Evaluating the Health and Environmental Impacts of Vegetarian and Meat-Based Diets
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/ta6k1p68Keywords:
Vegetarian diet; Meat-based diet; Flexitarian diet; Chronic diseases.Abstract
With the advancement of nutrition, the health effects of vegetarian diets and meat-based diets have been re-evaluated, giving the nutritional balance of meals a new way of evaluation. This paper assesses the comparative impact of vegetarian and meat diets on human health and environmental sustainability. It synthesizes research from multiple disciplines to assess the impact of these dietary patterns on health, with a focus on their role in the prevalence and management of chronic disease. Environmental assessments highlight the resource inefficiency of meat production and its ecological footprint, and advocate reducing meat consumption. In addition, the emergence of plant-based meat alternatives is discussed, considering their potential to mitigate health and environmental concerns. This paper concludes by promoting flexible eating habits, particularly Mediterranean and flexitarian diets, as a balanced approach to achieving health benefits and environmental sustainability.
Downloads
References
WHO. Cancer: Carcinogenicity of the consumption of red meat and processed meat. World Health Organization(WHO). 2015.
The World Counts (TWC). Tons of meat eaten. 2024. https://www.theworldcounts.com
Chen Bing, Patel Shriraj, Bao Lingyu, et al. Pro-Inflammatory Food, Gut Microbiota, and Cardiovascular and Pancreatic Diseases. Biomolecules, 2024, 14(2): 210.
BHF. Obesity. British Heart Foundation. 2020. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/risk-factors/obesity
Eichelmann F., Schwingshackl L., Fedirko V., et al. Effect of plant-based diets on obesity-related inflammatory profiles: a systematic review and meta-analysis of intervention trials. Obesity Reviews, 2016, 17(11): 1067-79.
School Harvard Medical. Foods that fight inflammation. Harvard Health Publishing. 2024. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation
Soltani Elias, Soltani Afshin, Alimagham Majid, et al. Ecological footprints of environmental resources for agricultural production in Iran: a model-based study. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021, 28(48): 68972-81.
Brooks Cassandra. Meat's Environmental Impact. 2011. https://woods.stanford.edu/news/meats-environmental-impact
Ghimpețeanu Oana Mărgărita, Pogurschi Elena Narcisa, Popa Dana Cătălina, et al. Antibiotic use in livestock and residues in food—A public health threat: A review. Foods, 2022, 11(10): 1430.
Jones Jeffrey M. In U.S., 4% Identify as Vegetarian, 1% as Vegan. 2023. https://news.gallup.com/poll/510038/identify-vegetarian-vegan.aspx
Fontalba-Romero María I, Lopez-Enriquez Soledad, Lago-Sampedro Ana, et al. Association between the mediterranean diet and metabolic syndrome with serum levels of mirna in morbid obesity. Nutrients, 2021, 13(2): 436.
Webb Densie. Beans and Grains: The Perfect Pairing. 2014. https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/120914p36.shtml
Gardner Christopher D. The role of plant-based diets in the treatment and prevention of coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease, 2001, 12(7): 553-9.
Appleby Paul N, Key Timothy J. The long-term health of vegetarians and vegans. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2016, 75(3): 287-93.
Yu Jialing, Wang Liyuan, Zhang Zhaowei. Plant-Based Meat Proteins: Processing, Nutrition Composition, and Future Prospects. Foods, 2023, 12(22): 4180.
Sha Lei, Xiong Youling L. Plant protein-based alternatives of reconstructed meat: Science, technology, and challenges. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2020, 102: 51-61.
Wen Yaxin, Chao Chhychhy, Che Quang Tuan, et al. Development of plant-based meat analogs using 3D printing: Status and opportunities. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2023, 132: 76-92.
Crimarco Anthony, Landry Matthew J, Carter Matthew M, et al. Assessing the effects of alternative plant-based meats v. animal meats on biomarkers of inflammation: a secondary analysis of the SWAP-MEAT randomized crossover trial. Journal of Nutritional Science, 2022, 11: e82.
Lăcătușu C. M., Grigorescu E. D., Floria M., et al. The Mediterranean Diet: From an Environment-Driven Food Culture to an Emerging Medical Prescription. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2019, 16(6).
Estruch Ramón, Ros Emilio, Salas-Salvadó Jordi, et al. Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet. New England Journal of Medicine, 2013, 368(14): 1279-90.
MATTHEW KADEY MS, RD. A Flexitarian Diet Primer. IDEA, 2021. https://www.ideafit.com/nutrition/flexitarian-diet-primer/
Downloads
Published
Conference Proceedings Volume
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Highlights in Science, Engineering and Technology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.