A healthy diet is generally an ecologically sustainable one

Eating a diet according to Dutch ‘Guidelines for a healty diet’ is not only good for health, but also generally eco-friendly. Especially a lower intake of meat and dairy delivers ecological benefits, as it reduces greenhouse gas emissions and land use. The guideline ‘eat fish twice a week, including one portion of oily fish’ may yield health benefits, but may be ecologically detrimental in terms of marine biodiversity. This is the conclusion of the Health Council of the Netherlands’ advisory report ‘Guidelines for a healthy diet: the ecological perspective.’