Eating at least three portions of fruit and vegetables daily – including carrots, cabbages and kiwi fruit – gives your skin a “healthy” radiance akin to a tan after just a few weeks, a new study has revealed.

Psychologists from the University of St Andrews analysed the impact fruit and vegetable consumption had on perception of skin colour.

Pictures were taken of men and women to analyse their skin tone before and after the test period.

Researchers found that increased fruit and vegetable consumption led to a deepening of natural red and yellow skin colouration, the Daily Mail reported.

They calculated that 2.9 portions of fruit and veggies a day over a six-week period are enough to make people look more healthy, while 3.3 portions will boost attractiveness.

(more…)

An expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) says massage therapy can lower blood pressure, help prevent colds, enhance skin tone and more.

Licensed Massage Therapist Arnold Kelly, who provides massage therapy at the Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinic at the UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center, said massage provides two types of benefits: immediate and cumulative.

“Immediately following massage, you can experience reduced tightness in the muscles, improved blood flow and breathing, plus reduced anxiety and stress,” Arnold explained.

“Over the long-term, the benefits of massage accumulate; massage can increase a person’s range of motion, strengthen the immune system and provide an improved sense of well-being,” Arnold added.

(more…)