LOW ACID DIET: PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS

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LOW ACID DIET: PROMOTES WEIGHT LOSS







 A Low-Fat Vegan Diet Cuts Acidity and Promotes Weight Loss, Study Finds

Swapping animal products for plant-based foods may do more than just lower your grocery bill—it could help you lose weight and reduce inflammation. In a 16-week study, adults who followed a low-fat vegan diet lost an average of 13 pounds and saw a marked drop in their body’s acidity, while those on a Mediterranean diet did not lose weight.

The research, led by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and published in Frontiers in Nutrition, compared the effects of a Mediterranean diet and a low-fat vegan diet in 62 overweight adults. Participants were randomly assigned to follow one diet for 16 weeks, took a four-week break, and then switched to the other diet for another 16 weeks. Dietary records were used to measure “dietary acid load”—a factor influenced by foods consumed and associated with inflammation and weight gain.

Results showed that the low-fat vegan diet significantly reduced dietary acid load, measured by both Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) and Net Endogenous Acid Production (NEAP) scores, while the Mediterranean diet had no significant effect. The reduction in dietary acid load was linked to the observed weight loss, even after accounting for changes in calorie intake. On average, participants lost 13.2 pounds on the vegan diet, compared to no change on the Mediterranean diet.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Hana Kahleova, explained that animal products like meat, eggs, and dairy increase the body’s acid load, which is associated with inflammation and weight gain. In contrast, plant-based foods such as leafy greens, berries, legumes, and certain grains are more alkaline and may improve metabolism, support a healthy gut, and aid weight loss.

Foods that can help lower dietary acid load and promote an alkaline environment include vegetables (especially leafy greens, broccoli, beets, asparagus, garlic, carrots, cabbage), fruits (such as berries, apples, cherries, apricots, cantaloupe), legumes (lentils, chickpeas, peas, beans, soy), and grains like quinoa and millet.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, established in 1985, is a nonprofit organization focused on preventive medicine, clinical research, and advocating for ethical standards in medical education and research.

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