Questions and Challenges Associated with Implementing the Planetary Health Diet: A Narrative Review

Global warming has necessitated the development of new nutritional principles that protect both human health and the environment. Both of these conditions are met by a planetary diet, which is dominated by plant-based foods with a small proportion of animal products. A low proportion of animal products carries the risk of nutrient deficiencies, such as calcium and iron, which are highly bioavailable from dairy products and meat, respectively. Consequently, nutritional education is becoming increasingly important, particularly in terms of meal composition, which can enhance the bioavailability of plant-derived nutrients and help prevent deficiencies in essential minerals. Another issue is the implementation of measures to protect populations in low-income countries, where widespread malnutrition could be alleviated by introducing foods fortified with nutrients that are insufficiently supplied by the diet. The risk of malnutrition affects all age groups at high risk of nutritional deficiencies, including children, women, adolescents, and the elderly. The purpose of this narrative review is to present the current body of scientific evidence concerning the association between the EAT–Lancet Planetary Health Diet and health, environment, the risk of insufficient nutrients content in this diet, difficulties with implementation of this diet in low-income countries, and the importance of fortified food product intake, as well as the need for nutritional education in different populations.