Guess Who Got Healthier in Just 8 Weeks?

There’s something about summer that makes fresh eating feel effortless. Farmers markets overflow with juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, sweet corn, and herbs galore. Each one a reminder that nature’s best is also your body’s best friend. But beyond the flavor, there’s growing science showing that filling your plate with plant-based foods can do wonders for your heart and a recent twin study from Stanford proves it.

In this unique study, 22 pairs of identical twins were split into two diet groups: one twin followed a vegan diet (no meat, dairy, or eggs), and the other followed a healthy omnivore diet (including fish, chicken, and dairy). Because the twins shared the same genes and similar lifestyles, it gave researchers a rare chance to isolate the effect of diet alone.

The results? The vegan group saw powerful improvements—in just 8 weeks.

•    Bad cholesterol (LDL) dropped significantly
•    Insulin levels (a key marker for diabetes) went down by about 20%
•    Participants lost over 4 pounds more than their omnivore siblings

Most of these changes happened in just the first month, showing how quickly a plant-based approach can support heart health.

🥕 Your Summer Eating, Reinvented

With so many fresh fruits and veggies in season, now’s the perfect time to lean into this kind of eating. Think rainbow salads, grilled veggie skewers, chilled melon soups, corn and black bean tacos, or hummus with summer herbs. You don’t have to go fully vegan—but adding more of these seasonal, plant-powered foods to your meals is a smart (and tasty) move.

As one of the researchers put it, “Even a gentle nudge in the plant-based direction can pay off.” And what better time to do it than now, when nature is delivering the goods in full color?

Published June 1, 2025