The Importance of a Planetary Health Diet in Public Health Nutrition

Abstract

Current dietary patterns, which mostly include unhealthy foods, affects environmental sustainability and public health. With the awareness of the limited resources of the planet and the necessity of using the available resources correctly and providing an environment in which life is possible for current and future generations, nutrition, which is the basic need of human beings, requires sustainability. In 2019, the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems recommended a healthy reference diet which is plant-based, that could meet planetary and human health needs. The planetary health diet, which is an up-to-date approach to sustainable nutrition recommended by the relevant commission, is rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes. It is also a dietary pattern that includes consuming low to moderate amounts of seafood, poultry, red meat, and starchy vegetables. Ensuring adequate and balanced nutrition is essential for preventing noncommunicable chronic diseases that burden public health. It appears that the planetary health diet, which encourages the consumption of foods that will contribute to the protection of health, may have a protective effect on public health by reducing the risk of noncommunicable chronic diseases as well as having a positive environmental impact (such as lowering greenhouse gas emissions and land use). This review aims to examine the role of a planetary health diet in public health nutrition in line with the literature.