Imagine sharing your DNA with someone, yet inhabiting vastly different bodies simply by shifting what you eat. That’s the interesting premise of Netflix’s new docuseries, You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment. The show comes from the mind behind the impactful vegan documentary from four years ago, Louie Psihoyos. But this time, they dissect the impact of meat-eating versus vegan diets and the results are nothing short of jaw-dropping.

Through the lens of real-life twin experiences, the series unveils surprising health transformations that could change the way you view your plate and life.

You Are What You Eat is a game changer for human diets 

Forget crash diets and fad trends. You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment dives into a groundbreaking Stanford University study that meticulously tracked four sets of identical twins. Each twin embarked on an opposing diet for eight weeks, with one embracing a plant-based regimen and the other maintaining their omnivore habits. The result of the study comparing whole-food plant-based diets to omnivorous diets revealed significant health impacts.

The initial month saw remarkable changes, with vegans exhibiting lower LDL cholesterol, insulin, and body weight. Starting with an average LDL cholesterol level of 110.7 mg/dL for vegans and 118.5 mg/dL for meat-eaters. But the study concluded with drops to 95.5 and 116.1, respectively. In addition, vegans experienced a 20% reduction in fasting insulin and shed an average of 4.2 lbs.

Lead author Christopher Gardner emphasized high fiber intake and lower saturated fat in plant-based diets contributed to improved heart health. While these studies have proved the effects of vegan and meat diets, many viewers might also have wondered if the twin pairs still follow them.

Have the twins adhered to their diets?

You Are What You Eat delves into the lives of four twins. Pam and Wendy jointly manage a catering business. Charlie and Michael, experts in cheese making and food safety. Carolyn and Rosalyn, Filipino sisters, and Jevon and John, nursing students with a penchant for frozen and processed food. Following the experiment, one twin stated, “For me, plant-based eating is the direction to go.”

Initially, all twins identified as either omnivores or pescatarians. Post-release, Netflix revisited the participants and discovered noteworthy changes in their meat consumption habits. The most substantial transformation occurred with Charlie and Michael. Charlie is now “almost 90% vegetarian,” while his brother has embraced a fully vegetarian lifestyle. Remarkably, the research outcome surprised even the Stanford researchers themselves and changed the lives of people who engaged.

What do you think about this study? Drop your comments below!