Jesús Francisco García-Gavilán
Researcher in the Food, Nutrition, Development, and Mental Health group, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Rovira i Virgili University
This study analyzed the impact of the Planetary Health Diet (PHD), a dietary pattern that seeks to improve health and achieve greater environmental sustainability, on the risk of overall mortality, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes using data from two large cohorts, one from the US and one from the UK. To reinforce their findings, the authors also conducted a meta-analysis of all studies published to date on the subject.
The results confirm the importance of nutrition in reducing the risk of chronic disease and mortality and reflect a change in eating habits: younger people tend to consume more red meat and dairy products, with potentially negative consequences for their health, longevity, and the environment.
Beyond the numbers, the PHD is a pattern that seeks to combine harmony and balance. Those who most closely follow this type of diet not only reduce their risk of disease, but also show a more favorable health profile from the outset: lower body mass index, lower prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, and a lifestyle more aligned with prevention and health.
Interestingly, unlike other diets, energy consumption was not reduced in the PHD. Participants with a higher PHD consumed more calories, but from foods with higher nutritional density, such as legumes, whole grains, nuts, and vegetables that promote better nutrition and a more habitable planet.
Among its limitations, it should be noted that dietary data were collected only at the beginning of the studies and that cohorts are not always representative of the general population, which requires some caution in interpreting the results. Even so, this study provides further evidence to emphasize that a balanced, varied diet rich in nutrients and quality foods (not just red meat and dairy products) not only reduces the risk of chronic diseases and mortality, but also protects the health of the planet and, therefore, that of future generations.