Dermatologists and dietitians alike have been saying for years that a healthy diet chock full of vegetables can give you clearer, better-looking skin. Well, turns out that eating lots of veggies has an added bonus: if you’re pale-skinned, it can give you a tan-like glow, according to researchers from Bristol University in the UK. Researchers discovered that people who consumed an abundance of carotenoid-rich foods like cantaloupe, carrots, sweet potatoes and bell peppers and apricots saw an improvement in their skin’s appearance after just one month.
Equally cool, researchers asked people to look at photos of skin with a golden glow from vegetable consumption, and other photos of skin browned from the sun. The verdict: skin that had a “veggie glow” was rated as far more attractive than sun-bronzed skin.
I don’t know about you, but I love that just one month of healthy eating can make such a visible difference in my appearance. As if you needed another reason to stock up on carotenoids, previous research has shown that these powerful plant antioxidants help protect against UV damage, making them doubly beneficial for your skin.
-Camille
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Camille
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Ha! I’m sure I’m not the only “oompaloompa baby” who turned orange from eating a pumpkin-heavy diet. I never thought to do it again, for “beauty” reasons! I’ll have to try that.
Yes, but if you eat toooooo many carrots (as well as quite a long list of other vegetables) you can develop exaggeratedly orange hands and feet. I know, I did it. It’s called Carotenemia. Harmless, but people DO notice (and you should have it checked out in case it’s something else that looks similar).
You’re absolutely right, GB! From my understanding, this study looked at a variety of different veggies–not just carrots–which probably had better results. Also, more is not always better, even when it comes to vegetables. I just heard about a woman who went into a coma because she ate several pounds of raw bok choy a day; apparently it contains an enzyme that, uncooked, can be dangerous when consumed in really large quantities. Everything in moderation!
Sweet. I am so pale I could really go for a dose of carrot-glow. It’s so great to find a blog stocked up with great writing, fascinating insights, and healthy tips. I love your blog and can’t wait to read more!
Thanks, Brooke! Glad we found each other–I was just reading through Food Woolf’s old posts and absolutely love it. We’ll have to have you on SG sometime soon if you’re interested!