A Surprising New Health Benefit of Eating Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and enjoying an abundance of them lowers the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, eye disease and some types of cancer. But now there’s another reason to add more vegetables and fruits to your diet – it could make you look more attractive. According to a new study, fruits and veggies could have a more powerful effect on your skin than skin creams you buy at the cosmetic counter.

The Beauty of Eating Fruits and Vegetables

Researchers at the University of St. Andrews in the United Kingdom recently discovered the beauty benefits of eating fruits and veggies. After following 35 volunteers over a six week period and monitoring their fruit and veggie intake, they found those who ate more fruits and vegetables had perceptible changes in their skin tone. The skin of the fruit and veggie eaters had more color, appearing slightly more yellow and red. These changes in skin coloration were viewed as more desirable by volunteers asked to judge their level of attractiveness. Photos of individuals with more yellow and red skin color were consistently viewed as healthier and more attractive.

Eating fruits and veggies may be better than blusher from the cosmetic counter, but why does eating more plant-based foods cause this subtle change in skin color? Researchers believe it’s natural pigments they contain called carotenoids. The two best examples of carotenoids are beta-carotene, an orange pigment found in abundance in carrots, sweet potatoes, red peppers, cantaloupe, peaches, winter squash, and green, leafy vegetables. Then there’s lycopene, a red plant pigment found in large quantities in tomatoes, watermelon, apricots, and pink grapefruit.

The good news is you don’t have to “veg out’ to get these benefits. In this study, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption by as little as three servings a day was enough to achieve these subtle changes in skin color that were perceived as healthy and more attractive.

Get the Glow of Health by Eating More Produce

To get the beauty benefits of fruits and veggies, look for ways to add more produce to your diet. Add fresh fruit to hot oatmeal in the morning, and stir it into yogurt. Sliced peaches are a good choice since they’re an excellent source of beta-carotene. Add red peppers and spinach to an egg omelet to get a head start on your veggie quota. Replace white potatoes with sweet potatoes to further boost the beta-carotene in your diet. If you’re pressed for time, drink a glass of low-sodium vegetable juice.

When you eat out, choose a restaurant that offers a salad bar, and substitute a serving of vegetables for the starch most restaurants serve with entrees. Munch on fruit instead of a sweet dessert. Keep a tray of raw veggies in the refrigerator along with a healthy dip for snacking between meals.

The Bottom Line?

There are lots of reasons you can’t see to eat more fruits and vegetables, but now there’s one you can. Eating them could make you look healthier and more attractive. Bring on the carrots and tomatoes! It could be the best thing you do for your skin – and your heart.

 

References:

PLoS ONE 7(3): e32988. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032988.
World’s Healthiest Foods website.
Harvard School of Public Health. The Nutrition Source. “Vegetables and Fruits”

 

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