A planet-friendly diet is linked to lower mortality

Science Editorial, Sep 5 (EFE).- The Planetary Health Diet (PHD) promotes environmentally sustainable consumption, based, among other things, on increasing vegetable intake and reducing dairy products and red meat. This way of eating, the more it is followed, is associated with lower mortality from all causes.

A new article published in Science Advances reinforces evidence from previous research that DSP is good for the planet and human health.

The authors used data from the United States and the United Kingdom and reviewed previous studies, totaling more than 3.2 million people.

Overall, the data showed that those who most strictly followed the DSP had a lower risk of all-cause mortality.

Data from British participants showed that following this type of diet resulted in a lower risk of cancer and lower mortality from respiratory diseases.

A meta-analysis of previous studies indicated that greater adherence to the DSP was associated with a lower risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease, colorectal and lung cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

"Greater adherence to DSP may offer significant health benefits," write the authors, led by Southeast University (China).

The analysis, they add, "highlights the importance of promoting the Planetary Health Diet to improve public health and combat global climate change," and future research should focus more on its application in diverse populations and exploring its environmental benefits.

The 2019 Planetary Health Diet report by the EAT-Lancet Commission, which brought together 37 scientists from 16 countries, is the first attempt to establish universal scientific targets for the food system based on healthy diets and sustainable food systems.

"Global consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes will need to double, and consumption of foods such as red meat and sugar will need to be reduced by more than 50%," the text states.

He adds that "a diet rich in plant-based foods and fewer animal-based foods confers good health and environmental benefits."

To confirm the potential of this diet, a very large and truly representative sample is needed, which is why the researchers used a large amount of data.

The study included data from 42,947 people in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2010, as well as 125,372 participants in the UK BioBank, whose initial assessments began in 2006.

In addition, they conducted a meta-analysis of 37 previously published studies involving 3.2 million people. EFE cr/acm