Can the New 'Planetary Health Diet' Save the Environment?
Scientists have unveiled a new diet plan that aims to jointly solve two of humanity's most pressing problems - poor nutrition and climate change - by transforming the way the world eats. Dubbed the “planetary health diet” by its authors, the eating plan promotes a focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans while cutting back on meat and sugar.
The planetary health diet promotes eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes while cutting red meat consumption in half and cutting back on sugar. (Image: Enrique Díaz / 7cero/Moment/GettyImages)The planetary health diet may sound similar to other healthy eating plans - like a vegetarian diet or the popular Mediterranean diet - but this way of eating promises some serious side benefits for the planet: a “radical transformation” of our current global food system to avert environmental catastrophe, according to its authors, and the prevention of millions of deaths worldwide.
“Humanity is facing a huge crisis today in terms of environment but also in terms of human health and well-being,” said Walter Willett, one of the report's lead authors, at the report's launch event in Oslo, Norway.
Along with his co-authors, Willett - a professor of epidemiology and nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School - calls the proposed plan a “win-win” diet, meaning it's both environmentally sustainable and healthy. “We are not talking about a deprivation diet here; we are talking about a way of eating that can be healthy, flavorful and enjoyable,” said Willett.
But what is the planetary health diet all about - and can it really help us collectively save our planet Earth while also helping our own health?
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What is the planetary health diet?
Last week, a group of 37 researchers from 16 countries released the report - published in The Lancet medical journal and co-commissioned by EAT, a food systems-focused nonprofit based in Stockholm, Sweden - that provides a framework for a diet that promotes sustainable food systems and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all in an effort to fight global climate change. Ambitious, sure - but it's also critical, say its authors, who are a mix of experts specializing in fields like agriculture, political science, nutrition, and the environment.
“Current dietary trends, combined with projected population growth to about 10 billion by 2050, will exacerbate risks to people and planet,” the report states. “The global burden of non-communicable diseases is predicted to worsen and the effects of food production on greenhouse-gas emissions, nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, biodiversity loss, and water and land use will reduce the stability of the Earth system.”
Their solution is the planetary health diet, a largely plant-based way of eating that allows an average of 2,500 calories a day. The general guidelines call for doubling the global intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans and other legumes, while cutting in half the current intake of both red meat and sugar.
Limiting the consumption of fish, eggs, refined grains and some starches is also recommended. But for specific areas of the world, guidelines are more clearly defined: North Americans should eat 84 percent less red meat but six times more beans and lentils, for instance.
Read more: 11 Easy Lifestyle Shifts You Can Make Toward a 'Flexitarian' Way of Eating
In more practical terms, the diet allows one burger and two servings of fish a week as well as one or two eggs. One glass of milk a day, or some cheese or butter, is recommended; most protein, however, comes from pulses (beans, peas and seeds) and nuts.
“These elements of a healthy diet allow great flexibility because they are compatible with a wide variety of foods, agricultural systems, cultural traditions, and individual dietary preferences,” the report states. “These elements can be combined in various types of omnivore, vegetarian, and vegan diets.”
According to the authors of the report, it's all for good aims: They estimate that if globally adopted, the diet could prevent 11 million deaths per year by 2030 and reduce premature mortality by 19 percent.
Health Benefits of the Planetary Health Diet
Sure, the planetary health diet promotes a more sustainable food supply for the planet while reducing the environmental impact of our collective food choices. But what about the diet's effect on our bodies?
“Eating a diet rich in plant-based foods while reducing animal proteins has been associated with improved health and longevity,” says Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, the author of 2-Day Diabetes Diet. “Adding more of these foods can help you to eat more fiber and take in more beneficial antioxidants and phytochemicals - all of which can help to
That's not all. “Diets rich in high-fat animal proteins have been associated with a greater risk of heart disease and certain cancers such as colon cancer. Reducing animal proteins in the diet, while making sure to meet your protein needs through plant-based sources, may improve health and lower disease risk,” she adds.
The produce department is the jewel in the crown of the supermarket, says one nutritionist. (Image: David Malan/Photographer's Choice/GettyImages)The benefits of plant-based eating don't stop there.
“The produce department is the jewel in the crown of the supermarket,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before You Eat It - Taking You from Label to Table. “Produce is rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, polyphenols, phytonutrients, and all of those other words that most of us may not understand - but we know they're good for us!” she says.
Perhaps you're wondering, can I lose weight on the planetary health diet? The basic answer is: You could. “The bottom line is that there are many reasons to try to make plants the star of the show, with animal proteins playing a supporting role. Although it's true that it's easier to lose weight when plant foods are paramount, this lifestyle is not just about trimming calories,” says Taub-Dix. “It's a way of eating that provides a wide range of nutrients that you cannot get from other foods.”
Read more: 7 Common Weight-Loss Myths Debunked
Planetary Health Diet: How to Get Started
The best part about the planetary health diet is that you don't need to overhaul your current lifestyle - or even the contents of your refrigerator - to get started, say the experts.
“If you find the transition to this diet too dramatic at first, start by making small, simple changes,” says Palinski-Wade. “Try implementing one 'meatless' day per week where you focus on incorporating plant-based protein options such as beans, lentils, and nuts.
Work to reduce the amount of animal protein in your dishes, such as incorporating pureed beans or lentils
Another side benefit? The planetary health diet might just help pad your wallet by cutting down on your grocery bills. After all, we all know the difference in price between buying steak or beef versus a container of lentils or few cans of beans.
“Adopting this eating plan may be more beneficial to your health, the planet, and may ultimately be a cost-saver as well,” agrees Palinski-Wade.
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