The Claim
The reduction in body weight and frequency of hot flashes observed in postmenopausal women following a vegan diet is not influenced by the processing level of plant foods but is attributable to the exclusion of animal-derived foods, irrespective of whether those plant foods are unprocessed or ultra-processed.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Postmenopausal women who lose weight and experience fewer hot flashes on a vegan diet do so because they stop eating animal products, not because they eat unprocessed plants instead of processed ones.
See the scientific wording
The benefits of a vegan diet on weight loss and hot flash reduction in postmenopausal women are not dependent on the processing level of plant foods but are linked to the elimination of animal-derived foods, regardless of whether they are unprocessed or ultra-processed.
When animal foods are removed from the diet, the body gets fewer harmful compounds called AGEs. This lets insulin work better, changes fat tissue hormones to improve metabolism, and calms down the brain's temperature control center. As a result, body weight drops and hot flashes stop happening as often.
What the research says
1 studyCutting out meat and dairy—whether they were plain or processed—helped women lose weight and reduce hot flashes. Eating processed plant foods like vegan burgers didn’t help or hurt, so the magic is in removing animal foods, not eating only 'clean' plants.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.