What is the best diet for health? This is a question people have been debating for years.
The most basic answer is probably to mix everything in moderation, but two identical twins had the rare opportunity to discover their best diet all at once.
The twins had the rare opportunity to compare their eating habits. (Instagram/@theturnertwiins)
Explorers Hugo Turner and Ross Turner share the same genetic material, so they decided to try two different diets to see what difference it made to their bodies.
During the 12-week study, conducted in partnership with King’s College London, Hugo followed a vegan diet while Ross maintained a diet that included meat, dairy and fish.
They both ate the same amount of calories every day and participated in the same training routines to ensure that it was only diet that worked.
talk Speaking to the BBC, which documented the twins’ journey, Hugo admitted that the vegan diet had taken a “toll” on his body.
“I think the first few weeks I really craved meat, dairy and cheese. I love cheese,” he said.
However, Hugo saw many benefits from giving up animal products.
He said: “I now have to eat fruit, nuts and dairy-free alternatives, which means I’m eating a lot more healthful foods and my blood sugar levels are much higher during the day.”
“I felt energized.”
Meanwhile, Hugo’s meat-eating twin said his performance in the gym has been “a bit up and down.”
He said some days he was “very energetic” and other days he experienced “huge downturns.”
No significant differences were found in the results for the twins. (BBC Global)
But Hugo also recognised some drawbacks to veganism when he noticed that the diversity of his own gut bacteria had “significantly” decreased, while his brother’s remained the same, meaning Ross was less susceptible to disease.
Overall, the study found “there was no significant difference” between the two diets, but Hugo experienced a “tremendous” reduction in his cholesterol levels, lost weight and improved his resistance to type 2 diabetes.
The diet helped Ross realise how much processed food she was eating after watching her brother’s healthy vegan cooking.
A vegan diet also proved effective in reducing body fat, with Hugo losing four pounds and one percent body fat.
In comparison, Ross gained 10 pounds of muscle but also gained fat, ultimately increasing his body fat percentage from 13 percent to 15 percent.
