of us have. Andy lost 50 pounds and kept it off. Several lost 25, everyone feels better, blood tests improved, and our diabetic friend had his blood sugar drop enough that his doctor reduced his insulin.
I got so fascinated I read a dozen other books and maybe 30 research reports. The books that moved us most were:
The bottom line is most of us now eat mostly plants and some fish. Whole plants, not refined. It sounds awful but my 4 kids and their spouses uncovered yum recipes and our tastes adjusted so we no longer crave the stuff we once ate. We’re not hungry, don’t feel deprived, and we all feel we have the best Christmas and Easter dinners ever.
Well… All but Mark. He’s not so fond of veggies yet. 
And our dogs think we’ve gone insane.
What made The China Study different from a thousand diet books we had always ignored? Data. And compelling peer-reviewed science from people with real scientific stature published in the leading journals.
It’s the most important book I’ve read in 10 years.
February 20th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Thanks for posting this! Also – it was great to see the USAToday coverage on SmugMug this morning! I’m a proud SmugMugger – with a sticker on my car. I’ll look for a cap on the gear page.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
I’m not a smugmug user, but I’m a fan of the company, and an occasional reader of this blog.
After reading your review of the China Study some time ago, I read the book for myself, and was motivated to follow its advice.
I’ve lost almost 60 pounds so far, and though I haven’t gotten a physical yet, I’m sure all of my vital signs are better.
I’ve tried switching to a healtyh lifestyle before, but never found the right path to walk. The differecne with The China Study? Just like you, it was the data.
So, thank you for sharing this. Your blog post perhaps has saved my life.
July 29th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
chris,
after seeing this blog and getting a bloodwork result showing a triglyc. level at 435 (yes – thats walking heart attack level!!)
I bought the book and a friend loaned my their juiceman…
4 months later my tryglc. is down to 169 (”almost “normal”).
I too lived at jack in the box – now its jacks grilled chicken or nothing!
Thanks for pointing me in a new healthy direction…
Rich
ps: I was the guy that at the age of 51 had never peeled an orange or made a salad for myself – I was totally intimidated by the produce section – now thats all behind me – read the china study!!!
February 7th, 2009 at 12:36 am
Wow – what a small world – I only knew about this book because it was published by Benbella books. Benbella published my friend Jodee’s book, and I just got a deal with them and in doing due diligence, I looked up their titles, and this was one of them. It’s nice to know that this book is well-received.
April 7th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I loved the Omnivore’s Dilemma!
You should also read The Botony of Desire, by Michael Pollan.
Marc Parrish