You are so right; there is a lot of conflicting information out there on nutrition and exercise. That is the whole purpose for my website, blog and upcoming book!  I have read the book “The China Study.”  In a nutshell, I do agree with the author that a whole, unprocessed food diet coupled with physical activity is the best way to achieve a healthy lifestyle. 

It is obvious that the author favors a vegan diet over a more omnivorous diet.  This viewpoint becomes political in the author’s treatment of this subject. I believe the author compromises his research in an effort to push his political agenda and this is a source of confusion. Nutrition and politics are two different subjects.  Avoiding good sources of protein based on political reasons does not provide the body with good nutrition.  Humans are fundamentally designed or at least capable of eating an omnivorous diet. We know there is not one perfect diet that will fit all people.  Some people do better on slightly higher protein diets while other do better on slightly higher carbohydrate diets.  What does appear to be more universal is that if our diet is balanced between all the macronutrients and from whole, unprocessed sources, then a vegan, vegetarian or higher animal protein diet will achieve the same outcome. If you wish to be a vegetarian, be sure and find out how to combine the plant based sources of incomplete proteins so your diet is balanced. If a vegetarian diet is one you enjoy, it will be one you will follow. You still want it to be balanced among fats, carbohydrates and protein.

It is important to get complete proteins from the best sources you can and most nutritionists believe that is from animals and dairy products. As with all types of food sources, there are differing levels of quality.  Small family run  farms tend to produce a high quality product.  They also tend to be more hospitable to the animals.