We are all aware that consuming five portions of fruits and vegetables a day is more beneficial than spending time sunbathing or tanning. A recent study shows that this habit can also make us more appealing to the opposite sex. As per the research conducted by Ian Stephen, 29, assistant professor of psychology at Nottingham University’s Malaysian campus, this finding is more likely to impact young people’s dietary choices than the Department of Health’s persistent advice. 

Ian Stephen stated that researchers typically tell young people to "eat well, or in 50 years, you will experience a heart attack." With the new study, researchers can give them a better motivation, such as "consume fruits and veggies, and you will look excellent in six to eight weeks."

The research results suggest that consuming a healthy diet and reducing sun exposure may increase one’s attractiveness. The carotenoid, an antioxidant that gives fruits and vegetables their red colour, plays a significant part in this process. When consumed, carotenoids are stored in the skin’s fat layer, secreted as serum via the skin, and then reabsorbed into the skin’s top layer. This imbues the skin with a healthy golden glow.

Stephen notes that the research focused on Caucasian skin, with suggestions that this study carries racial implications. However, the researcher confirmed that the research could be conducted elsewhere, such as in West Africa, where red palm oil is high in carotenoids.

Stephen’s study was based in Scotland, where the light rays are less invasive. The Carotenoid and Melanin pigments influence skin’s yellowness. In an experiment conducted, he gauged the colour changes associated with carotenoid and melanin levels in the skin. Then, he allowed participants to alter carotenoid and melanin colour levels in facial images through a computer programme. Participants preferred an increased carotenoid colour for attractive faces. The study also involved measuring fruit and vegetable intake by conducting a diet questionnaire and analysing skin tones, which confirmed that the golden glow was due to carotenoid levels other than melanin.

The study had over 80 participants in the dietary study and 30 in facial transformation on the computer. Still, according to Stephen, there is no reason older participants won’t respond similarly. Women demonstrated a preference for lighter skin, indicating that men’s preference for the tanned look is not as appealing to them.

Finally, Stephen notes that the study implies that Darwin’s theory on skin colour’s importance in sexual attraction still holds today. Attractiveness serves an evolutionary role by signalling a healthy, high-quality partner to potential mates.

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and Unilever Research have provided funding for the study. The fruits of this research may also benefit the Department of Health and the numerous individuals under the age of 30 who may now appreciate the advantages of incorporating "five a day" into their diet.

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