February 9, 2024
You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment
The four-part docuseries You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment was released on Netflix on January 1, 2024. This show is based on the “Standford Twins Nutrition Study” conducted by nutrition scientist Christopher Gardner, PhD. Of the 22 pairs of twins who are taking part in this study, four are featured in this fascinatingly informative show. This eight-week experiment requires each set of siblings to consume drastically different diets: they are randomly given either a vegan or omnivorous (meat- and plant-based) diet. For the first month, they will receive a food delivery, and they are only to consume what is specifically provided. For the last four weeks, they will maintain their designated diet, and they must make and buy their own food. The purpose of this experiment is to study the impact of the two diets for various health categories, including cardiovascular health, metabolic status, etc. During the first episode, many of these topics are further discussed as the doctors weigh the pros and cons of the meat- and dairy-based diet versus the plant-based diet.
Although there are many educational topics covered in this show, don’t let that deter you from witnessing the interesting way the twins react to receiving their diet without the control of personal choice. There are many scenes that feature the twins in their element, such as cooking for family and friends and hearing their opinions and guesses on what will happen during the study based on understanding how each twin feels about their assigned diet. It was entertaining to watch two sets of twins express indifference about which diet they would receive, and the disappointment of the other twins that were wishing for a particular diet. Specifically, the twins John and Jevon both received the opposite of what they were hoping for, and it was comical to watch their reaction. Watch this docuseries on Netflix to see the shocking results of the experiment and how John and Jevon persevere through these changes.