The key to better overall health – Josdals Boston

Thank you Guy Fawkes for your response. It is very positive to think critically and question what you read. You are right that one should not attach too much importance to a single study, including the one we mentioned that children on a vegetarian diet have a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. However, this study shows what science generally shows.

Nordic nutrition recommendations call for a primarily vegetarian diet rich in vegetables, fruits, berries, legumes, potatoes, and whole grains. In line with this, the Public Health Agency and the Swedish Food Agency have set national targets for healthy and sustainable food consumption, which aim to shift towards a more plant-based diet. This is because food consumption is one of the biggest causes of ill health and disease in Sweden.

The Public Health Agency and the Swedish Food Agency reported that a large part of the population consumes very little whole grains, vegetables and legumes, while the intake of salt, processed meats, meats and foods that are high in sugar and fat but low in nutritional value is very high. This diet increases the risk of several diseases and thus affects the entire community. For example, the authorities state that the annual societal cost of obesity is estimated at SEK 125 billion in 2023.

Guy Fawkes wonders why we mention cancer, obesity and diabetes in addition to cardiovascular disease. The reason is that these countries are closely related. Obesity significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and the other diseases mentioned.

We hope that this clarification will contribute to increasing understanding of the importance of a balanced, plant-based diet and its positive effects on public health.

Linda Lindström and Jonas Norberg, non-profit research center Hållbart Matsystem