[LifeStyle] What is the best diet to maintain biodiversity and improve our health?

[#Steeven.™]

Our choice of diet has major consequences for the environment and climate change.

With drought and disease threatening food systems, it is crucial that we try to make a difference with what we eat.

Luckily, the diet that is most conducive to biodiversity and food security is one that you are probably familiar with.

According to a study published last month, following this diet can combat "the double burden of climate change and noncommunicable diseases."

 

How do our food choices affect the environment?
The world po[CENSORED]tion is projected to increase to 10.9 billion by the end of the century. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that food production will need to increase by almost 50% to meet demand.

This is likely to hamper sustainable growth and put pressure on natural resources.

According to a new study published in Advances in Nutrition, today's agricultural and food systems "are considered one of the main drivers of environmental degradation and climate change."
The Greek scientists responsible for the study add that agricultural production occupies approximately 40% of the world's land. Livestock and the cultivation of livestock feed account for 75% of all agricultural land.

Therefore, the use of irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides could cause the depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation, the researchers say.

"In addition, food production constitutes the main consumer of freshwater and is responsible for up to 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions."

 

What diet is better for the environment?
Faced with this critical situation, the study has analyzed the relative benefits of the different diets for sustainable development and food security.

The scientists, drawn from various Greek universities and institutions, compared the Mediterranean diet with the "Western-type" diets of Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Sweden.

His research concluded that the Mediterranean diet is the best for our planet. Used in countries like Italy, Cyprus and Greece, it turned out to be the most favorable for biodiversity and diversity of food plants.

 

The Mediterranean diet is the best for biodiversity
The Mediterranean diet is rich in foods of plant origin, such as vegetables, fruits and cereals, although it varies greatly from one country to another. It is also usually low in the consumption of animal products.

This means that it has advantages for our health, such as reducing the risk of chronic diseases, as well as a low environmental impact.

The study showed that agricultural biodiversity and diversity in varieties and species of food plants were higher in the Mediterranean diet than in Western-type dietary patterns.

The researchers also found that the diet "is associated with lower greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, land use, and energy needs."

The Western diet - which scientists say contains a lot of meat, dairy and processed foods - is based on agricultural production methods that "damage ecosystems, increase the use of fossil fuels and increase greenhouse gas emissions."

The study concludes that adopting the Mediterranean diet could help establish a more biodiverse environment and put less pressure on natural resources.

 

How to follow a Mediterranean diet
To follow a Mediterranean diet, you should make fruits and vegetables your staple foods, along with whole grains like oatmeal, rice, and whole wheat bread.

Legumes like kidney beans, lentils, and chickpeas are a great source of protein. You should also include healthy fats like olive oil and avocados.

Foods to cut back on are processed meat, such as sausages and hot dogs, and refined grains, such as white bread.

The Mediterranean diet is also low in highly processed foods, such as convenience foods, and products with added sugar, such as soft drinks.

 

https://es.euronews.com/green/2023/04/07/cual-es-la-mejor-dieta-para-mantener-la-biodiversidad-y-mejorar-nuestra-salud