Diet rich in bad meat for your health and the planet – review

Reducing a diet rich in meat could be beneficial for the planet and beneficial for ourselves, suggests a major international scientific journal.

Published in the journal Science the review notes that the meat offered An important source of nutrients, but consuming large amounts increases the risk of certain types of diseases.

Although other factors such as smoking and obesity may be difficult, large-scale studies of western countries have associated meat intake with higher mortality rates and some diseases.

The review indicated that switching from high meat to more plant diets could even reduce global mortality rates by 6 to 10 percent

. meat production has resulted in more greenhouse gas emissions per unit energy, compared to plant-based foods.

Oxford University researchers also pointed to the overall impacts on water allocation and rainforest. Although changing the meat consumption of the populations is a challenge, they suggest that solutions could reside in environmental certification programs, or "tax interventions" such as higher taxes on meat

. New Zealand's offer of the Impossible Burger Factory has sparked a debate over the future of meat – and a few days before scientists meet in Auckland for a conference exploring the latest news. impact of meat from proteins and self-producing cells.

a senior researcher at the University of Otago, co-author of a recent article on the health benefits of eating less red and processed meat, argued that one regime change could ease pressure on the New Zealand health system. for people to meet their nutritional needs without consuming meat and substantial reductions in meat consumption would have a net positive impact on health. "

Cleghorn noted that the World Cancer Re Research Fund recommends that people who consume red meat consume less than 500g per week, while the Global Burden of Disease Project suggests that people consume no more than 100g per week.

Robert McLachlan, Center for Sustainable Futures The conclusion of the new study that eating processed meat presented a higher risk of bowel cancer – a highly publicized subject I & # 39; last year

"Colon cancer is responsible for 4% of deaths in New Zealand."

As world demand for meat was to double by mid-century, the pressure on meat production to become sustainable was also likely to increase, says McLachlan

"in order to generate joint benefits for health and climate." New Zealand could consider introducing a agricultural tax on greenhouse gases, warning labels on health and sustainability of meat and promotional campaigns to reduce meat consumption. "

McLachlan was encouraged by the fact that red meat consumption in New Zealand had dropped by two-thirds in only a decade, to the point where it was now close to the US and US average. Fiona Greig, chief of beef and lamb nutrition in New Zealand, noted that red meat was a good source of nutrients and that diets low in meat could have adverse health effects. New Zealand boosts beef and lamb provide an effective and sustainable source of nutrients essential for food, which can meet nutrient needs and nutrient deficiencies such as zinc, iron and vitamin B12. "

Greig also pointed to the review's conclusion that the assessment of the environmental impact of diets was complex, given the wide range of systems ag in the world and the food we eat. [19659002] "The review points out that in general, the recommended diets … have lower environmental impact than is usually consumed, mainly due to overconsumption of dietary energy."