Page 101 - FoodFocusThailand No.195 June 2022

SPECIAL REPORT

Additional Benefits of Plant‑based refined grains; whole fruits over fruit juices; unrefined non-tropical vegetable oils (rich in
Diets mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids) such as olive and sunflower oil over coconut oil and
Plant-based diets have the potential not only to partially hydrogenated oils; and unsweetened beverages such as water, coffee or tea over
improve human health but also to reduce the fizzy drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages.
environmental impacts associated with high
consumption of animal-sourced foods such as
meat and dairy products. The production of plant More Information Service Info C015
foods, such as fruits and vegetables, grains,
legumes, nuts and seeds, produces lower
greenhouse gas emissions than that of animal เอกสารอ้างอิง / References
Plant-based diets and their impact on health, sustainability and the environment: a review of the evidence:
foods. Foods associated with the greatest WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. Copenhagen: WHO
negative environmental impacts – unprocessed Regional Office for Europe; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
and processed red meat – are consistently
associated with the largest increases in disease
risk. Shifting towards plant-based diets can also
help prevent biodiversity loss. This shift in dietary
patterns could significantly reduce global land
use for agriculture, by reducing the amount of
land required for grazing and growing crops. It is
encouraging that reducing the consumption of
unprocessed and processed red meat has dual
benefits for both human and planetary health.
Alongside the benefits to human health, the
adoption of plant-based diets could translate into
savings of billions of euros across Europe in
health-care costs. Excessive meat consumption
places a burden on health-care systems; for
example, it has been estimated that in 2020 there
were 2.4 million deaths worldwide, and
approximately €240 million in health-care costs,
attributable to excessive red and processed meat
consumption.
For consumers who are new to plant-based
diets and those who currently eat animal products
frequently, it may be helpful to focus on
incremental transitions towards plant-based diets
by adopting plant-forward eating, in which meat
is not necessarily excluded but is not the central
feature of the meal. Gradual reductions in animal
products like red meat and poultry may be easier
to adopt and adhere to than more restrictive diets
which exclude animal products entirely. Gradual
shifts and more flexible dietary patterns also allow
for religious and culturally appropriate applications
of plant-based dietary recommendations
For individuals who prefer not to consume
some or most animal foods, healthful and well-
planned plant-based meals can provide adequate
levels of micronutrients. For individuals who
prefer a more moderate approach, substantial
health benefits may be gained even by incremental
reductions in animal foods and substitutions with
healthful plant foods. Nevertheless, for any plant-
based diet, it is prudent to consider the types and
quality of plant foods included in the diet. Barring
food allergies and clinical contraindications,
individuals should preferably choose minimally
processed foods and drinks: whole grains over

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