Drastic changes in diets around the world could have very positive effects on people's health and the well-being of our planet. An Oxford study says so
Drastic changes in the diet of the whole world (but in particular of that typical of the Western lifestyle) could have very positive effects on people's health and on the well-being of our planet. According to an Oxford study convinced that if the whole world followed a vegan diet they could save 8 million lives by 2050 and drastically reduce harmful emissions in favor of the environment.
To get to express this opinion, the team of experts at the University of Oxford has elaborated and analyzed 4 different scenarios in relation to world eating habits: in the first, current trends are maintained, in the second the consumption of red meat is limited (maximum 300 grams per week) by increasing that of fruit and vegetables, in the third one follows a vegetarian diet, in the fourth one switches to a vegan diet.
The study, published in PNAS, evaluated the impact in terms of health but also on the environment of different eating styles ruling that:
"Switching to a diet based more on the consumption of plant products, as recommended by food guidelines, could reduce global mortality by 6-10% and greenhouse gas emissions from food production by 29-70% by 2050 compared to the estimates of a reference scenario (the one developed by the FAO, ed) "
Limiting the consumption of red meat a lot is a solution that objectively has benefits, experts have come to the conclusion that a diet in which a daily consumption of 5 portions of fruit and vegetables and a maximum of 43 grams of red meat would lead to a reduction of 5,1 million premature deaths every year. But the vegetarian diet is better (-7, 3 million deaths every year) and the vegan diet (-8,1 million deaths).
According to estimates, the deaths would be halved thanks to the less consumption or total exclusion of red meat in favor of an increase in the consumption of vegetables and fruit. This would reduce the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
And what about the environment? The advantages of a diet that greatly limits or excludes proteins of animal origin are already known but this research also confirms that: following a vegetarian or vegan diet will reduce harmful gas emissions 63% in the first case and 70% in the second.
Experts have also estimated i economic benefits for global health systems: we are talking about figures that fluctuate, according to the different countries, between 700 and one trillion dollars a year.
What are we still waiting for? The future wants us to be more respectful of our health, animals and the environment! Here are many vegan recipes to get you started!
Read also:
WHY VEG IS BETTER? THE NUTRITIONAL ADVANTAGES OF A VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN DIET
VEGAN DIET: 5 EASY RECIPES TO GET STARTED
THE SEMI-VEGETARIAN DIET EXTENDS LIFE AND PROTECTS THE HEART
