08/04/2026
When we eat lots of fiber, we feed our fiber-eating bacteria. These kinds of bacteria give us back all sorts of health-promoting substances, including short-chain fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
Good bacteria in our gut also produce organic acids, like lactic acid, which help lower the pH of our colon. Plant-based diets appear to shift the makeup of the bacteria in our gut, resulting in a significantly lower stool pH. The more plant-based, the lower the pH.
When we eat lots of animal protein, we produce more ammonia in our gut, which in turn increases the pH of our stool. A higher pH in our colon may promote the creation of carcinogens from bile acid that put us at higher risk for colon cancer.
How long does it take to lower the pH of our stool on a plant-based diet? As little as two weeks.
Replace just two servings of red meat with lentils, chickpeas, split peas, or beans a few days a week. Not only does that impact our pH, but we can get other health benefits, too. Research shows a significant improvement in fasting blood sugars and insulin levels––along with the improvements in lowering cholesterol and triglycerides––when eating legumes instead of meat.
Watch the video “Stool pH and Colon Cancer” at see.nf/StoolPH to learn more.
PMIDs: 23719549, 21811294, 25156389, 6112450, 7120255, 6307332, 25351652
