Acid attack
Fight back with a vegan diet
Western diets, rich in meat, dairy, cheese and eggs, increase acidity in the body and can lead to a condition called low-grade metabolic acidosis, which can promote chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The body has natural buffering defences against a high acid load but capacity can be overwhelmed as we age or in illness. This study found that a vegan diet is an effective way to reduce the dietary acid load. In fact, it has an alkalising effect. Studies suggest that for several common illnesses, where metabolic acidosis is a contributing factor, plant-based foods offer measurable benefits for disease prevention and management.
Storz MA, Ronco AL and Hannibal L. 2022. Observational and clinical evidence that plant-based nutrition reduces dietary acid load. Journal of Nutrition Science. 11, e93.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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