A team of researchers from the University of Bristol (UK) has shown thateating fruits and vegetables is the best way to get a healthy look and tan our skin. “Many people believe that the only way to get tanned skin is to sunbathe, but eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is even more effective,” says study co-author Ian Stephen. His team was the first first tolink skin color to diet.
According to the study,carotenoidsprovided by fruits and vegetables are antioxidants that, in addition to improving our immune system, help our skin acquire a golden hue. And they make us look better for our peers. As part of their experiments, Stephen and his colleagues used computer software to manipulate skin color in photographs of 50 faces and asked participantswhich faces seemed healthier, if those whose color was enhanced by sun tanning or those that showed the effect of carotenoids. They all chose the second option.
The study is also the first to reveal certainsimilarities between humans and some species of birds whose males display bright yellow huesin their feathers that show how healthy they are. The brighter their yellow plumage is due to the intake of antioxidants, the authors explain, “the higher their fertility and the stronger their immune system,” which is why females prefer them. “Our research suggests thatthe coloration of carotenoids in human skin is a similar health and fertility warning“says Ian Stephen, head of the research.” Evolution favors those individuals who mate with healthier individuals “, clarifies Professor Perrett, co-author of the study, which is published in the latest issue of the scientific journalEvolution and Human Behaviour.
