Eating more plants might make you healthier, but could it also make you more attractive? A new scientific review suggests plant-forward diets may influence several things people perceive as attractive, including skin color, body odor, and body composition, with some changes showing up within just a few weeks.

Researchers reviewed 25 years of studies and found several interesting connections. Eating more carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables can subtly change skin coloration in ways that are often perceived as healthier and more attractive, while one controlled study found that men’s body odor was rated as more pleasant and attractive after two weeks without red meat. Diets high in refined carbohydrates may also affect facial attractiveness, while plant-forward diets are associated with lower body fat, but researchers caution that the connection between plant-based eating, body composition, and attractiveness is indirect.

The researchers aren’t suggesting there’s a universal recipe for attractiveness, and they stress that beauty standards vary between people and cultures. But if distant promises about heart health and longevity aren’t enough motivation to get you to eat your veggies, becoming more attractive in just a couple of weeks might be a good incentive.
Source: LIDSEN