You know eating fruit and vegetables is helpful. But did you know it can also make you look good?
People who increased their intake over just six weeks developed a healthy glow and appeared more attractive, researchers found. Scientists at St Andrews University found eating them subtly increased yellow and red pigments in the volunteers’ skin. They monitored the food intake of 35 people and took pictures of their faces, arms and hands using a sensitive camera at the start, and after three and six weeks.
Increasing their intake of greens by 2.9 portions a day was found to make the person look healthier and an extra 3.3 portions could enhance their attractiveness, when their photographs were rated by others.
Fruit and vegetables are rich in carotenoids (类胡萝卜素), which are known to protect against cell damage from pollution and UV rays, and can also prevent age-related diseases including heart disease and cancer.
But while it was known eating extreme amounts of certain vegetables such as carrots could turn skin orange, it was not known a small increase was perceptible to others and was seen as appealing.
A camera measured changes to the skin redness, yellowness and lightness, and found it significantly changed in people who naturally increased their intake. These changes were not evident at three weeks. Using light sensors, the researchers showed these red and yellow hues were linked with the levels of carotenoids in their skin.
There are hundreds of carotenoids but those thought to have the most dramatic effect are lycopene (番茄红素) which gives tomatoes and red peppers their red color and beta-carotene found in carrots as well as broccoli (西兰花), squash (南瓜), and spinach (菠菜).
Skin color is also affected by chemicals called polyphenols (多酚), found in apples, blueberries and cherries, which cause blood rush to the skin surface.
87. From the passage, we learn that pictures were taken ________.
A.three times using a special camera every three weeks |
B.twice using a sensitive camera every six weeks |
C.by 35 people when they ate fruit and vegetables |
D.by 35 people while being monitored to compare the changes |
88. What can the word “appealing” in Paragraph 5 be replaced by?
A.Frightening. | B.Harmful. |
C.Dangerous. | D.Attractive. |
89. Which are the most effective among hundreds of carotenoids?
A.Tomatoes and red peppers. | B.Squash and spinach. |
C.Lycopene and beta-carotene. | D.Polyphenols and beta-carotene. |
90. What is the purpose of the article?
A.To tell people a new discovery. | B.To advise people to eat more fruit and vegetables. |
C.To introduce a way to protect skin. | D.To list the functions of carotenoids to skin. |