Two adventurers embarked on a mission to determine the effects of different diets on the human body, and their findings might surprise you.
There’s no universal rule for eating that suits everyone.
Specialists at Harvard University suggest incorporating whole grains, vegetables, fruits, proteins, and healthy plant oils into your diet.
However, many individuals opt for challenging diets like Keto, Paleo, or Intermittent Fasting to gain health benefits.
But can a particular diet truly transform your body? Identical twins Hugo and Ross Turner decided to explore this question.
Sharing identical genetics, the Turner twins wanted to examine how a diet might change their bodies over a 12-week period.
Partnering with Kings College London, Hugo committed to a vegan diet, while Ross continued consuming meat, dairy, and fish.
Before starting, they were instructed to consume the same calorie intake and maintain identical exercise routines, ensuring diet was the only variable.
In a BBC interview, Hugo revealed that the vegan diet initially impacted his body.
“The first couple of weeks were tough with cravings for meat, dairy, and cheese. I love cheese,” he confessed.
However, he eventually recognized the advantages of eliminating animal products.
Hugo stated, “I began eating more fruit, nuts, and non-dairy alternatives, which meant consuming more wholesome foods. This stabilized my sugar levels throughout the day, giving me more energy.”
Conversely, Ross, the meat-eater, described his gym results as “variable.”
On some days, he felt “very energetic,” but on others, he experienced “significant dips.”
Hugo also noticed some drawbacks to a vegan lifestyle. He observed a “severe” decline in the diversity of his gut bacteria, whereas Ross’s remained stable, making Ross less prone to illnesses.
Ultimately, the twins discovered there wasn’t “a significant difference, if any” between the diets.
However, Hugo’s cholesterol levels dropped significantly, he lost weight, and his resistance to type two diabetes improved.
The dietary experiment also made Ross more aware of how much processed food he was consuming compared to Hugo’s nutritious vegan meals.
Veganism proved more effective for shedding body fat, as Hugo lost four pounds and reduced his body fat by one percent.
In contrast, Ross gained 10 pounds of muscle but also increased his body fat percentage from 13 to 15 percent.