It is just that person should consume healthy diets in order to meet the UN sustainable development goals and to save the coming generation from malnutrition and diseases in the future. And for this, EAT-lancet Commission has all the world leading scientists to define healthy food, planet, and health with a sustainable diet. They have also published a report study that prescribes the ideal diet that one must consume to remain fit and healthy.

And to have security that 10 million netizens on the planet should survive till 2050, the commission has recommended consumption of 35 percent of calories approximately as whole grains and tubers, protein sources mainly from plants. It has also 14 grams of red meat per day and 500 grams per day of vegetables and fruits.

Prof. Walter Willett, MD Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health told that “Global consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes will have to double, and consumption of foods such as red meat and sugar will have to be reduced by more than 50%.”

The research report that was made, involved the contributions of 37 leading scientists and 16 countries noted that a rich diet in plant-based foods and fewer animal source foods improves health. Here is every single detail about the sustainable diet that you should consume:

1. A healthy sustainable diet should be consist of a good share of nuts and legumes, whole grains, plant-sourced protein followed by a very small amount of animal sourced protein which can include eggs, fish, poultry, beef, lamb and pork.

2. The research report prescribes n intake of 2500 kcal/day which includes 811 calories of whole grains like rice, wheat, and corn. 291 and 284 calories of nuts and legumes respectively followed by 354 calories of unsaturated oil. Whereas starchy vegetables and tubers like potatoes and cassava should not be consumed in a large quantity with an average of only 39 calories a day.

3. The diet report suggested a limited intake of red meat and starchy vegetables. It emphasized the consumption of fish, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and nuts. Dairy products and eggs are optional on a sustainable diet.

4. It suggested a reduction in food losses and waste which is followed by the improvement in food production practices.

5. According to Prof. Johan Rockström Ph.D. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research & Stockholm Resilience Centre, “Global food production threatens climate stability and ecosystem resilience. It constitutes the single largest driver of environmental degradation and transgression of planetary boundaries.”

6. There are strategies made that are needed to be followed for a great food transformation. These included efforts to reach a sustainable diet by making the food healthy and more accessible.

7. The Agriculture and fisheries should not only produce calorie food for feeding the population, rather it should include a diversity of foods that nurture human health.

8. The present global food system needs a new agricultural revolution that is having sustainable intensification and driven by sustainability and system innovation.

9. It is reported that the food system should stay in safe operating hands. Therefore technological solutions have been made for the supply of the food chain and implementation of public policies are required in order to achieve an overall 50% reduction in global food loss and waste as per the targets of the SDGs.

It is very important to adopt a healthy diet and prevent approximately 11 million human deaths every year.

Published by Isha Kataria on 18 Jan 2019