Reduced dietary acid load in U.S. vegetarian adults: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Dietary acid load (DAL) is an important determinant of systemic pH and acid-base homeostasis. Diets abundant in acidogenic foods, such as meat and meat products, induce a low-grade metabolic acidosis state that has been associated with cardiovascular disease, type-2-diabetes, and an increased cancer risk. Fruits and vegetables have alkalizing properties and beneficially affect DAL.