Planetary Health Diet is an innovative eating style for enhancing the health of human beings while saving the world. The EAT-Lancet Commission brought this diet forward in 2019 as a solution. The commission researched global food systems and their effects on human health and the environment before developing the diet.
Aim of Planetary Health Diet
The main aim is to establish a sustainable and healthy diet that can sustain 10 billion individuals by 2050 without leading to extensive environmental devastation.
How Planetary Health Diet is Different From Conventional Diets
Differently from conventional diets, the Planetary Health Diet is predominantly a plant-based diet. It focuses on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and unsaturated oils, with restricted red meat, processed meats, added sugars, and refined grains. It is not an absolute vegetarian or vegan diet, but it suggests a major decrease in animal foods, most specifically beef and lamb, which have large environmental impacts.
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Planetary Health Diet Appropriate Age Groups
The Planetary Health Diet is appropriate for all age groups except where they might require special nutritional support. For children, one can have a version modified to include sufficient dairy, protein, and healthy fats for growth. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may also use this diet but with advice from a health practitioner so that they achieve their higher nutritional requirements.
It is especially useful for 20–60-year-olds, whose age group will usually acquire lifestyle diseases like heart disease, diabetes, or being overweight. The elderly can gain from the diet’s focus on plant-based nutrients that enhance heart health, gut health, and overall longevity.
Benefits of the Planetary Health Diet
Better Health: By placing the major focus on plant foods, whole grains, and legumes, the diet decreases chronic disease risk, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.
Weight Control: Fiber-rich foods such as vegetables, fruits, and legumes are very filling and help one easily stay at a healthy weight.
Environmental Gain: Lower red meat and processed food consumption aids in lower greenhouse gas emissions, land and water use, and deforestation.
Sustainable Nutrition: The diet provides a proper balance of vitamins, minerals, protein, and healthy fat, which contributes to overall health with the least possible damage to the environment.
Disadvantages and Challenges of Planetary Health Diet
Cultural Adaptation: Where meat eating is a strong cultural practice in a given locality, it may be hard to abandon it and embrace a largely plant-based food system.
Accessibility and Cost: Fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains are costly or less accessible in some localities, making it hard to keep up.
Nutrient Deficiencies: Reducing animal foods without proper planning may result in deficiencies of vitamin B12, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids. Supplementation might be necessary in some cases.
Lifestyle Adjustment: For individuals with a background of high meat consumption, changing may take some effort, planning, and learning about plant-based options.
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