Planetary health: scientists create a sustainable and healthy diet

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According to the researchers, the diet is ideal for both the health of the planet and its population

A three-year project led by the health magazine, The Lancet, resulted in a diet that, according to researchers, is ideal for both the health of the planet and its population.

Leer en español: Salud planetaria: científicos crean una dieta sostenible y saludable

"Planetary Health" involved more than 37 specialists from 16 countries who, according to the newspaper La Tercera, proposed to reduce the average global consumption of foods such as red meat and sugar by 50% and double the consumption of nuts, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

"More than 800 million people have inadequate food, while many more consume an unhealthy diet that contributes to death and premature disease.If we can not achieve everything, it is better to try to get as close as we can," said Walter Willett of Harvard University.

In addition, according to the publication, other objectives are that the agricultural and livestock sector stop emitting carbon dioxide and drastically reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, limit the use of water, no longer increase the use of land and reduce 50% food waste.

According to the newspaper Marca, the commission concluded that changes from current diets to healthier diets will generate important health benefits that will prevent approximately eleven million deaths per year.

Read also: WHO: 10 health dangers in 2019

"The food we eat and how we produce it determines the health of people and the planet, and we are currently making a serious mistake," explains Tim Lang, a professor at the University of London and one of the leaders in the research. "We need a significant revision, changing the global food system to a level that has not been seen before", he concluded.

This diet states that 1324 grams a day should be consumed, composed as follows:

• Whole milk or derivatives (250 grams)
• Rice, wheat, corn, and other cereals (232)
• Fruits (200)
• Vegetables (300)
• Potatoes and cassava (50)
• All types of sugar (31)
• Fish (28)
• Eggs (13)
• Added harrows (52)
• Legumes (75)
• Nuts (50)
• Chicken and other birds (29)
• Veal, lamb, and pork (14)

However, scientists recognize that the project is extremely ambitious, especially because of the great global inequality in access to food.

Sonja Vermeulen, one of the experts of the Eat-Lancet commission, is quite optimistic: "we have seen huge changes in the world diet in the past, so a change in the future is possible … Many farmers are interested in exploring ways to optimize production, for example using fertilizers or irrigation more precisely, because it also improves their benefits", in statements to El País.

LatinAmerican Post | Luisa Báez
Translated from "Salud planetaria: científicos crean una dieta sostenible y saludable"