Eating fruits, veggies may make you look attractive: Study

Melbourne: Higher intake of fruits and vegetables may be the key to looking good and having attractive skin, according to a new study published today.

The research from the University of Newcastle (UON) in Australia has also busted the myth that young adults perceive tanned facial skin to be healthy and attractive.

As part of the study, participants were asked to manipulate the colour of 50 different faces on a computer to make them appear "as healthy as possible."

Three separate experiments were carried out on each face without participants knowing what variables they were adjusting.

The findings revealed that participants across the board preferred skin colour associated with higher intakes of fruit and vegetables compared to skin colour associated with sun exposure.

"Participants associated the appearance of health with carotenoid colouration, removing the melanin colouration when both were applied to the image simultaneously," said Kristine Pezdirc, lead author of the study published in the Australian Journal of Psychology.

"The take home message and bottom line is, for a healthy glow, hit the fruit and vegetables before heading out," Pezdirc said.

Human skin colour is influenced by three pigments - haemoglobin, carotenoids and melanin. There are some concerns if young Australian adults perceive skin colouration from tanning (melanin) to be healthy.

"This group in particular has an increased risk of developing skin cancers as they are less likely to use sun protection," Pezdirc said.

She said that further research among a broader population could help influence young Australian adults to alter their behaviours relating to sun exposure and diet.

"Young Australians have one of the lowest intakes of fruit and vegetables compared to other adult life stages. These appearance-based outcomes could also be used to encourage an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption," said Pezdirc.

Professor Clare Collins from UON, said that young Australians need to aim for five serves of vegetables and two serves of fruit a day in line with national recommendations.