One might think that there is a debate in science how a plant-based diet compares with a meat based diet. In reality, the vast majority of actual science studies favor a plant-based diet. This has been the case for 70 years.
How much does the decision between choosing a plant-based diet versus a meat based diet impact survival day after day? A fascinating study quantifies day after day how much this gain versus loss of lifespan occurs.
To identify environmentally sustainable foods that promote health, the authors combined nutritional health-based and 18 environmental indicators to evaluate, classify and prioritize individual foods. Specifically for nutrition, they developed the Health Nutritional Index to quantify marginal health effects in minutes of healthy life gained or lost of 5,853 foods in the US diet, ranging from 74 min lost to 80 min gained per serving.
Environmental impacts showed large variations and were found to be correlated with global warming, except those related to water use.
The analysis also indicated that substituting only 10% of daily caloric intake from beef and processed meat for fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and selected seafood could offer substantial health improvements of 48 min gained per person per day and a 33% reduction in dietary carbon footprint.
It was seen that eating a hot dog can cost someone 36 minutes of their life. The researchers stated that 0.45 minutes were lost per gram of any processed meat that a person eats in the US. A hot dog has 61 grams of processed meat. Therefore, by that calculation, 27 minutes of healthy life is lost only due to the amount of processed meat alone. The other risk factors in a hot dog include sodium content and trans fatty acids, it was seen that this amount went up to 36 minutes. This made it one of the primary foods that shorten life. Those that ate a processed meat heavy diet did not gain lifespain but actually lost 36 minutes of lifespan a day.
The researchers did this for over 5,800 foods and mixed dishes. Besides talking about foods that shorten life, they also listed foods that can lengthen your life span. It was seen that 30 grams of nuts and seeds provide a gain of 25 minutes of healthy life.
The authors developed the "green zone" foods that were beneficial to our body. The foods in this zone are predominantly made out of nuts, fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and some seafood, stated the study.
Then came the red zone, which lists foods that are dangerous for lifespan. Here, one serving of the food can result in us losing over three minutes of our life. This included beef, processed meat, pork and lamb, cheese-based foods and some salmon dishes.
It was also seen that sugar-sweetened beverages such as Coke was also one of the foods that shorten life. It took 12 minutes of your life.
This is a fascinating study!
According to the study, some of the foods that shorten life include processed meat such as beef. It has the largest carbon footprint across its entire life cycle, states the study. It was seen that it was twice as damaging as pork or lamb and four times that of poultry as well as dairy products. The researchers concluded that eliminating processed meat as well as reducing your sodium consumption can help you gain minutes of your life.
The researchers also came up with a list of foods that increase your life span. According to the study, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and low-environmental impact fish and seafood can add minutes to your life.
Although it may appear that there is a controversy over the optimal dietary pattern, this study and so many others indicate that filling your plate with plant-based choices while shunning meats, dairy, and sugar beverages is the sure fire path to follow. There is no controversy.
