Question

Are all foods created equal in terms of their effect on the environment? Explain.

Discuss the specifics of how you can reduce the negative environmental effects of your diet.

Answer 1

The authors claim that foods purported to be harmful to health, such as red meat, are also harmful to the environment. On the other hand, foods associated with improved health often have low environmental impacts. So, dietary transitions that lower incidences of noncommunicable diseases might also be more environmentally sustainable.

The findings support recent recommendations published in the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report in August, which highlighted the benefits of plant-based foods for both human health and the environment.

The researchers from the University of Minnesota and Oxford University examined 15 foods common in western diets and connected the health impacts of these foods to their overall environmental impact. The foods were then associated with 5 potential health outcomes in adults and 5 aspects of agriculturally driven environmental degradation.

More specifically, the researchers looked at plant-based items including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, potatoes, refined grains and wholegrain cereals, and sugar-sweetened beverages and animal-based foods such as raw and processed red meat, chicken, dairy products, eggs, and fish.

Then using data from previous studies on diet and health outcomes of tens of millions of people, they calculated the increased risk of disease, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer, associated with eating one extra portion of each food per week. And in addition, they assessed the potential environmental harm such as greenhouse gases emissions, water use, and pollution caused by each additional portion of food relative to an equivalent portion of vegetables.