It’s actually possible to glow…
Eating at least three portions of fruit and vegetables daily, including carrots, cabbages and kiwi fruit, gives skin a “health” radiance like a tan after just a few weeks, according to the study.
Psychologists from the University of St Andrews analysed the impact fruit and vegetable consumption had on perception of skin colour.
Pictures were taken of men and women to analyse their skin tone before and after the test period.
Researchers found that increased fruit and vegetable consumption led to a deepening of natural red and yellow skin colouration.
They calculated that 2.9 portions of fruit and veg a day over a six-week period are enough to make people look more healthy, while 3.3 portions will boost attractiveness.
That’s a few more kiwis and carrots on the shopping list then…
“Advertising the results of our work could be persuasive in motivating individuals to eschew the dangers of excess ultraviolet exposure in favour of improving diet, which we show to be a more effective way of improving appearance,” says Dr Ross Whitehead, who led the study.
“We found that skin colour associated with fruit and vegetable consumption influences apparent health to a greater extent a tan.”
Carotenoids, the nutrients responsible for the colours in foods, including carrots and sweet potatoes, are thought to be responsible for the effects.
Carotenoids are also present in all layers of human skin.
