Open AccessRole of dairy and alternative plant products in a healthy and sustainable diet
Author(s) -
Guillermo Mena Sánchez,
Bárbara Mogas,
S. F. G. de Souza
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nutrición hospitalaria
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.31
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1699-5198
pISSN - 0212-1611
DOI - 10.20960/nh.03796
Subject(s) - agricultural science , population , nutrient , food science , food processing , geography , business , biology , environmental health , medicine , ecology
Dairy products and plant alternatives are two food groups that are part of the Spanish population's diet. Both have a very different nutritional composition - unlike plant products, the high nutritional density of dairy products makes it easier to meet nutrient requirements at different stages of life. Although the environmental impact of dairy production is greater than that of plant-based products, it falls below that of other food groups such as red meat, including pork and beef. Dairy and plant alternatives meet critical points of the sustainable diet definition, and several food guides from countries around the world are including them within healthy and sustainable eating patterns. For this reason, it is necessary to clarify that both products can be part of a healthy and sustainable diet, although they belong to different food groups, which are not interchangeable and should not be used alternatively.