Identical twins, Hugo and Ross Turner, have always been up for a challenge, especially when it comes to testing out different diets and health trends. Over the years, they’ve taken part in five different health studies, each focused on how specific diets affect the body. Their latest study? The classic meat vs vegan diet, which turned out to be a true test of willpower and patience for Hugo, who chose the vegan path.

A 12-Week Vegan Challenge

Hugo’s 12-week vegan diet was part of a broader study aimed at comparing the impact of different eating habits on health, especially gut health. While Ross followed a high-carb diet for three months and Hugo went for a high-fat one, their meat vs vegan study caught the most attention.

During the study, Hugo was able to report some positive effects of going vegan. He felt more energetic and didn’t miss eating meat, which surprised him. “I actually felt pretty good,” Hugo shared, “I had more energy than I expected.” But as with any diet change, there were some downsides. The biggest issue Hugo faced was a decrease in the variety of his gut bacteria. This made him more vulnerable to diseases, an unexpected side effect of the vegan diet.

The Struggles of Being Vegan

Despite the positive energy boost, Hugo quickly learned that being vegan wasn’t all smooth sailing. One of the hardest parts of sticking to a plant-based diet was dealing with the limited food options and the social challenges that come with it. Hugo recalled one particular moment when he hit a breaking point. “I got so annoyed one day about being vegan. I said, ‘Right, I’m just gonna go buy garlic bread, and that’s it.'”

But when he got home, he realized that the garlic bread he bought wasn’t vegan after all. “It had butter in it!” Hugo said. Devastated by this mistake, he ended up throwing the bread across the room in frustration.

Another challenge Hugo faced was finding enough variety in his meals. “It was really, really tough finding foods and recipes I could eat,” he explained. While Hugo had to deal with these frustrations, he was grateful that the study took place during lockdown, when he didn’t have to worry too much about eating out or attending social gatherings.

The Social Impact of a Restrictive Diet

Hugo admitted that the lockdown helped ease the pressure of sticking to a vegan diet. “I don’t even think restaurants were open, which probably masked the reality of going vegan,” he said. “If restaurants, pubs, or bars were open, eating out would have been an absolute nightmare.” Socializing with friends or attending weekend gatherings would have been much harder if he had to stick strictly to vegan food choices. The restrictions made things easier, but Hugo still found the experience “annoying” at times.

Health Studies: A Twins Tradition

The Turner twins have always been curious about how different diets affect their bodies. In fact, their most recent study focused on high-fat vs high-carb diets, where Hugo took on the high-fat challenge due to Ross’s high cholesterol levels. “Ross has really high cholesterol, so I took the bullet for him and did the high-fat diet,” Hugo explained.

For the meat vs vegan study, Hugo chose to follow the vegan diet because he was personally interested in the effects it might have on his body. Meanwhile, Ross was happy to stick with his usual eating habits, allowing Hugo to experiment with plant-based eating.

What’s Next for the Turner Twins?

As for future studies, Hugo and Ross aren’t stopping any time soon. They’re particularly interested in trying out a fasting vs non-fasting experiment. “I want to do the harder side of things this time,” Ross said. “I’m genuinely curious about twins what it would do to me if I just kept doing my normal diet while Hugo fasts.”

The twins are also open to hearing suggestions from the public. Some of their ideas include comparing different workout routines, like one-rep vs 12-rep strength training, or even testing ab simulator pads against traditional sit-ups.

Conclusion

Hugo and Ross Turner’s health twins experiments offer fascinating insights into the effects of various diets on the body. Their vegan vs meat challenge was not without its struggles, especially for Hugo, who faced the toughest parts of the diet with determination. Whether they’re testing out high-fat meals or considering a fasting challenge, these twins are committed to exploring the science behind diet and health, one experiment at a time.