Vegan diet linked to lower risk of 'silent' kidney disease
07.08.2023 - 15:17
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Eating more plant-based protein foods can help stave off chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a new study.
The long-term condition keeps the organs from working effectively and does not usually cause symptoms until it has reached its advanced stage, according to the NHS. New research, led by the National Kidney Foundation has found that plant-based diets are linked with lowering chances of the silent condition that can progress into kidney failure and early cardiovascular disease.
Through a UK study of 117,809 participants, Biobank found that those who primarily consumed protein from non-animal sources had a lower risk of developing CKD. Findings do not prove that giving up animal protein entirely will prevent CKD, but eating more protein sourced from plants may lower chances of it developing.
There is a common misunderstanding surrounding plant-based diets, in that they do not provide sufficient protein compared to animal sources.
According to the European Food Information Council, proteins are made up of building blocks called essential amino acids (EAAS) which make up the body's cells. Foods that contain all EAAS required by humans are said to be of high biological value (HBV) and examples of HBV sources include meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt.
Meanwhile, low biological value (LBV) foods contain some but not all EAAS and these are primarily made up of plant-based sources like tofu, lentils, chickpeas, nuts, seeds, peas and broccoli. While one type of LBV food can't supply enough protein on its own, eating certain LBV foods together can compliment each other to provide enough EAAS.
A well known exampled of food complementation is beans on toast, as both bread and beans are sources of low biological