Eating Healthy Actually Helps The Planet, Not Just Your Body

Much of what makes up our diet will ultimately determine your overall health and well being. Yet did you know that eating right can actually help the planet, as well. Recent findings published in the journal Nature reveal that potential positive effects of a healthy diet on earth.

For the study researchers found that from 1961 to 2009, individuals consumed a larger amount of meat protein and empty calories. This trend as well as information on population and income growth helped to estimate that by 2050, people would be eating fewer portions of fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, their consumption of empty calories increased by about 60 percent, as well as the consumption of pork, poultry, beef, dairy and eggs at 25 to 50 percent. This type of diet can increase the risk of illnesses, such as type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease.

Researchers actually believe that an omnivorous diet could help increase global gas emotions by up to 80 percent in 2050. A healthier option may be a Mediterranean option, pescatarian or vegetarian diet.

"We showed that the same dietary changes that can add about a decade to our lives can also prevent massive environmental damage," said lead study author ecologist David Tilman at University of Minnesota, in a news release. "In particular, if the world were to adopt variations on three common diets, health would be greatly increased at the same time global greenhouse gas emissions were reduced by an amount equal to the current greenhouse gas emissions of all cars, trucks, plans trains and ships. In addition, this dietary shift would prevent the destruction of an area of tropical forests and savannas as large as half of the United States."