Here’s Why You Should Replace Red Meat With Herring and Sardines!

Replacing our meat consumption with small fish such as sardines and anchovies could save the lives of 750,000 people a year, a study reveals.

The essentials to remember

THE small oily fish are rich in omega 3fats that help prevent cardiovascular disease.

Small fish are also good for the planet since they have a low carbon footprint unlike other animal-based foods.

A diet that is good for your health and the planet

A team of Australian and Japanese researchers conducted a large-scale study in 130 countries. Their work showed that replacing red meat consumption with the consumption of small fish (herrings, anchovies, sardines) could prevent 750,000 deaths per year and significantly reduce cases of diet-related diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol, etc.).

The study explains that adopting a diet rich in small fish could be beneficial for populations in low- and middle-income countries. In fact, in these countries, fish is cheap and available in large quantities. But that’s not all, in these countries, the number of people suffering from heart disease is particularly high.

Researchers point out that small oily fish are rich in Omega 3fats that help prevent cardiovascular disease, and are rich in calcium and vitamine B12. These little fish are also good for the planet since they have a low carbon footprint unlike other foods of animal origin.

To reach these conclusions, the researchers modeled four scenarios, each representing a different pattern of global forage fish (as small fish are called) allocation. They used data on projected red meat consumption from 137 countries in 2050, as well as historical data on forage fish caught in marine ecosystems.

After analyzing the data, they found that a “pro small fish” diet could prevent 750,000 deaths each year from diet-related diseases. The researchers acknowledge that current forage fish resources cannot currently replace all the red meat consumed. More reduce our consumption of red meat would already be a good start to curbing the scourge of diet-related health problems.

“Our study suggests that forage fish is a promising alternative to red meat,” the authors of the study say. “This work highlights the need to promote forage fish consumption through food policies.”the researchers conclude.