One twin followed a vegan diet and the other an omnivore: here are the surprising results

Twins, interesting and enigmatic people for ordinary people. Imagining that someone identical to you exists is intriguing, and the unique duality of these siblings offers a fascinating field of study.

Their extraordinary similarity, especially in the case of monozygotic twins, where they share 100% of their genetic material, offers scientists a unique opportunity to explore the mysteries of genetics and the influence of the environment.

Christopher Gardner PhD, Professor of Medicine Rehnborg Farquhar at Stanford University wanted to know Among so many diets that exist, which one is the best for cardiovascular health.

Although it is well known that eating less meat improves heart health, diet studies are often hampered by factors such as genetic differences, education and lifestyle choices. Gardner therefore wanted to study identical twins in order to control genetics and limit other factors.

Twins Aleksandra ShaiChai and Mariya Foster took part in the study to examine the effects of different diets on twins’ health. The researchers made them choose between two sheets of paper, one announcing the vegan diet and the other the omnivore diet (meat and vegetables).

ShaiChai and Foster signed up a few years ago to Stanford Twin Registry (a database of fraternal and identical twins who have agreed to participate in research studies), thinking that these studies would be a fun way to contribute to scientific discoveries. They were exactly the type of twins Gardner was looking for, notes the Washington Post

In total, the study included 22 pairs of identical twins for a total of 44 participants. The study authors selected healthy participants without cardiovascular disease from the Twin Registry and matched one twin from each pair to the two diets. Participants also gave blood and stool samples and underwent physical and cognitive tests to assess the diet’s impact on their balance and memory.

Both were healthy, full of vegetables, legumes, fruits and whole grains and free of refined sugars and starches. The vegan diet was exclusively plant-based and included no meat or animal products like eggs or milk. The omnivorous diet included chicken, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy and other animal foods.

ShaiChai is an omnivore, and when she found out she had to change her diet, she didn’t like the idea, she told the Washington Post. But after completing the eight-week study, she was completely encouraged by the results.

The authors found the greatest improvement during the first four weeks of the diet change. Participants following a vegan diet had significantly reduced levels of bad cholesterol (LDL-C), insulin, and body weight compared to omnivores. All of these factors are associated with better cardiovascular health.

For the first four weeks, a meal service delivered 21 meals per week: seven breakfasts, lunches and dinners. For the remaining four weeks, participants prepared their own meals.

Of the 44 participants, 43 completed the study, which Gardner said shows how possible it is to learn how to prepare a healthy diet in four weeks. “Our study used a generalizable diet available to everyone, as 21 of the 22 vegans followed this diet,” Gardner said in a statement. release . “This suggests that anyone choosing a vegan diet can improve their long-term health within two months, with the greatest changes seen in the first month.”

According to results published last week in the JAMA Network Open Magazine Vegan consumers’ low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) decreased by an average of 15.2 milligrams in eight weeks, while among omnivores it decreased by 2.4.

Furthermore, Vegan consumers lost on average almost 2 kilos more than omnivores, and your insulin has decreased about 20% more. “It was definitely worth it,” ShaiChai, 43, told the Washington Post.

Vegan (and to some extent omnivore) participants did the three most important things to improve their cardiovascular health, according to Gardner: They reduced their intake of saturated fats, increased their dietary fiber and lost weight.

“Based on these results and keeping longevity in mind, most of us would benefit from adopting a more plant-based diet,” Gardner said.

ShaiChai said that after four weeks on a vegan diet, he had more energy and slept better. Her sister, after seeing the results, told The Washington Post that she became more conscious of healthy eating.

Gardner emphasized that while most people probably won’t become vegan, the findings are a nudge in the direction of plants that could improve health. “A vegan diet may confer additional benefits, such as an increase in gut bacteria and a reduction in telomere loss, which slows the aging of the body” » said Gardner.

Choosing to follow a vegan diet, or to include more plant-based foods, is a good option for having positive impacts on the body, such as chronic disease prevention, weight management and general well-being .