Healthy Skin Comes from Within

Want a healthy glow? Forget getting some sun. Instead, eat your vegetables.

Researchers from the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK and Perception Lab, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland, UK published a study in September of 2010 on Science Direct titled " Carotenoid and melanin pigment coloration affect perceived human health." The study focused on perceived health and skin coloration. The researchers determined that melanin and carotenoid coloration were the top two colorations, and set up their study to determine which coloration was associated with perceived health.

Carotenoid pigment is a yellow coloration of skin, and is produced by the consumption of specific fruits and vegetables. According to WH Foods, foods high in carotenoids include tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, collard greens and kale.

Melanin pigment of the skin is more of a dark and yellow coloration, and is produced by sun exposure.

The study was broken down into three parts in order to study which type of coloration was perceived as healthier looking.

Study Part 1

In this part of the study, the researchers determined a perceptual preference for Caucasian skin that is yellow and light, citing that it appears healthier than other colors and darkness.

Study Part 2

The researchers found in this part of the study that the intake of carotenoids was directly related to the yellow coloration preferred in part 1 of the study.

Study Part 3

Study participants were shown photographs enhanced with either carotenoid coloration or melanin coloration. The participants chose the carotenoid coloration over the melanin coloration in the photographs.

There are health benefits to both melanin and carotenoid production in the body. Melanin production "enhances photoprotection and may be involved in immune defense, but may contribute to vitamin D deficiency." Carotenoid production "is associated with improved immune defense, photoprotection and reproductive health in humans."

In nature, skin coloration determines the perceived suitability of a mate. The external colors of fish or bird species, as well as humans, signals the overall health. This ensures the healthiest of the species mate. The coloration from carotenoids is the coloring associated with healthiness in fish, bird and human species.

Science Daily: Eating vegetables gives skin a more healthy glow than the sun, study shows
Science Direct: Evolution and Human Behavior: Carotenoid and melanin pigment coloration affect perceived human health