A new research article explores how healthcare and our food choices affect both human health and the environment. The study highlights that kidney disease is getting worse partly due to climate change, and that traditional dialysis treatment uses enormous amounts of water and energy. Researchers suggest that switching to more sustainable medical practices—called “green dialysis”—and eating more plant-based foods could help protect both our kidneys and our planet. The article emphasizes that human health and environmental health are deeply connected, and we need to make urgent changes to how we treat diseases and what we eat.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How climate change affects kidney disease, and whether more sustainable medical treatments and plant-based diets could improve both human and environmental health
- Who participated: This was a review article that examined existing research and data rather than conducting a new experiment with participants
- Key finding: The healthcare system produces more than 5% of the world’s carbon emissions, and dialysis treatment uses massive amounts of water and plastic. Plant-based diets and greener medical practices could significantly reduce this environmental impact while improving kidney health
- What it means for you: If you or someone you know has kidney disease, choosing more plant-based foods and supporting sustainable healthcare practices may help protect both personal health and the environment. However, any dietary changes should be discussed with a doctor first, especially for people with kidney disease who have specific nutritional needs
The Research Details
This is a review article, which means researchers examined and summarized existing scientific evidence rather than conducting their own experiment. The authors looked at how climate change, pollution, and water scarcity are connected to kidney disease, and reviewed information about how much water, energy, and plastic dialysis treatment uses. They then explored research on plant-based diets and sustainable medical practices to suggest ways healthcare could become more environmentally friendly.
The researchers approached this by connecting three big ideas: human health, environmental health, and the healthcare system’s impact on the planet. They used the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a framework to show how these areas are all linked together.
This type of study is valuable because it brings together information from many different sources to show the bigger picture of how our environment affects our health and how our healthcare choices affect the planet.
Understanding these connections is important because it shows that protecting the environment isn’t just about nature—it’s also about protecting human health. When we reduce pollution and conserve water, we’re not only helping the planet; we’re also preventing diseases and improving how well treatments work. This approach, called “One Health,” recognizes that human, animal, and environmental health are all connected.
This is a review article that summarizes existing research rather than presenting new experimental data. The strength of the conclusions depends on the quality of the studies it reviewed. The article was published in a Swedish medical journal (Lakartidningen), which is a reputable source. However, because this is a review rather than a new study with participants, readers should understand that it presents expert analysis and suggestions rather than definitive proof. The recommendations are based on current scientific understanding but may evolve as more research is conducted.
What the Results Show
The research highlights several important connections between climate change and kidney disease. Rising temperatures, air pollution, water contamination, and water scarcity all increase the risk of kidney disease. This means that as climate change worsens, more people are likely to develop kidney problems.
The study found that dialysis treatment—a common way to help people with severe kidney disease—has a very large environmental impact. Dialysis uses enormous amounts of water (sometimes hundreds of gallons per treatment), requires significant energy to operate the machines, and generates large amounts of plastic waste. This creates a difficult situation: people need dialysis to survive, but the treatment itself contributes to environmental problems that can worsen kidney disease in other people.
The researchers suggest that plant-based diets could help address this problem. Eating more plants and fewer animal products reduces the environmental impact of food production, which means less pollution and water use. This benefits both the planet and human health, including kidney health.
The article emphasizes that the entire healthcare system needs to become more sustainable. Healthcare currently produces more than 5% of global carbon emissions—more than the airline industry. Making healthcare greener could have major benefits for both human and planetary health.
The research also discusses how ultraprocessed foods contribute to both health problems and environmental damage. Reducing consumption of highly processed foods, especially those containing animal products, could improve kidney health while reducing the environmental footprint of the food system. The article suggests that a shift toward plant-based eating patterns could help prevent chronic kidney disease from developing in the first place, reducing the need for dialysis treatment.
This research builds on growing scientific understanding that environmental factors significantly influence chronic disease development. Previous studies have shown connections between air pollution and kidney disease, and between water quality and health outcomes. This article synthesizes that existing knowledge and adds the important perspective that healthcare itself must become more sustainable. The emphasis on plant-based diets aligns with numerous studies showing health benefits of plant-forward eating patterns, while adding the environmental dimension.
This is a review article rather than a new research study, so it doesn’t provide new experimental data. The article presents suggestions and recommendations based on existing research, but doesn’t test whether these changes would actually work in practice. The environmental impact of dialysis is well-documented, but the article doesn’t provide detailed cost-benefit analyses of switching to greener alternatives. Additionally, the article doesn’t address how to implement these changes in different healthcare systems around the world, which have different resources and challenges. For people with kidney disease, the specific dietary recommendations would need to be personalized by healthcare providers, as kidney disease patients have unique nutritional needs that differ from the general population.
The Bottom Line
The research suggests several evidence-based actions: (1) Support and advocate for more sustainable healthcare practices in your community and healthcare system (high importance); (2) Consider increasing plant-based foods in your diet, which benefits both health and the environment (moderate importance for general population, but requires medical guidance for people with kidney disease); (3) Reduce consumption of ultraprocessed foods (high importance); (4) Support policies that address climate change and environmental protection, as these directly affect kidney health (high importance). These recommendations should be implemented gradually and with professional guidance, especially for people with existing kidney disease.
Everyone should care about this research because it shows how environmental health affects personal health. This is especially important for: people with kidney disease or at risk for kidney disease (such as those with diabetes or high blood pressure), people living in areas with air pollution or water quality problems, and anyone concerned about climate change. Healthcare workers and policymakers should particularly pay attention, as they can make systemic changes. However, people with kidney disease should not make major dietary changes without consulting their nephrologist (kidney specialist), as their nutritional needs are different from the general population.
Environmental and health benefits from dietary changes may take weeks to months to become noticeable in terms of how you feel. However, the broader benefits to planetary health and disease prevention happen over years and decades. If you’re making dietary changes to support kidney health specifically, your doctor can monitor kidney function through blood tests to see if changes are helping. Systemic changes to healthcare sustainability will take years to implement but could prevent kidney disease in future generations.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track daily plant-based meals and water consumption. Users can log the number of plant-based meals eaten each day (goal: 1-3 per day) and monitor their daily water intake. For those with kidney disease, also track any dialysis sessions or medical appointments to monitor treatment patterns over time.
- Start by replacing one animal-based meal per week with a plant-based alternative. Use the app to find plant-based recipes, set reminders for meal planning, and track progress. Users can also log their environmental impact by noting reduced meat consumption, which provides motivation through visible progress toward sustainability goals.
- Weekly review of plant-based meal frequency and monthly check-ins on overall dietary patterns. For people with kidney disease, integrate with healthcare provider check-ups to monitor kidney function tests (creatinine, GFR) alongside dietary changes. Track energy levels, digestion, and any changes in kidney-related symptoms. Create a dashboard showing both personal health metrics and estimated environmental impact reduction from dietary choices.
This article presents a review of existing research on the connections between environmental health, kidney disease, and dietary choices. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you have kidney disease or are at risk for kidney disease, consult with your nephrologist (kidney specialist) or healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes, as people with kidney disease have specific nutritional requirements that differ from the general population. Any dietary modifications should be personalized to your individual health status, lab values, and medical history. This research suggests general directions for sustainable healthcare and nutrition but does not provide personalized medical recommendations.