Summary of New Study Reveals Alarming Truth About Keto and Paleo Diets:
A study from Tulane University analyzed the nutritional quality and environmental impact of popular diets and found that the keto and paleo diets had the highest carbon footprints and lowest diet quality scores among the six diets surveyed. The vegan diet had the least impact on climate, while the pescatarian diet scored the highest on nutritional quality. The omnivore diet was in the middle on both metrics. The study suggests that moving to a plant-based diet can reduce carbon footprints and improve health, but even opting for a plant-forward version of the Mediterranean or DASH diets can improve both metrics.
*****
The keto and paleo diets have gained significant popularity in recent years for their purported benefits, including weight loss and improved health markers. However, a recent study has revealed that these diets may be the least sustainable and have the lowest diet quality scores compared to other popular diets.
Carbon Footprint of Keto and Paleo Diets
According to the study conducted by Tulane University researchers, the keto and paleo diets have the highest carbon footprints among the six diets analyzed. The keto diet, which favors high amounts of fat and low amounts of carbs, generates approximately three kilograms of carbon dioxide for every 1,000 calories consumed. On the other hand, the paleo diet, which avoids grains and beans in favor of meats, nuts, and vegetables, produces 2.6 kg of carbon dioxide per 1,000 calories.
Low Carbon Footprint is Important
The carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, produced by human activities, including food production and consumption. The study found that having a low carbon footprint is vital in reducing the negative impact of human activities on the environment and mitigating climate change.
Nutrition Quality of These Diets
In terms of nutrition quality, the keto and paleo diets scored the lowest among all diets. The study used data from the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to evaluate the nutritional quality of the diets based on the federal Healthy Eating Index. The pescatarian diet had the highest nutritional score, followed by vegetarian and vegan diets. The omnivore diet, which is the most commonly followed diet, had an average score for both nutrition quality and sustainability, sitting in the middle of the pack.
The Vegan Diet is Less Impactful on Climate
Interestingly, the vegan diet was found to be the least impactful on the climate, generating 0.7 kg of carbon dioxide per 1,000 calories consumed. This is less than a quarter of the carbon footprint of the keto diet. The study also revealed that the vegetarian and pescatarian diets ranked higher compared to vegan diets, in terms of nutrition quality.
Encouraging Eating Habits that are Better for People and the Planet
The study’s senior author, Professor Diego Rose, said that encouraging people to shift towards a plant-based diet can help reduce their carbon footprint and be generally beneficial to their health. However, he also highlighted the need for policies that can push us towards healthier and more environmentally friendly diets.
Conclusion
The Tulane University study revealed that the keto and paleo diets are the least sustainable and have the lowest diet quality scores among popular diets. The study also found that incorporating plant-based diets can lead to a reduction in the carbon footprint while improving the nutritional quality of the diet. Overall, the study highlights the importance of a balanced and sustainable diet in mitigating climate change and promoting human health.
Comments are closed