For years, the debate about the most effective diet for optimal health has raged on. While many suggest a balanced approach, featuring a bit of everything in moderation, twin adventurers Hugo and Ross Turner took a unique approach to uncover which diet truly reigns supreme.
Armed with their identical genetics, the Turner twins embarked on a 12-week nutritional experiment, in collaboration with Kings College London, to directly compare the effects of a vegan diet versus a meat-inclusive diet. Hugo adopted the vegan lifestyle, eliminating all animal products from his meals, while Ross continued to consume meat, dairy, and fish.
Both twins consumed the same number of calories and followed identical exercise regimes to ensure any differences observed were solely due to diet. Hugo shared with the BBC, who documented their dietary journey, that initially, his body struggled without meat, dairy, and cheese, especially since he’s a self-professed cheese lover.
Despite the initial cravings, Hugo noticed several positive changes. “I was now having to eat fruit and nuts and alternatives that didn’t have any dairy in them – and so that meant I was eating a lot more wholesome food, which meant that my sugar levels were a lot satiated during the day. I felt like I had more energy,” he explained.
On the flip side, Ross experienced fluctuating energy levels, feeling highly energetic on some days, but facing significant energy drops on others.
While Ross maintained a diverse gut bacteria profile, Hugo saw a severe drop in his, which could potentially increase susceptibility to illnesses. However, not all effects were negative for Hugo; he experienced a dramatic decrease in cholesterol levels, lost weight, and improved his resistance to type two diabetes.
The study also led Ross to evaluate his diet more critically, particularly highlighting the amount of processed food he consumed in comparison to Hugo’s healthier vegan meals. In terms of body composition changes, Hugo lost four pounds and reduced his body fat by one percent. Contrastingly, Ross gained 10 pounds, mostly muscle, but his body fat percentage increased from 13 to 15 percent.
Ultimately, the twins concluded that there wasn’t a significant difference in the impact of each diet on their overall health. However, the individual results did show distinct variations in how each diet can affect body composition, energy levels, and metabolic health.