CarnalNation

Now you have one more good reason to get your five-to-ten servings of produce per day: it makes you more attractive to the opposite sex. Researchers at St. Andrews University in Scotland found that Caucasian men and women are highly attracted to the “rosy” look that develops from consuming fruits and vegetables.

The research team used computer software with 54 participants and asked them to manipulate the skin colour and brightness of male and female faces to reflect what they viewed as healthy and desireable. They found that most people adjusted the “rosiness, yellowness and brightness” of the sample faces and though they liked a “golden glow,” it was yellowish and rosy cheeks that prevailed. Skin that is slightly flushed represents a healthy supply of fresh blood and oxygen while those who are less healthy may have fewer blood vessels in their skin.

Dr. Ian Stephen, the lead researcher, describes Keira Knightly, Johnny Depp, and musician Myleene Klass as examples of the preferred healthy glow. “Most previous work on faces has focussed on the shape of the face or the texture of the skin, but one of the most variable characteristics of the face is skin colour,” Stephen explains. “In the west we often think that sun tanning is the best way to improve the colour of your skin, but our research suggests that living a healthy lifestyle with a good diet might actually be better.

Professor David Perrett of University of St. Andrews explains the link between diet and skin health. "What we eat and not just how much we eat appears to be important for a healthy appearance. The only natural way in which we can make our skin lighter and more yellow is to eat a more healthy diet high in fruit and vegetables."

The study is published in the December issue of the International Journal of Primatology