New Study Utilizes 22 Sets of Twins to Research If a Vegan Diet Is Healthier Than Eating Meat

Mar. 15, 2025

Woman eating food.Photo:Getty

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To meat or not to meat?

The study, which took place over eight weeks, specifically looked at cardiovascular health, including the twins' cholesterol levels, sugar levels, insulin levels and body weight.

The group’s diets revolved around healthy foods, including lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and limited unhealthy aspects, such as added sugars, refined grains and highly processed foods.

Twins.Getty

In a statement toToday, Dr. Christopher Gardner, the senior author of the study, said that identical twins were used specifically because they have the same genes and upbringing, as well as similar attitudes and behaviors with food and exercise.

He added that each set of twins were randomly assigned to one of the two diets, and neither got to choose their own.

Once the two-month study concluded, researchers found that the twins who followed a vegan diet lost more weight, reduced their LDL, which is also known as “bad” cholesterol, and experienced lower insulin levels.

For many, it included a 20% drop in insulin levels, a 12% drop in LDL cholesterol and a 3% drop in overall body weight.

Vegetables.cc

“The takeaway is not that the world should go vegan,” Gardner toldTodayin a statement after the study was released.

source: people.com