For the first time, Chinese scientists have proposed a regionally sustainable and healthy dietary model. The aim of this study is to create individual dietary plans considering the different characteristics and traditions of each region. It is expected to play an important role in improving Chinese dietary habits and promoting environmental sustainability.
A research team led by Liu Yan and Chia Min from the School of Public Health at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, Guangdong province recently published a paper titled 'Adoption of Region Specific Diets in China Can Help Achieve Gains in Health and Environmental Sustainability' in the journal Nature Food.
Based on the dietary habits, environmental characteristics and economic development level of China's regions, a sustainable and healthy food plan named Regional Reference Diet is published in this study.
Liu, the school's associate professor, said it would guide residents in various regions to sustainable diets and provide solutions to achieve the goals of 'healthy China' and sustainable development.
Brent Loken, Chief Scientist of Global Food at World Wildlife Fund, also published a special review in the same issue of the journal entitled 'Healthy and sustainable diets must be culturally acceptable', praising the research.
Loken believes the research will not only provide practical and feasible ways to create a healthy and sustainable diet for China, but also provide an important reference for developing countries including India and Kenya. Liu said that those countries will also be able to create regionally sustainable diets based on this research.
According to the study, unhealthy eating habits are one of the leading causes of disease worldwide, resulting in about 1.1 million premature deaths each year, which is responsible for about one-fifth of all deaths worldwide.
This type of eating habits is also seriously damaging the world's resources and environment. Because, annual greenhouse gas emissions from food production activities have reached 17.3 billion metric tons, which is more than a third of all greenhouse gas emissions.
According to the latest Global Burden of Disease database, more than 3 million people die each year in China due to improper diet, accounting for about 20 percent of the country's annual deaths.
In China, an unhealthy diet accounts for about 58 percent of deaths from cardiovascular disease, while the death rate for cancer from the same cause is about 15.3 percent.
Liu said boiled meat soup and cured meat are very popular in Guangdong. But they also pose health risks. Although soup is an essential part of Cantonese cuisine, it often uses various ingredients to enhance the flavor But because processed meats contain high levels of salt, long-term consumption can lead to high levels of uric acid in the body and cardiovascular disease.
Liu noted that Guangdong's food culture is rich in vegetables and aquatic products, such as fresh fish and tofu. They are rich in vitamins and minerals.
The researchers said the Mediterranean diet is widely considered a healthy eating pattern in the West, with an emphasis on eating lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish and olive oil, which ensure balanced nutrition and contribute to overall health by keeping cholesterol under control. he
Western fast foods, including burgers, French fries and pizza, contain too much sugar, salt and saturated fat, which have serious negative effects on health and increase the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, Liu added.
Source: CMG
