Researchers in Australia have analysed the link between food and attraction and found that women prefer the body odour of men who eat a fruit and vegetable-packed diet to those who eat a lot of refined carbohydrates - another reason to pack in your five a day!!
It's linked to our evolution
This all might sound a bit wacky but it's not unreasonable to say that how a person smells can play a large part in our attraction to them - in fact it's actually linked to our evolution. Apparently in our cave man days the scent of a potential partner would instinctively tell us how healthy they were and therefore give a good indication of the survival rate of subsequent offspring.
The latest research to look at how a person' diet may affect the way they smell, has been published in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour - lead author Dr Ian Stephen, a professor at Macquarie University in Sydney, wrote:
"Greater fruit and vegetable intake was significantly associated with more pleasant smelling sweat (with more floral, fruity, sweet and medicinal qualities)... Dietary data revealed that fat, meat, egg and tofu intake was also associated with more pleasant smelling sweat, and greater carbohydrate intake with stronger smelling, less pleasant sweat."
The study tested participants by asking the males to provide both diet information and sweat samples and then the females were asked to smell the sweaty clothes and choose which ones they found most attractive.
According to the female participants. the most attractive smells came from the clothes of men who had a diet rich in fruit and vegetables.
Yellow-ish skin tone caused by pigments in vegetables also shown to be attractive
These results add to previous research showing that the yellow-ish skin tone caused by cartenoids (pigments in vegetables) is said to be an attractive hue.
So while we know we should be eating fruit and veg to keep our bodies healthy, doesn't this provide another great reason to add some berries to your breakfast bowl or swap your daily sarnie for a super food salad?!
A healthy balanced diet is the best way to consume all the nutrients we need. Sometimes however this isn't possible and then supplements can help. This article isn't intended to replace medical advice. Please consult your healthcare professional before trying any supplements or herbal medicines.