A recent study from Lund University in Sweden has discovered a diet that not only benefits your health but also has positive impacts on our planet.
This diet, known as the EAT-Lancet diet, is associated with a reduced risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
What is the EAT-Lancet Diet?
The EAT-Lancet diet is a plant-based diet with target values for daily intake of different foods. It primarily includes whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and pulses (peas, beans, lentils).
In contrast, it suggests significantly less meat, sugar, and saturated fat consumption compared to typical diets. Theoretically, it also offers benefits for human health and longevity.
The Study: A Deep Dive
In their study, researchers analyzed a total of 22,421 participants from the Malmö diet and cancer cohort.
They developed a unique points system to compare individuals’ dietary habits to the EAT-Lancet diet, grouping the participants into five categories. The higher the adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet, the higher the points assigned.
The Connection between EAT-Lancet Diet and Health
Participants were followed for an average of 20 years to study the link between their diet and mortality.
The researchers discovered that people whose diets closely resembled the EAT-Lancet diet had a 25% lower risk of premature death compared to those with the least adherence.
The EAT-Lancet diet was also linked to a 32% lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 24% lower risk of dying from cancer.
Interestingly, the team noticed a significant difference in total mortality, even in cases where the participants’ dietary habits did not align perfectly with the EAT-Lancet diet’s targets.
Changing our Dietary Habits
Adopting the EAT-Lancet diet would require a significant change, especially for those in wealthier Western nations.
However, research has shown that change is possible. Understanding that there’s a diet benefiting both public health and the environment could motivate us to shift our eating habits.
For those interested in heart health, studies have shown that taking vitamins at the right time can prevent heart disease and that drinking up to three cups of coffee a day may protect your heart.
For more on nutrition, read recent studies on controlling cholesterol to guard against heart attack and stroke, and how certain antioxidants could help reduce the risk of dementia.
The study, conducted by Anna Stubbendorff and her team, was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
If you care about nutrition, please read studies that whole grain foods could help increase longevity, and vitamin D supplements strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about nutrition, please see recent studies about natural coconut sugar that could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness, and an anti-inflammatory diet could help prevent fatty liver disease.
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