The new Netflix docuseriesYou Are What You Eat: A Twin Experimentfollows four sets of identical twins as they participate in a Stanford University study about how different foods impact the body in a multitude of ways. The limited series tracks each twin as they undertake two different diets, one omnivorous and one plant-based, for eight weeks to see how differing diets impact their overall health. While the larger study included 22 pairs of identical twins, the series only details the journey of four of those twin pairings.
Not only does the series explore the scientific responses of the body in relation to a person’s diet, but the show details the Standard American Diet and its correlation to generally poor American health. Furthermore, therecent Netflix documentary seriestakes a glimpse into concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO), commonly known as factory farms, and their disastrous effects on the environment as well as the health conditions of those who live near the farms.
The series clearly holds the point of view that those seeking to improve their health and save the environment should switch to a plant-based diet, and the study’s reported results seemingly bolster such claims. By the end of the eight-week period, those who adhered to the plant-based diet saw significant positive health outcomes. As such, many involved in the study considered making a permanent switch to a more plant-oriented diet in the long run. So, did they ultimately make the shift after the show’s conclusion?
Charlie and Michael
Known as the Cheese Twins at the beginning of the series, Charlie and Michael share a deep love for cheese and often cite cheese as the reason they could never be vegan. Both are European-trained cheesemakers, food safety experts, and have made regular TV appearances onfood showsover the span of their careers. Charlie was assigned the plant-based diet during the study, while Michael was assigned the omnivore diet.
Before their involvement with the series, they were both omnivorous, except Michael was more of a Pescatarian. He ate fish and other seafood but shied away from red meat or poultry. After witnessing Charlie’s positive results following a plant-based diet and the myriad of other environmental issues linked to meat eating, both now follow a vegetarian diet. However, Charlie’s diet is about 90% vegetarian, which remains a significant shift compared to his eating habits before the study.
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Pam and Wendy
Pam and Wendy were by far the most inseparable of the group. Having grown up in South Africa, the pair now live in the United States and do almost everything together. They live together and run several businesses with one another, including a catering company that now offers more plant-based options, thanks to their participation in the Stanford study.
During the study, Pam was assigned the plant-based diet, while Wendy was assigned the omnivore diet. Before their involvement with the series, both sisters were omnivores, believing it wasfood they couldn’t live without, and they loved celebrating their culture through their cooking. Following the conclusion of the study, both still adhere to their previous omnivore diet. However, each says they now eat half as much meat as before as a direct result of the study’s findings.
John and Jevon
John and Jevon were the youngest of the group and probably the fittest when the study began. Having just graduated with their nursing degrees, the pair prided themselves on their love of exercise and creativity. During the study, John was assigned the plant-based diet, while Jevon was assigned the omnivore diet. Like Pam and Wendy, the brothers were omnivores before their involvement with the series and thoroughly enjoyed their meat-centric diets.
However, following their participation in the Stanford study, their diets remained generally the same except for their red meat consumption, which was nearly nonexistent. After learning of thereal environmental impactsof consuming red meat, the twins decided to shift away from such meals.
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Carolyn and Rosalyn
Carolyn and Rosalyn, a high school teacher and a sports relationship coach, have participated in numerous twin experiments with the hopes that Filipino representation in scientific research will become more prevalent. During the study, Carolyn followed the plant-based diet, while Rosalyn followed the omnivore diet. Both were omnivores before participating in the series but didn’t consume massive amounts of meat.
Following their involvement in the study, the sisters still maintain their prior eating habits but approach what they eat with more awareness. As a direct result of the experiment, each has developed a better understanding of food labels, ingredients, and plant-based options. As such, they both think more consciously about what they choose to eat.
In the end, it would seem each twin’s participation in the study altered their diet in some manner. While most didn’t completely shift their prior eating habits, they each implemented gradual steps to include more plants and less meat. Although Charlie and Michael clearly made the biggest shift out of anyone chronicled throughout the series, each participant now takes a different approach when deciding what to eat.You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experimentis currently streaming on Netflix.
