Changing Chinese diets to achieve a win–win solution for health and the environment

Diets are key determinants of nutrition and health and play a significant role in the environment. In this article, we aim to (i) describe dietary transitions and health in China and the consequent environmental challenges; (ii) identify differences between current Chinese diets and healthy referenc...

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Main Authors: Sheng, Fangfang, Wang, Jingjing, Chen, Kevin Z., Fan, Shenggen, Gao, Haixiu
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: John Wiley & Sons 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/142401
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author Sheng, Fangfang
Wang, Jingjing
Chen, Kevin Z.
Fan, Shenggen
Gao, Haixiu
author_browse Chen, Kevin Z.
Fan, Shenggen
Gao, Haixiu
Sheng, Fangfang
Wang, Jingjing
author_facet Sheng, Fangfang
Wang, Jingjing
Chen, Kevin Z.
Fan, Shenggen
Gao, Haixiu
author_sort Sheng, Fangfang
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Diets are key determinants of nutrition and health and play a significant role in the environment. In this article, we aim to (i) describe dietary transitions and health in China and the consequent environmental challenges; (ii) identify differences between current Chinese diets and healthy reference diets; (iii) conduct a systematic review assessing the health impacts of four reference diets on the Chinese population, and (iv) simulate changes in greenhouse gas emissions under different diet scenarios. The results show differences between the Chinese diets and reference diets, with the current Chinese diet including mainly grains (especially refined rice), excessive meat consumption, and insufficient consumption of fruit and milk. If all Chinese consumers adopt one of the healthy reference diets all the time, the incidence of diet‐related chronic disease and mortality would be significantly reduced. Such dietary shifts would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 146–202 million tons (18–25 percent) compared with the projected emissions level in 2030.
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spelling CGSpace1424012025-12-08T10:06:44Z Changing Chinese diets to achieve a win–win solution for health and the environment Sheng, Fangfang Wang, Jingjing Chen, Kevin Z. Fan, Shenggen Gao, Haixiu health greenhouse gas emissions healthy diets environment nutrition agrifood systems diet Diets are key determinants of nutrition and health and play a significant role in the environment. In this article, we aim to (i) describe dietary transitions and health in China and the consequent environmental challenges; (ii) identify differences between current Chinese diets and healthy reference diets; (iii) conduct a systematic review assessing the health impacts of four reference diets on the Chinese population, and (iv) simulate changes in greenhouse gas emissions under different diet scenarios. The results show differences between the Chinese diets and reference diets, with the current Chinese diet including mainly grains (especially refined rice), excessive meat consumption, and insufficient consumption of fruit and milk. If all Chinese consumers adopt one of the healthy reference diets all the time, the incidence of diet‐related chronic disease and mortality would be significantly reduced. Such dietary shifts would also reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 146–202 million tons (18–25 percent) compared with the projected emissions level in 2030. 2021-11-23 2024-05-22T12:10:26Z 2024-05-22T12:10:26Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/142401 en Open Access John Wiley & Sons Sheng, Fangfang; Wang, Jingjing; Chen, Kevin Z.; Fan, Shenggen; and Gao, Haixiu. 2021. Changing Chinese diets to achieve a win-win solution for health and the environment. China and World Economy 29(6): 34-52. https://doi.org/10.1111/cwe.12393
spellingShingle health
greenhouse gas emissions
healthy diets
environment
nutrition
agrifood systems
diet
Sheng, Fangfang
Wang, Jingjing
Chen, Kevin Z.
Fan, Shenggen
Gao, Haixiu
Changing Chinese diets to achieve a win–win solution for health and the environment
title Changing Chinese diets to achieve a win–win solution for health and the environment
title_full Changing Chinese diets to achieve a win–win solution for health and the environment
title_fullStr Changing Chinese diets to achieve a win–win solution for health and the environment
title_full_unstemmed Changing Chinese diets to achieve a win–win solution for health and the environment
title_short Changing Chinese diets to achieve a win–win solution for health and the environment
title_sort changing chinese diets to achieve a win win solution for health and the environment
topic health
greenhouse gas emissions
healthy diets
environment
nutrition
agrifood systems
diet
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/142401
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