Is meat really important for health? Here’s why many medical and nutritional professionals say it’s not

Livestock systems are under threat from “simplification, reductionism and enthusiasm” refers to a document called the “Dublin Declaration”.

The declaration—which aims to advocate for the “social role of animal resources” and the meat industry—points out that “foods derived from animal resources,” such as meat, dairy and eggs, are essential for health. This is a claim backed up by nine new research papers published in the journal animal frontier and boasts the signature of nearly 1,000 doctors.

But how much attention should we pay to this announcement? After all, there are thousands of doctors who advocate adopting a plant-forward diet. And it is now widely accepted that rich countries in the global North need to reduce meat consumption for the benefit of the planet.

Here, we take a closer look at what the science and many experts have to say on the matter.

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Fill your plate with whole foods, many doctors and dietitians say

The Dublin Declaration makes some big, bold claims about world population and the need for products derived from animal agriculture. For example, it says These products “provide a variety of essential nutrients and other health-promoting compounds, many of which are lacking in diets even in high-income populations … Well-off individuals may be able to obtain adequate diets with extensive restrictions on meat, dairy, and eggs, however. , this procedure should not be recommended for the general public.”

While it’s true that not all vegan diets (or diets free of “animal derived foods”) are healthy (for example, a person can live on nothing but fries and fizzy drinks and call themselves vegan), there is a wide body of research that supports this. Supports the idea that a whole food, plant-based lifestyle is healthy.

For example, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine—a nonprofit health organization with more than 17,000 physician members—consistently advocates for the power of a well-planned, balanced, plant-forward, whole-food-rich diet to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease. , diabetes and cancer, and maintaining overall good health.

And they are not alone. Multiple studies and experts have concluded that filling your plate with fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, pulses and beans is one of the healthiest ways. Learn more about the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet here.

“Most people eat animal products because they believe they are necessary to meet dietary needs,” Alona Pulde, MD, told VegNews. “The reality is that plant foods not only contain all the nutrients we need, but they’re bundled in a remarkably healthy package.”

Is meat healthy?

Pulde—who was the physician behind the popular plant-based documentary Cutlery on the knife-Also adds that meat actually has a proven link to chronic disease. Even the World Health Organization, for example, has classified processed meat and red meat as Group 1 and Group 2 carcinogens, respectively.

“Meat, especially highly processed meat, has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, gastrointestinal disorders and certain cancers,” adds Pulde. “It turns out that meat is not only important for health, it actually directly contributes to disease.”

Stephanie Wells, MS, RD, founder of Thyme to Go Vegan Nutrition Services, agrees with Pulde that a well-planned, plant-based diet is nutritionally adequate for most people.

“There is merit to the claim that meat provides essential nutrients for people in developing countries where there is malnutrition, but this does not mean that meat is biologically necessary for human health,” he explains. “The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Its position paper on vegetarian diets states that well-planned vegetarian and vegan diets are nutritionally adequate for all walks of life.”

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Dublin declaration biased?

So, if there is strong evidence to support the idea that plant-based diets are healthy for most people, why is the Dublin Declaration claiming otherwise?

According to Sensitive mediaA nonprofit news organization dedicated to changing the conversation around animal agriculture has little to do with animal industry bias.

A recent report by the organization found that a number of signatories to the Dublin Declaration have “close ties” to the animal agriculture industry. Frank Mitlohner, for example, runs a research center that receives millions in funding from the livestock industry. It also found that 16 signatories work directly with the Agriculture and Food Development Authority of Ireland.

Another interesting insight from Sensitive media is the location of the odd number of signatories in the global answer (817, to be exact). It’s a region of the world that has come under stricter protections in recent years for its high meat consumption, with many experts calling for wealthier countries to reduce this consumption to reduce emissions.

Meat and the environment

According to the United Nations, animal agriculture is responsible for 14.5 percent of global emissions. It is a leading driver of deforestation and contributes to other environmental problems such as water pollution and wastage. Because of this effect, in April 2022, a study by the University of Bonn in Germany called on rich countries to reduce meat consumption by at least 75 percent, as they are putting unnecessary stress on the planet through high meat demand.

Also, in 2018, Oxford University’s largest-ever food production study found that going vegetarian was the single-biggest change a person could make to reduce their impact on the environment.

“All foods are not created equal,” says Pulde, before reiterating that the bottom line is that the more nutritious plants you eat, the better. “If you’re looking for ways to be healthier while supporting the health of our planet, aim to include as many whole plant-based foods as possible while limiting or eliminating your consumption of animal products.”