El impacto ambiental de nuestras decisiones alimentarias se vincula con daños en la salud humana

The health of the planet and the health of people are imimimate linked. What harms the environment, a short or long term, also has an effect on human health. With planetary health, a pioneering study in Spain has first quantified the damages that environmental impacts derived from our food demand end up having health. The results reveal that the consumption of Meat, fish and shellfish and lords representative the 55% of human health damage. According to the study, modify the consumption patterns and reduce the Food waste I could preenate up to a 35% Of this impact. The investigation, publishes in Environmental ResearchIt has been led by the Global Health Institute of Barcelona (ISGlobal), a center imported by the «La Caixa» Foundation, and has had the support of the Daniel and Nina Carasso Foundation.

ELOPO INVESTIGADOR applied a central methodology of the last generation, the Life cycle analysis (stroke)For quantific the different environmental impacts of the food system (from the production to the consumer) and how they affect human health. The data were based on the 2022 food surveys Published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain. The research team used statistical models to evaluate the environmental effects on human health, evaluating various indicators of indicators such as climate change, the exhaustion of the ozone layer, the toxicity for the human, the formation, the part of the material, the race, the toxant, the toxant, the toxant, the formation of material, the toxant, the toxant, the toxant, the toxant training The formation of photochemical oxidants. The consequences for the health analyzed includes cardiovascular diseases, malnutrition, diarrhea, various types of qualification and respiratory of diseases, other conditions.

The results indicate that, only in 2022, The environmental impact of food demand in Spain was associated Loss of 447,152 years of life adjusted for disability (Avad). This is an extension measure used, in the field of public health that combines both the years lost due to premature and vivid deaths with veneers or disabled. Of the total environmental impact derived from the demand for food with health, the 95% It was attributable to Food consumption and the 5% remaining To food despair.

Meat, fish and lórcteos: the foods that most harm human health through their environmental impact

Among the 16 food groups analyzed, Meat, fish and seafood, and lordcteos products They identified themselves as Responsible for the main Of environmental damage with consistent with health, representative 55% of the total impact of consumption. In addition, these foods of animal origin showed a load in significant health greater than that of plant products.

Among the negative effects derived from the food system, the contribution to Climate change It was the main factor associate to health damage, Siildo responsible for the 77% of the total impact. They followed the Suspension particle formation (16 %) and human toxicity (7 %). Other impacts such as the formation of photochemical oxidants, the exhaustion of the ozone layer and the ionizing radiation contributed to a lesser extent.

Diet changes that can improve global health

The study evaluated various hypothetical scenarios, based on usual promoted measures to reduce the environmental impact of food, with the aim of quantifying potential benefits also for human health. In a first scenario, when replacing red meat and processed by white meat, small benicios were observed. Sin embargo, Mayor Benicio arose by replacing all meats and lords with plant foods. This change could Reduce damage to human health. Derived Environmental Defactors by up to 30%. In addition, if the Food waste by those consumed, an additional reduction of the 5% of the impactAchieving a total improvement of 35%.

The research also proposed to evaluate the implications of nutritional to replace meat and lords with plant foods. Specifically, Praise examined total energy intake and key macronutrients and micronutrients, including proteins, saturated fats, fiber, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc and vitamin B12. With the change of diet, the most nutritional profile of the World Health Organization (WHO) is observed. The intake of protein, calcium and vitamin B12 would decrease, but the levels would remain within the ranges recommended by the WHO. In contrast, fiber and jierro intake would significantly increase, a special relevant fact given the -defit of these nutrients in the Spanish diet.

Implications for public health

This study not only relieves the close relationship between food, environment and health, but also opens new opportunities to improve public health through a more sustainable and responsible diet. «The proposed changes would not only reduce the environmental impact, but would also bring the promised diet in Spain to the nutritional recommendations of the WHO, thus moving towards a more saltouble diet in an integral sense,» he says Ujué FresánIslobal researcher and first author of the study.

In addition, research provides a solid scientific basis to guide the Development of future food polyics. «Our findings can serve as a starting point for design and implement policies that promote the transition towards healthier eating habits in Spain, consider both direct and indirect benefits for human health,» they point out.

Reference

Fresán, U., Núñez, M., Valls, I., Rosenbaum, RK. Quantification of the environmental load of human health of food demand in Spain: an evaluation study of the life cycle. Environmental Research2025. DOI: 10.1016/J.envres.2025.122147