Khaberni - New analyses have shown that following a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in meat and dairy products could prevent about 15 million deaths worldwide annually.
The "Eat-Lancet 2025" committee confirmed that what is known as the "Healthy Food System for the Planet" is associated with a 27% reduction in the risk of early death, in addition to reducing rates of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, according to the "Daily Mail.
Dietary System Components
The system mainly consists of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes such as lentils and beans, with moderate or small amounts of fish, dairy products, and meats.
Whole grains: 150 grams daily (3–4 servings)
Fruits and vegetables: 500 grams daily (at least 5 servings)
Nuts: 25 grams daily (one serving)
Legumes: 75 grams daily (one serving)
Animal products: Red meats (up to 200 grams weekly), poultry (up to 400 grams weekly), fish (up to 700 grams weekly), eggs (3–4 eggs weekly), and dairy products (up to 500 grams daily).
It is also recommended to reduce added sugars, saturated fats, and salt, primarily found in processed foods.
Experts confirmed that this diet not only contributes to enhancing health, but also reduces the demand for resource-intensive foods such as red meats, which contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing land and water use.
Researchers said: "Currently, all national diets differ from the Healthy Food System for the Planet, but transitioning to this pattern could prevent about 15 million deaths annually and promote a healthy lifespan."
Challenges in Accessing Healthy Food
Despite producing a sufficient amount of food globally, about half of the world's population (about 3.7 billion people) do not have access to reliable healthy food, a clean environment, or sufficient income for living. The study indicated that the richest 30% of the global population are responsible for about 70% of the environmental pressures resulting from food systems.
Call for Government Policies and Achieving Sustainability
Johan Rockström, co-chair of the committee and director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, said: "Transforming food systems represents a significant environmental and social challenge, but it is a fundamental condition for returning to a safe climate system and a healthy planet."
The committee called on governments to take actions to promote healthy food, such as imposing taxes on unhealthy products, providing support for fruits and vegetables, and protecting forests and wetlands to preserve biodiversity.
The findings suggest that if the entire world transitions to the Healthy Food System for the Planet, along with strong climate policies, greenhouse gas emissions could decrease by more than half, equivalent to removing emissions from all coal-powered energy stations globally.
