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Is this a planetary diet at all, or will it save the environment?
Table of Contents
1. The planetary diet is the definition
The planetary diet is a solution proposed by scientists at The EAT-Lancet Commission in response to disturbing reports of environmental change and global warming. They sought to gather all the relevant information that would allow for the composition of nutritious and climate-neutral meals. All to reduce the negative impact of food production on the planet. Additionally, the researchers claim that their proposed changes could protect up to 11 million people from premature death.2. The rules of the planetary diet
Of course, this is not about fruits, which are also its source, but rather highly processed foods, such as sweets, sugary products, or ready-made sauces and meals. Its main premise is to reduce meat consumption and animal ingredients. Scientists believe that meat consumption should be reduced by at least half, and it is best to reduce the consumption of sugar and products that contain high amounts of this ingredient. The planetary diet is based on a 77% increase in the total consumption of nutrient sources, which depends on the nutritional content of the fruit and vegetables, but also on the amount of fat and vegetable fats.3. Diet and the environment
Increasing consumerism and demand for food are making the environment increasingly exploited to obtain enough food to meet market needs. The modern food industry is largely consuming natural resources and contributing to climate change, water use and soil degradation. Human health and the state of the planet are interconnected and largely dependent on proper diet and proper food production. One of the major problems is also the current waste of food. The planetary diet assumes that by applying its principles, the amount of water can be reduced by as much as 15 percent.4. The modern diet is dangerous
The modern diet has many negative consequences not only for the environment but also for health. Currently, the number of people affected by malnutrition is about 2 billion, or as many as those suffering from obesity (J. Bylinowska 2019). This shows how poorly food is disposed of. Most modern dietary models are based on the so-called Western diet, which is mostly characterized by increased calorie intake and is based on processed products and a large amount of meat.5. Does the planetary diet have any flaws?
According to them (H. Schübel et al. 2021) scientists have not taken into account all the necessary factors needed to create a nutritional model for the entire world's population. The first allegation is the lack of focus in the report on humans. However, they have been presented only as two groups: food producers and customers, not taking into account that the food industry will interact with other branches of the economy and people will fulfill more functions in them.6. The planetary diet as an element of the fight against climate change
The global food production system is largely over-exploiting the environment, consuming large quantities of water, threatening the future of humanity. Turning to a more plant-based and sustainable food model can help reduce negative climate change. The planetary diet developed by The EAT-Lancet Commission is based on the results of many studies and observations of the environmental impact of the food industry. According to researchers, consumption is also one of the poorest factors affecting both human health and the planet as a whole.
