Eating a diet consisting mostly of fruits, vegetables, and whole foods is not only good for the planet, but it can also be good for your health.
“The Planetary Health Diet was designed by the EAT-Lancet Commission to try to see how, at a global level, we can design a diet that meets people's nutritional needs,” says Maya Vadivelo, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Department of Nutrition, University of Rhode Island.
“But we must also address the issues we see with the increasing proportion of animal-origin foods and how (production) contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and other signs that can negatively impact the health of the planet.”
A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the risk of premature death was 30% lower for people who followed the Planetary Health Diet compared to those who did not.
Whole-food and plant-based diets, like the Planetary Health Diet, “tend to be nutrient-dense, so they end up being an important source of antioxidants and macro- and micronutrients that are ideal for the body,” says Vadivelo, who wasn't. t participate in the study.
The study found that dieters also contributed 29% to greenhouse gas emissions.
“One cow produces between 154 and 264 pounds of methane annually,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That number only doubles when you consider that 1.5 billion head of cattle are raised specifically for meat production, meaning at least 231 billion pounds of methane emissions enter the atmosphere from beef production from cows alone, the agency said.
How does the Planetary Health Diet compare to other diets?
But what makes the planetary health diet different from other popular eating patterns like the Mediterranean diet or the heart-healthy DASH diet?
“The basics between the patterns are similar. They're higher in whole fruits and vegetables, which are actually the key to almost every heart-healthy pattern, as well as whole grains, nuts and seeds,” Vadivelo says.
However, there are some differences between eating styles.
Vadivelo points out that the DASH diet “allows for the consumption of higher amounts of animal-source foods, including low-fat dairy and poultry. Perhaps in higher amounts than the Planetary Health Diet, because it does not specifically look at the health of the planet.”
She adds that the Planetary Health Diet also places more restrictions on total fat consumption than the DASH diet.
In general, Vadivelo says the Mediterranean diet doesn't focus on dairy products. The popular diet places greater emphasis on unsaturated fat components such as olive oil and fish than the planetary health diet.
“The other consistent thing is (in) all of these patterns, Mediterranean, DASH, planetary, that there is no contradiction around reducing sources of added sugars, reducing sources of solid fats, like saturated fats, trans fats in coconut oil and animal sources,” he notes. Vadivelu.
She stresses that the best thing you can do to eat for good health is to add more whole foods to your diet, especially fruits and vegetables; This corresponds to the three health patterns. In addition, it is highly recommended to limit your consumption of ultra-processed foods.
“We can say that the vast majority of ultra-processed foods are high in added sugars, refined grains, and saturated fats, all the things that each one of these patterns says they limit,” Vadivelo says.
“Make your pattern rich in whole foods, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds (and) legumes.”
Do you want to be a successful and confident communicator? Take CNBC's new online course Becoming an Effective Communicator: Mastering Public Speaking. We'll teach you how to speak clearly and confidently, calm your nerves, what to say and what not to say, and body language techniques to make a great first impression. Register today and use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory 30% discount through July 10, 2024.
Plus, sign up for the CNBC Make It newsletter for tips and tricks for success in business, money, and life.
