Vegan Diet Better for Environment Than Mediterranean Diet

Eating a vegan diet is more beneficial for the environment than eating a Mediterranean diet, according to new research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Researchers used the Life Cycle Assessment, a method to evaluate the environmental footprint of a product, and found that the vegan diet had 44% less total environmental impact when compared to the Mediterranean diet. The authors say that even modest consumption of animal products plays a critical role in damaging human and environmental health.

Physicians Committee research shows that a vegan diet has better outcomes than a Mediterranean diet for weight loss, insulin sensitivity, and cholesterol levels. Participants lost an average of 13 pounds on the vegan diet, compared with no change on the Mediterranean diet.