Is a diet that is good for the planet always good for our health?

In this episode, hosts Adam Fogarasi and Gretchen Repasky explore the relationship between environmental sustainability and human health, and where the two do not fully align. While many sustainable dietary patterns are associated with reduced risk of chronic disease, the episode shows that important trade-offs remain.

Drawing on perspectives from public health nutrition and environmental research, the conversation highlights how diets rich in plant-based foods often benefit both health and the planet. At the same time, it examines cases where nutritionally valuable foods carry a higher environmental cost, and why moderation and context matter.

Featuring Professor Christina Dahm, Aarhus University, and Matilda Nordman and Professor Olivier Jolliet from the Technical University of Denmark, the episode also introduces how scientists assess the health impact of diets, including methods that translate food choices into measurable effects on disease risk and life expectancy.

At its core, the episode shows that sustainable and healthy diets often move in the same direction, but not always at the same pace. Understanding these trade-offs can help us make more informed and balanced choices without aiming for perfection.

Episode info

Guests

Christina Dahm, Professor of Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus Universit, Matilda Nordman, MSc, PhD; Researcher, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University Denmark, Olivier Jolliet, Professor, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University Denmark

Hosts

Adam Fogarasi, PhD student, University of Copenhagen, Gretchen Repasky, Center Scientific Manager, Center for Protein Design, University of Copenhagen

Publisher: Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy

Audio engineering: Periscope

Producer: Adam Fogarasi, Gretchen Repasky