In a study that will be published in December in the International Journal of Primatology, investigators have found that the color of a person's skin determines how healthy they appear. They also surmise that diet is a major factor that gives the skin that healthy appearance.
In the study Caucasian participants, using special software, were asked to change the skin color of male and female Caucasian faces to make them look the most healthy. The participants chose to turn up the redness, yellowness, and brightness of the skin.
If the skin is a little flushed with blood, this suggests the person has a strong heart and lungs. The investigators believe that slightly yellow skin comes from eating fruits and vegetables which have antioxidants that help fight off disease and soak up toxins.
The part of the study that warms my heart is the fact that the study participants didn't make the skin tanner to make it look healthy, they actually lightened it.
I think this study reinforces what we already knew about "living right" -- exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet with fruits and vegetables, and use sunscreen to protect your skin.
