An international expert statement spanning 22 countries reviews links among food systems, cardiometabolic health and the Sustainable Development Goals. It advocates plant-forward traditional diets rich in whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts and spices, with meat used sparingly.
Key findings
- The review links urbanization, energy-dense diets and less sustainable food production with rising noncommunicable disease burdens. It proposes traditional plant-forward diets and quantitative targets, including about 400 g/day of vegetables, fruits and nuts and a further 400 g/day of whole grains and plant foods.
Why this matters globally
Placing diet within a combined framework of NCD prevention, food security, soil health, climate and inequality makes the statement relevant to global policy debates, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Thai researcher contribution
Aminad Megomedova and Megomed Magomedov, affiliated with Ubon Ratchathani University, contributed to the international authorship team linking Thai institutional participation with global nutrition and sustainability recommendations.
Limitations to consider
The paper does not report a systematic-review protocol or graded evidence appraisal. Historical associations do not establish causation, and the proposed quantities may not fit every age group, medical condition, culture or food system.