You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment Documentary Review

• Documentary Name: You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment
• Director: Louie Psihoyos
• Run Time: 3h 18m
• Year of Release: 2024
• Our Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)

Netflix’s latest food documentary ‘You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment’ showcases a unique scientific experiment where identical twins are subjected to different food diets – omnivore and vegan. 

The study conducted by Stanford University put 22 sets of genetically identical twins on different diets, where one pair of twins is allowed a vegan diet while the other is given a meat-based diet. The study was done over 8 weeks where the twins were given their meals for the first four weeks and had to prepare meals during the next 4 weeks. In addition, the identical twins are also asked to follow certain fitness regimes over these 8 weeks. 

Though this study was done on almost two dozen twins, the documentary series You Are What You Eat focuses on the lives of four pairs of different age groups and demographics. 

Right from their diet assignment to the final health results, we are taken through their emotions, lifestyles, and health variables as they go along their dietary journey. As you can imagine, pre- and post-comparison of the participants is done of different aspects of their body composition, gut microbiota, and even sexual arousal to determine if diet has a role to play in a person’s health. 

The food documentary is divided into four parts and along with the twin experiment, it showcases stories of an animal agriculture farmer who transitions to mushroom farming, a restaurant owner who turns his famous restaurant into a vegan, and a plant-based cheese maker, along with others. 

Though the premise of the documentary ‘You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment’ is intriguing as it tries to analyze the aspect of diet on individuals that share the same genes, DNA, and social circumstances, it falters by putting too much focus on veganism.

Interjecting with stories related to animal agriculture, farming of salmon, and a vegan restaurant, felt a little confusing and unnecessary. 

Released in early January 2024 on Netflix ‘You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment’ is directed by Louie Psihoyos, who has another plant-based documentary ‘The Game Changers’ to his credit. 

You might also like to read our review of another documentary What the Health.