Want a Tan? Eat Your Vegetables

This study was published in the Journal Evolution and Human Behaviour, and its lead author is Dr. Ian Stephen. He said that, “Most people think the best way to improve skin colour is to get a suntan, but our research shows that eating lots of fruit and vegetables is actually more effective.” What the team found is that people who eat a larger portion of fruit and vegetables on a daily basis have a golden skin color.

The compounds that the researchers found are helpful for creating that golden glow include alpha-carotene, beta-carotene and beta- cryptoxanthin. These are then converted into Vitamin A. There are specific foods that are rich in vitamin A. They include: carrots, apricots, mangoes, plums, kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, turnip greens, and winter squash.

The researchers showed images of people who had gotten a golden color either from the sun or from their diet. According to Dr Stephen, they found that "Given the choice between skin colour caused by suntan and skin colour caused by carotenoids, people preferred the carotenoid skin colour, so if you want a healthier and more attractive skin colour, you are better off eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables than lying in the sun."