Netflix’s latest documentary “You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment” has garnered a large audience. The four-part series is about four pairs of identical twins who stick to opposite diets. The twins’ progress is measured for eight weeks; results from these experiments have made many people start to rethink the standard American diet. What scientific lessons can we get from the documentary? That’s where this article comes in.
Is inadequate eating good or bad?
Whenever the topic of dieting is mentioned, many people automatically interpret it to mean not eating. This explains why many people radically reduce their food intake in the name of ‘living healthy.’
However, one of the things the Netflix documentary has proven is that not eating enough causes muscle loss, not fat. The twins, Pam and Wendy, didn’t take the provided carbohydrates; they both lost muscle mass, although they followed different diets.
The diet reduces unhealthy inflammation levels
The twins that participated in the experiment were placed on two different diets- omnivore and plant-based diets. Interestingly, it was discovered that the omnivores had higher levels of a substance that increases unhealthy levels of inflammation, TMAO.
Furthermore, TMAO might cause a higher risk of heart disease. In the case of Pam and Wendy, Pam was on a plant-based diet while Wendy followed an omnivore diet. While Pam’s TMAO reduced by 350% and remained low, Wendy’s TMAO increased by 160%.
Getting younger biologically may be possible with this diet
If you were wondering, your biological age is how old your tissues and cells are, not how long you’ve been alive. Biological age is measured in telomeres; they decrease as we age, so longer telomeres mean better health.
Each twin was confirmed to have the same length of telomeres at the beginning of the study. The omnivorous twins had the same length of telomeres after eight weeks. However, the vegan twins had longer telomeres and were considered biologically younger.
Women might get more than fat loss from a plant-based diet
Aside from the lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health issues, following a heart-based diet enhances many bodily functions. A thermograph was used to measure genital arousal in Carolyn, Rosalyn, Wendy, and Pam.
It was discovered that Pam and Carolyn, who followed plant-based diets, had increased arousal compared to their omnivorous sisters. Carolyn had a 383% increase in genital arousal, while her twin sister had a 212% increase. This implies that plant-based diets may enhance women’s sexual health.
What do these results mean to the food industry?
The shocking revelations from the experiment have shown people that plant-based are more helpful than they are given credit for. From the twins to the general public, the documentary has made people commit to eating more plant-based meals.
This will symbolize a significant shift towards healthier, meat-free meals for the food industry. Although it might not be drastic, this means less revenue for the meat sector. However, increased demand might make plant-based food more expensive in the short run.