How a whole food plant-based diet saves your health, money and the planet
- Experts say eating WFPB meals instead of animal products is much better for the environment, boosts immunity and reduces risks of chronic diseases
- Calorie for calorie it can also be US$750 a year cheaper, research has found – useful savings as food costs around the world soar
Food prices are soaring around the world, while recent global events, including the Covid-19 pandemic, have led to food shortages and disruptions in our food supply chains.
Food producers are also having to deal with issues related to climate change. One-third of global food production will be at risk by the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions continue to escalate at their current rate, according to research from Aalto University in Finland, published in May 2021 in the journal One Earth.
Other challenges – from pollution and land degradation to water scarcity – also pose a growing threat to our food supply.
On World Health Day 2022, on April 7, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the “Our Planet, Our Health” campaign, highlighting the interconnectedness between our well-being and that of the planet, urging us all to consider how our actions exacerbate human health and environmental problems.
“The climate crisis is a health crisis,” says Maria Neira, director of the WHO’s department of public health and environment. “Let’s reimagine a world where clean air, water and food are available to all. Where economies are focused on health and well-being. Where cities are liveable, and people have respect for their health and the health of the planet.”
One of the easiest and most practical ways we can contribute to this endeavour is by adopting a whole food plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle. This includes eating foods derived mainly from plants, such as whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits, and few or even no animal products.
