In a world where diet trends are constantly evolving, two adventurous and curious souls set out to explore a groundbreaking experiment that would test the limits of nutrition.
Identical twins Hugo and Ross Turner, known for their daring expeditions around the world, took on a different kind of challenge in 2020.
With the growing popularity of the vegan diet among athletes and the growing debate about its effectiveness, they decided to put these claims to the test in a very unique experiment. For 12 weeks, they adopted two completely different diets—
one twin a vegan diet, the other an omnivore—and observed the impact on their bodies, performance, and overall health. Would a vegan diet live up to its reputation as a healthier choice, or would an omnivorous diet prove superior in terms of muscle gain and endurance? The answers to these questions would only come after an intensive 12-week journey with results that would surprise even the most experienced nutritionists.
Ross Turner and Hugo
Identical twins Hugo and Ross Turner, who are known for their adventurous travels, decide to embark on a new kind of adventure – this time a culinary quest. In 2020, they began testing the effects of an omnivorous diet and a vegan diet on two genetically identical people—their own selves.
They were inspired to conduct this unusual 12-week study, which ran from January to March, by the growing acceptance and debate about vegan diets among athletes, as seen in documentaries such as “The Game Changes”.
To maintain equality and eliminate prejudice, the twins maintained a regular fitness training schedule. The regimen, which included endurance training five to six days a week, was created by Ross, a personal trainer. The Mindful Chef delivery service prepared their meals and made sure they ate roughly the same amount of calories each day. Ross followed an omnivorous diet while Hugo went vegan. During the experiment at King’s College London, researchers monitored their basic health parameters, including muscle mass, weight, and cholesterol levels.
Benefits of adopting a vegan diet
A plant-based diet rich in whole, unprocessed foods reduces the risk of heart disease and improves overall health.
This diet consists mostly of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds, is high in fiber and heart-healthy fats, and low in saturated fat. These plant foods also supply our body with vital vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals, which together improve our resistance to a number of diseases.3.
According to several studies, a vegan diet is associated with a lower risk of heart disease.
Compared to non-vegetarians, those who lead a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle tend to have lower blood pressure and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. Well-planned vegan and vegetarian meals can also help control blood sugar and possibly reduce inflammation in the body, according to one study.
It’s important to remember that while a plant-based diet helps people feel better, the generally healthier lifestyles that vegans and vegetarians lead—like more physical exercise and less alcohol consumption—also significantly reduce health risks.
Uncovering Turner’s findings
Over the weeks, the brothers began to notice remarkable differences. Unlike his previous regime, Hugo said he felt more energy and had better mental focus during gym sessions after switching to a vegan diet. He attributed this to a change in snacking preferences, replacing chips and crackers with fruit and nuts because they are suitable for vegans.
Hugo’s weight and body fat decreased, which was one of the most noticeable effects of his dietary changes.
He started the trial weighing around 185 pounds with 13% body fat, but by the end, he weighed 181 pounds and his body fat percentage had dropped to 12%. In addition, he observed a decrease in cholesterol levels. But there was a clear downside: Hugo’s libido was significantly reduced when following a vegan diet.
Ross, who was a bit bigger than his sibling at first, saw distinct results.
He increased his body fat percentage to 15% while maintaining an omnivorous diet, gaining 10 pounds of muscle but also fat. Ross’s cholesterol level did not change during the experiment, unlike Hugo’s.
In conclusion, a 12-week dietary experiment conducted by Hugo and Ross Turner revealed some interesting differences between vegan and omnivorous diets, even in genetically identical individuals. Hugo’s transition to a vegan diet brought positive changes such as increased energy, improved mental focus, and a reduction in weight and body fat. However, the drop in libido was a notable drawback. Ross’s omnivorous diet, on the other hand, led to an increase in muscle mass but also an increase in body fat, while his cholesterol levels remained stable.
These results underscore the idea that while both diets offer unique health benefits, they also come with their own set of challenges. The Turner brothers’ experiment shows how individual responses to diet can vary, even when the training regimen is the same. It serves as a reminder that the best diet is one that aligns with personal health goals, lifestyle, and nutritional needs.