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Dairy outperforms vegan diets in blood sugar control, new study reveals

By isabelle // 2025-05-21

• A new study in Clinical Nutrition reveals dairy consumption stabilizes blood sugar better than a strict vegan diet, challenging plant-based superiority claims.
• Researchers found dairy eaters had lower glucose levels and higher beneficial compounds like acetyl-L-carnitine, while vegans experienced more blood sugar spikes.
• The trial involved 30 adults, with diets matched for nutrients; only dairy intake differed, proving its unique metabolic benefits beyond macronutrients.
• Dairy’s bioactive compounds may reduce oxidative stress and improve glucose processing, contrasting with vegan diets linked to higher phenylalanine, which impairs sugar metabolism.
• The study emphasizes dietary diversity over restrictive trends, advocating for natural, whole-food solutions instead of pharmaceutical or dogmatic dietary approaches.

In a world where plant-based diets are aggressively marketed as the pinnacle of health, a groundbreaking clinical trial published in Clinical Nutrition delivers a reality check: dairy consumption may stabilize blood sugar more effectively than strict veganism. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Reading and the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, found that participants who included dairy in their diets had lower and more stable glucose levels than those on a vegan regimen. The findings challenge the dogma of plant-only superiority and highlight how natural, whole-food solutions—not pharmaceutical interventions—may hold the key to metabolic health. The two-week trial involved 30 healthy adults randomized into two groups: one followed a lacto-vegetarian diet (plant foods plus dairy), while the other adhered to a strict vegan diet. Both diets were matched for calories, protein, and carbohydrates, ensuring the only variable was dairy consumption. Continuous glucose monitors tracked participants’ blood sugar levels every 15 minutes, revealing dramatic differences. The dairy group showed higher levels of acetyl-L-carnitine, a compound that enhances fat metabolism and reduces oxidative stress from high blood sugar. Meanwhile, the vegan group experienced more frequent blood sugar spikes and elevated phenylalanine, an amino acid linked to impaired glucose processing.

The blood sugar advantage of dairy

Lead researcher Professor Vimal Karani noted, "People eating the vegan diet had more of a substance called phenylalanine after meals. When there's too much of this substance, it might make it harder for the body to use sugar properly. On the other hand, people eating dairy had different helpful substances in their blood, which may have helped keep their blood sugar more stable throughout the day." Dairy consumers benefited from acetyl-L-carnitine, which appears to mitigate cellular damage caused by glucose fluctuations. This may explain why epidemiological studies consistently show lower rates of type 2 diabetes among dairy consumers. The implications are critical for public health, particularly in places like the U.S., where diabetes and prediabetes affect much of the population. The study’s controlled design eliminates confounding variables, suggesting that dairy’s bioactive compounds and not just its macronutrient play a unique role in metabolic regulation. This research underscores a recurring theme in holistic health: whole, natural foods often outperform artificial or restrictive dietary trends. While the vegan movement has gained traction, this study adds to mounting evidence that eliminating entire food groups like dairy may inadvertently harm metabolic resilience. Unlike diabetes drugs, which mask symptoms while risking side effects, dietary interventions like dairy consumption address root causes without synthetic chemicals. The findings also expose the dangers of dietary dogmatism. As veganism becomes increasingly politicized, this study reminds us that nutritional needs are individualized—not dictated by trends.

The freedom to choose real food

The study’s message is clear: dietary diversity matters. While vegan diets can be healthy, they are not inherently superior—and for blood sugar control, dairy may be a critical ally. As governments and corporations push one-size-fits-all dietary guidelines, this research defends the freedom to choose evidence-based, natural solutions over processed alternatives or Big Pharma’s quick fixes. For those seeking metabolic health, the answer isn’t in a pill or a propaganda-driven diet; it’s in the time-tested wisdom of real food. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com ClinicalNutritionJournal.com HortiDaily.com

diabetes dairy nutrients research Censored Science vegan diet metabolic health goodhealth goodfood fight obesity fight diabetes