If you want to feel your best in the morning, it might be worth eating whole grain toast or sugar-free tea instead of ultra-processed pastries and fruit juices.
French researchers found that people who ate a breakfast rich in refined carbohydrates were rated as less attractive than those who started their day with healthier unrefined carbohydrates.
Scientists at the University of Montpellier have found that subtle changes in facial attractiveness can be caused by changes in blood sugar and insulin, which can affect the appearance of the skin and have long-term effects on sex hormones. I think there is.
“It's surprising when you think about it, but our dietary choices can have a rapid impact on our appearance,” said Claire Barty, an evolutionary biologist and lead author of the study. Dr. Kat said. “These physiological changes can subtly alter facial features and influence how attractiveness is perceived by others.”
Researchers recruited 52 men and 52 women between the ages of 20 and 30 and randomly assigned them to eat a 500-calorie breakfast rich in refined or unrefined carbohydrates. A refined carbohydrate breakfast included a French baguette made from industrially milled flour, jam, apple or orange juice, and tea or coffee with sugar. The unrefined carbohydrate meal consisted of stone-ground whole-grain bread with butter and cheese, an orange or apple, and sugar-free tea or coffee.
The scientists measured the volunteers' blood sugar levels before and after meals and took photographs of the participants' faces under controlled lighting conditions. The photos were then given to a group of raters who estimated the individual's age, masculinity or femininity, and how attractive they looked.
Researchers writing in Plos One claim that eating refined carbohydrates for breakfast reduces facial attractiveness in men and women, but eating such foods collected from questionnaires filled out by volunteers. The long-term effects were more complex.
“The effects varied by gender and diet, highlighting the complex relationship between diet and attractiveness,” Verticat says. “Our findings are a compelling reminder that dietary choices have far-reaching effects not only on health, but also on traits of particular social importance, such as facial attractiveness.”
Refined carbohydrates can cause blood sugar levels to spike, and the body counters this by releasing insulin. This reaction can cause blood sugar levels to drop too low, a condition called hypoglycemia, which can affect blood flow and the appearance of your skin. In this study, only a refined carbohydrate breakfast caused hypoglycemia.
David Perrett, a professor of psychology at the University of St Andrews who studies facial cues for health, said it's no surprise that diet influences attractiveness. He said fruits and vegetables can improve attractiveness by increasing plant pigments called carotenoids in the skin, but a diet high in sugar can age the skin.
“The authors suggest that refined carbohydrates may have an effect on peripheral blood flow,” Perrett said. “Blood flow can quickly change the appearance of your skin. If you feel sick because blood is rushing out of your skin, you'll notice the effects within seconds. We find that skin color appears healthier and more attractive, reflecting small increases.”
When asked what advice he would give to people who want to look their best, Verticut said: “We know that refined carbohydrates are bad for your health, and that's a good reason to limit your carbohydrate intake.”