Is the Planeterranean Diet the Key Driver Towards Health and Environment Promotion? A Narrative Review.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Nutritional Science
• Sustainable Food Systems

Background:

• Industrialized nations' dietary patterns negatively impact human health and the environment.
• Western-style diets, rich in ultra-processed foods, exacerbate environmental pressures and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Existing policies have not sufficiently curbed food waste linked to current dietary habits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the impact of contemporary dietary patterns on health and food insecurity.
• To emphasize the necessity of sustainable dietary models, such as the Planeterranean diet.
• To evaluate conceptual overlaps and limitations of sustainable diet models.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current dietary patterns' effects on health and environment.
• Analysis of sustainable diet principles, including biodiversity, carbon footprint, and food sourcing.
• Evaluation of the Planeterranean diet concept and its relation to the Mediterranean diet.

Main Results:

• Current diets are detrimental to both health and environmental sustainability.
• Sustainable diets, like Mediterranean and vegetarian patterns, offer health and ecological benefits.
• The Planeterranean diet concept proposes a globally applicable, locally sourced sustainable food model.

Conclusions:

• Achieving sustainable nutrition requires integrated efforts in agriculture, policy, and community engagement.
• Universal dietary guidelines must accommodate cultural diversity and regional specificities.
• A One Health approach is crucial for enhancing well-being through safe and sustainable food systems.