The health of 22 sets of twins was examined after they followed both vegan and meat diets. Here is an account of their health outcomes.

 In the ongoing debate regarding the impact of a meat-free or meat-filled diet on overall health, a recent study has provided further evidence supporting the benefits of a meat-free diet. Researchers at Stanford University conducted an examination of the health of 22 pairs of identical twin adults to observe the effects of different dietary choices over a two-month period. One twin followed a vegan diet, free from animal products, while the other twin followed an omnivorous diet, which included both animal and plant-based foods.

The study, which was published on November 30th in the journal JAMA Network Open, focused specifically on the cardiovascular health of the twins. Parameters such as cholesterol levels, sugar levels, insulin levels, and body weight were analyzed. After eight weeks of adhering to their respective diets, the twin siblings who followed a vegan diet exhibited greater weight loss, reduced levels of LDL (commonly known as "bad" cholesterol), and lower insulin levels, as indicated by the study's findings.

The authors of the study stated, "The findings from this trial suggest that a healthy plant-based diet offers a significant protective cardiometabolic advantage compared with a healthy omnivorous diet." These findings further support previous research that has demonstrated the superiority of plant-based diets over non-plant-based diets in terms of cardiovascular health.

A study conducted last year revealed that adopting a plant-based diet can potentially extend one's lifespan. Researchers in Norway utilized computer models to compare a typical Western diet, which is high in animal-based proteins, dairy, and sugar, with an ideal plant-based diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains while minimizing animal-based proteins. According to the computer models, a 20-year-old individual who fully embraced a plant-based diet could potentially add 10 years to their life. Similarly, an 80-year-old who adopted a plant-based diet could increase their life expectancy by three years. This study was published in February 2022 in PLOS Medicine.

What sets the Stanford study apart is its utilization of identical twins who share the same genetic makeup and environmental factors, as highlighted by the study's authors.