Traditional Herbal Food Practices and UN Sustainable Development Goals: A Meta- Analysis

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), are examined in this meta-analysis in relation to traditional herbal dietary practices. A PRISMA-compliant systematic review of 1,263 records from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (2000–2025) found 62 relevant studies. In addition to lowering the risk of non-communicable diseases (RR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.64–0.88) and improving dietary diversity and micronutrient adequacy (Hedges’ g = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.28–0.55), herbal diets also shown immune-modulatory advantages. Reductions in waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and ecological footprint of around 27% were among the sustainability benefits. Herbal diets with cultural roots that combine health, nutrition, and ecological resilience were emphasized in case studies from Africa, the Mediterranean, and India.Results show that traditional herbal food practices provide economical, culturally relevant, and ecologically sustainable solutions, highlighting their importance for sustainability plans and nutrition programs. Herbal diets can promote individual and planetary well-being while hastening the 2030 Agenda's implementation in contemporary food systems.