Animal products, including meat, fish, eggs and cheese cause the body to produce more acid resulting in greater levels of acid and causing inflammation linked to weight gain In saying that, researchers for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine report changing to a vegan diet can help with weight loss and create a healthier nutritional balance in the gut. The study, in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition followed obese participants for forty weeks. One group was placed on the Mediterranean Diet, the other on a low-fat vegan diet. The vegan diet is associated with lower body acid levels thanks to nutrients that neutralize body acid. Body weight was reduced by more than thirteen pounds on the vegan diet with no change on the Mediterranean Diet.