Planetary Health Diet: Saving Lives Through Sustainable Eating

• Nutrition

A recent and ambitious scientific report led by the EAT-Lancet Commission warns that improving global diet quality — shifting toward a more plant-based diet with moderation in animal and processed products — could prevent up to 15 million premature deaths each year.

This highlights the magnitude of the impact of what we eat, not only on individual health but also on collective well-being and planetary sustainability. This article explores the study, its findings, recommendations, and challenges for implementation.

Origin of the study and scientific context

The EAT-Lancet Commission and its background

The EAT-Lancet Commission is an interdisciplinary group bringing together experts in public health, nutrition, agriculture, economics, and climate change. Its first major report, published in 2019, introduced the concept of planetary health diet (PHD), proposing healthier diets that are environmentally sustainable.

In this new 2025 version, researchers updated data and refined models, expanding estimates of lives saved and deepening the connection between healthy diets and planetary boundaries (climate change, biodiversity, water use, pollution, etc.).

Main findings

• Adopting planetary-aligned diets could prevent approximately 15 million premature deaths per year.
• This represents about 27% of premature adult deaths, according to study models.
• Agricultural emissions could decrease by around 15% if food systems were transformed.
• Current diets contribute to planetary degradation, including biodiversity loss, land use changes, nutrient pollution, and water resource pressure.
• Regions with traditional healthy diets (e.g., Mediterranean countries) show higher adherence to the planetary health diet.
• However, many countries are far from optimal adherence.

Previous studies suggested that increasing the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) to 120 (out of ~140) could prevent these 15 million annual deaths.

What is the “planetary health diet”?

To understand this impact, it is important to break down the diet’s principles.

Basic principles

The planetary health diet (PHD) emphasizes:

1. High plant-based content: vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds form the base.
2. Moderate consumption of animal protein: fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs in moderate amounts.
3. Reduced red and processed meat: red meat is occasional, not the main component.
4. Limit added sugar, salt, saturated fats, and ultra-processed foods.
5. Cultural flexibility and local adaptation: not a rigid formula, but a guide adaptable to traditions, availability, and regional preferences.

Practically, the authors suggest a daily portion of dairy, another of non-red animal protein, and red meat limited to once per week.

Expected health benefits

• Reduced cardiovascular disease: heart attacks, strokes, hypertension.
• Lower incidence of type 2 diabetes.
• Reduced risk of certain diet-related cancers.
• Benefits for neurodegenerative diseases and overall longevity.
• Improved quality of life in adulthood and old age.

The study estimated 2.5 million of these avoidable deaths would be cardiovascular, and 0.7 million neurodegenerative.

Planetary and environmental benefits

• Reduced agricultural emissions (methane, nitrous oxide, CO₂).
• Less pressure on land, deforestation, and water use.
• Lower nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.
• Protection of biodiversity through reduced intensive livestock expansion.
• Contribution to respecting planetary boundaries.

Challenges for global implementation

Scientific ideals are not always easily translated into action. Main obstacles include:

Inequality and economic access

Many low- and middle-income countries cannot ensure access to quality fruits, vegetables, legumes, and other foods for the entire population. For many households, a healthy diet is simply unaffordable.

Contradictory agricultural policies

Subsidies, relative prices, and state policies often favor meat, refined grains, or monocultures, making unhealthy foods cheaper than nutritious ones. Changing this requires complex political decisions and public support reorientation.

Influence of the food industry

Companies with stakes in meat, dairy, or ultra-processed foods may resist changes threatening their business. Lobbying and selective tolerance campaigns are expected.

Cultural habits and education

Dietary habits are deeply rooted in local culture, traditions, and personal preferences. Changing them requires time, nutrition education, incentives, and narratives showing that “healthy can also be tasty.”

Infrastructure and supply

Healthy food access requires logistics, storage, distribution, preservation, well-connected local markets, transport infrastructure, and support for small producers.

International coordination and financing

Global transformation will require annual investment of $200–500 billion, but potential health, environmental, and economic benefits could reach $5 trillion per year.

What individuals can do: small actions, big impact

• Increase vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains in every meal.
• Reduce red meat, especially processed products.
• Choose more sustainable protein sources: fish, legumes, nuts, eggs in moderation.
• Limit ultra-processed foods, added sugar, saturated fats, and unhealthy snacks.
• Support local products, sustainable agriculture, farmers’ markets, and cooperatives.
• Reduce food waste: plan shopping, store properly, and use leftovers.
• Get informed and advocate for healthy food policies, supporting public nutrition education campaigns.