There is currently much interest in diets which provide a large proportion of protein from plant foods.1 Epidemiological studies indicate people who commonly ingest these diets have reduced cardiovascular disease mortality and all-cause mortality,1-3 a lower prevalence of obesity,3,4 hypertension,3 constipation5 and other gastrointestinal disorders,3 less chronic kidney disease (CKD),6 and slower rates of CKD progression.6,7 There are a number of characteristics of these diets that may be responsible for these potential benefits.