According to a recent study by the Lancet Commission, eating a plant-based diet that includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables along with moderate amounts of foods like poultry and eggs can improve human health and lower the risk of chronic diseases while also maintaining the planet’s health and reducing its impact on climate change and biodiversity loss. The analysis demonstrated that the world’s most pressing issues, ranging from rapid climate change and biodiversity loss to chronic diseases and growing inequality, are mostly caused by food systems.
Additionally, it was discovered that the production of food contributes significantly to environmental degradation, contributing almost 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn causes climate change, biodiversity loss, land use change, freshwater consumption, nutrient pollution, and the introduction of new substances like pesticides and antibiotics. A clear, scientifically supported goal for a sustainable, healthful, and equitable food future was provided by the Planetary Health Diet (PHD), a flexible, plant-rich dietary framework. The plant-rich, healthy diet, alongside global initiatives to halve food loss and waste, can enhance public health and ensure sufficient food for a projected population of 9.6 billion by 2050.
The analysis indicates that adjusting global food systems and diets might prevent around 15 million premature deaths annually by reducing chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. The proposed plant-rich diet includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, with moderate animal-sourced foods, while limiting sugars, saturated fats, and salt. This diet is linked to a 27% lower risk of premature death related to improved health outcomes, marking a significant reduction in the prevalence of major chronic diseases.
