T. Colin Campbell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
T. Colin Campbell
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Campbell speaking in 2013
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| Born | March 14, 1934 |
| Education | Pennsylvania State University (BS) University of Georgia Cornell University (MS, PhD) |
| Occupation | Nutritional biochemist |
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Notable work
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The China Study (2005) |
| Spouse(s) | Karen Campbell |
| Children | Thomas M. Campbell, Keith E. Campbell, Nelson Campbell (sons) |
Thomas Colin Campbell (born March 14, 1934) is an American biochemist. A biochemist studies the chemistry of living things. He focuses on how what we eat affects our long-term health. He is a professor at Cornell University.
Campbell is well-known for supporting a diet that is low in fat and made of whole foods. This means eating foods that are not highly processed. He also promotes a plant-based diet. He even created the term "Plant-Based diet" in 1980. He has written over 300 research papers and four books. His book The China Study (2005) is one of America's most popular books about nutrition. He also appears in the 2011 documentary Forks Over Knives.
Campbell was a main scientist for the China–Cornell–Oxford Project. This big study started in 1983. It looked at how nutrition is connected to diseases like cancer and heart problems. The New York Times called this study "the Grand Prix of epidemiology". Epidemiology is the study of how diseases spread and how to control them.
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Who is T. Colin Campbell?
T. Colin Campbell grew up on a dairy farm. This was a place where milk and dairy products are produced. He first studied animal medicine at Pennsylvania State University. He earned his bachelor's degree there in 1956.
He then went to the University of Georgia for a year. After that, he studied nutrition and biochemistry at Cornell University. He earned his master's degree in 1958. He also got his Ph.D. in nutrition, biochemistry, and microbiology from Cornell in 1961.
His Work and Discoveries
After his studies, Campbell worked at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). He then spent 10 years at Virginia Tech. In 1975, he returned to Cornell University. He joined their Division of Nutritional Sciences.
He has also advised groups like the American Institute for Cancer Research. He is on the board of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Campbell is famous for his research. This research suggests a link between eating animal protein and developing cancer and heart disease.
He believes that casein, a protein in milk, might be very harmful. He calls it "the most significant carcinogen we consume." A carcinogen is something that can cause cancer.
What is a Plant-Based Diet?
Since about 1990, Campbell has followed a diet that is almost entirely vegan. This means he eats no animal products. He prefers the term "plant-based" over "vegan" or "vegetarian." He feels these terms might suggest something different from his message.
He told the New York Times that we should eat "whole, plant-based foods." He believes our health comes from these foods. He also thinks we should not rely on genes or nutrient supplements for good health.
Sharing Knowledge with Others
Since 1978, Campbell has been part of several expert groups. These groups advise the United States National Academy of Sciences on food safety. He also holds an honorary professor title in China.
He has appeared in several documentaries about diet and health. These include Forks Over Knives and PlantPure Nation. His son, Nelson Campbell, produced PlantPure Nation.
Campbell also started the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies. This group teaches people about the whole food, plant-based diet. The Center works with eCornell to offer online courses. Campbell is the president of the Center's board.
