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News
Don't let the "plant-based" label fool you. A new study finds that ultraprocessed foods — whether animal- or plant-based — are linked to a higher risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in older adults. The biggest risk came from ultraprocessed animal products, but even heavily processed plant foods weren't in the clear.
A new study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that ultraprocessed foods — regardless of whether they're animal- or plant-based — are associated with a significantly higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in older adults. While prior research has championed plant-based diets for kidney health, this study suggests that heavy processing can strip away those benefits.
Researchers analyzed data from 2,661 older adults (mean age 71) over a median follow-up of 6.8 years, using the Nova food classification system to categorize diets by degree of processing. Those who ate the most minimally processed foods, by contrast, had a notably lower CKD risk.
Why it matters: Clinicians and patients alike may assume "plant-based" automatically means healthy — but this study is a reminder that processing matters just as much as the food's origin. Encouraging patients to read ingredient labels and prioritize whole, minimally processed foods remains the most practical takeaway.
