A recent study found a statistical relationship between eating refined carbohydrates and having less appealing features on the face, as evaluated by heterosexual volunteers of the other sex.
Individuals who had a low-glycemic supper were judged to be more attractive than those who had a high-glycemic breakfast that was heavy in refined carbohydrates.
This study, which included 104 adult French participants, adds to the increasing amount of evidence indicating that diet—more especially, the consumption of refined carbohydrates present in the Western diet—may have an effect on non-medical characteristics like physical attractiveness.
The study also noted variations in the association between snack consumption and beauty between the sexes, emphasizing the nuanced relationship between nutrition and social evaluations.
Diet-Attractiveness Relationship:
Eating a high-glycemic breakfast was associated with decreased judgments of face attractiveness, indicating a direct relationship between diet and perceived attractiveness.
Sex-specific disparities:
Men and women react differently to high-energy and high-glycemic intakes, according to the study, which also revealed gender disparities in attractiveness judgments associated with snack eating.
Broader Implications:
In addition to their recognized health impacts, these findings highlight the need for additional study to investigate how attractiveness and other social qualities may be influenced by refined carbs.
Refined carbohydrates, or foods processed in a way that usually removes much of their nutritional content, are abundant in the Western diet.
Examples of these foods include table sugar, white flour, and ingredients in many packaged snacks. Increased intake of refined carbohydrates has been associated in the past with negative health outcomes, including obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular illnesses.
Based on preliminary data, eating a lot of refined carbs may have an impact on non-medical characteristics like one’s appearance. A low-glycemic meal was provided to some participants and a high-glycemic breakfast—one that included refined carbs, which are known to raise blood sugar levels—to others. Additionally, the individuals answered a questionnaire assessing their usual refined carbohydrate consumption patterns.
Then, more heterosexual participants were requested to assess their attractiveness. According to statistical research, eating the high-glycemic breakfast was linked to poorer judgments of both men’s and women’s facial attractiveness thereafter.
While eating high-energy foods at these times was linked to increased attractiveness ratings, chronic use of refined carbs during breakfast and snacks was also linked to lower attractiveness ratings.
The researchers found some gender differences in the relationship between energy and glucose intakes. Specifically, for afternoon snacking in men, high calorie intake was linked to lower attractiveness ratings, whereas high glycemic consumption was linked to greater attractiveness ratings.
After statistically adjusting for variables including real age, perceived age, BMI, smoking status, and facial hairiness that may have an impact on appearance, all findings were consistent.
To further grasp precisely how, more study is required, including with larger and more diverse sample sizes.
To conclude:
Both acute and long-term ingestion of refined carbohydrates appear to have an effect on a person’s facial attractiveness, which is a significant social interaction element in both men and women.