According to researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Planetary Health Diet (PHD) can help individuals reduce their risk of premature death and reduce their environmental impact. Climate change has a significant impact on the sustainability of food systems, which leads to poor diet quality and increased risk of adverse health events such as heart disease, cancer and lung disease. By adopting dietary patterns with high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, and moderate intakes of animal-based products and ultra-processed foods, individuals can reduce the burden of chronic disease while promoting planetary health.1
By adopting a dietary pattern with high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds and moderate intakes of animal-based products and ultra-processed foods, individuals can reduce the burden of chronic diseases as well as promote planetary health. Image credit: © peangdao – stock.adobe.com
Proper nutrition is a key determining factor for the prevention and management of long-term health conditions, and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods has poor consequences for individual health. Ultra-processed foods are made from high-yielding plant species, such as corn, wheat, soy, and oilseed crops, which require significant amounts of land and water. Additionally, the predominance of cultivation of these crops limits the cultivation of other plants, severely affecting biodiversity and the nutritional quality of food.1
Ultra-processed foods are linked to a number of health effects, including increased risk of cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, and diabetes.2 The PHD follows a flexible framework that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and grains, with modest consumption of ultra-processed foods to promote health and environmental sustainability. A typical plate consists of 50% fruits and vegetables, 25% whole grains and 25% plant and animal-based protein sources, providing essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which are important for preventing and combating chronic diseases.3
Researchers evaluated health data from more than 150,000 women from the Nurses' Health Study and Nurses' Health Study 2, as well as 47,274 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. Participants did not have cancer, diabetes or major CVD at baseline and completed dietary questionnaires every 4 years for up to 34 years. Researchers determined adherence to PHD based on intake scores for 15 food groups, including whole grains, vegetables, poultry and nuts.4,5
Results showed that higher adherence to the PHD was associated with a reduced risk of death from CVDs (HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.81, 0.91), cancer (HR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.95), respiratory disease (HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.48, 0.59), and neurodegenerative disease (HR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.78). Researchers also observed a 30% reduced risk of premature death among the top 10% of participants who most closely followed the diet.4
Additionally, individuals with higher adherence to PHD had significantly lower environmental impacts, including 29% lower greenhouse gas emissions, 21% lower fertilizer needs, and 51% lower cropland use.5
These findings highlight the dual benefits of PHD, demonstrating its potential to reduce the risk of premature death from chronic diseases while also reducing the environmental impact of food production. As the global population continues to grow and climate change puts further pressure on agricultural resources, adopting dietary patterns such as PHD is becoming increasingly important to ensure long-term health and environmental sustainability. Evidence supports a shift towards diets that balance human nutritional needs with the planet's ecological limits, paving the way for a healthier future for both people and planet.
Reference
- Leite FHM, Khandpur N, Andrade GC, et al. Ultra-processed foods must be at the centre of global food systems conversations and action on biodiversity. BMJ Globe HealthMarch 2, 2022. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2021-008269
- The many health risks of processed foods. Workers' Health and Safety Fund of North America. Accessed June 18, 2024. https://lhsfna.org/the-many-health-risks-of-processed-foods/#:~:text=Heavily%20processed%20foods%20often%20include,Lacking%20in%20nutritional%20value
- Planetary health diet linked to lower risk of death from cancer, heart disease. Medical News TodayJune 10, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2024. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/planetary-health-diet-linked-to-lower-risk-of-death-from-cancer-heart-disease
- Bui L, Pham T, Wang F, et al. Planetary Health Diet Index and risk of total and cause-specific mortality in three prospective cohorts. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition10 June 2024. doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.03.019
- Planetary health diet linked to lower risk of premature death, less environmental impact. EurekAlert! June 10, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1046921