It's no secret that our diet can affect how we look. But this extends far beyond the scales.
Refined carbohydrates—carbs that have been highly processed in ways that typically remove much of their nutritional value—account for roughly 42 percent of our daily calorie consumption in the U.S., according to data from the American Medical Association. High-quality whole grains and fruits, meanwhile, account for only 9 percent.
These "low-quality" carbs have been associated with adverse health effects, such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. But they may also be associated with nonmedical traits, such as perceived attractiveness.
"While the effects of refined carbohydrates on certain hormones are well-documented, it is less known that sex hormones can also be affected," Claire Berticat, a researcher at France's University of Montpellier, said in a statement.
"Certain traits, such as facial attractiveness, are influenced by sex hormones," she continued. "Thus the possibility of uncovering a previously unexplored connection between refined carbohydrate consumption and attractiveness was highly appealing."
In a report published in the online journal PLOS One, Berticat and her colleagues studied 104 male and female adults. Participants were given either a high-glycemic breakfast—rich in refined carbohydrates known to boost blood sugar levels—or a low-glycemic breakfast—rich in non-refined whole grains and protein.
The participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire to evaluate their typical dietary habits to understand how often they usually ate refined carbs (i.e., their "chronic" consumption).
"By conducting controlled experiments where participants consumed high or low glycemic breakfasts, we aimed to isolate the immediate effects of refined carbohydrate consumption," Berticat said. "This approach allowed us to understand both the immediate and chronic effects of refined carbohydrate intake on attractiveness."
Two hours after the dietary intervention, an additional group of volunteers were asked to evaluate the facial attractiveness of the participants.
"We found that consumption of refined carbohydrates, whether immediate or chronic, affects facial attractiveness," Berticat said. These findings were irrespective of the individuals' body mass index.
The researchers then analyzed how high-glycemic snacks in the afternoon affected facial attractiveness. "We found that the results differed, at least for men, according to the different meals of the day (breakfast, afternoon snack and between-meal snack)," Berticat said.
In fact, women tended to find men more attractive after a high-glycemic afternoon snack.
"The varying impact of different meals on attractiveness highlights the complexity of dietary influences on physiology," Berticat said. "Afternoon snacking fulfills a real food need for many. It leads to a drop in plasma glucose and insulin levels, motivating eating. Men consuming high glycemic load snacks during this time may appear more attractive due to the immediate glucose boost."
However, the same results were not seen for women. "We observed differences in how men and women responded to different meals," Berticat said. "As physiology and metabolism are profoundly different between men and women, sex differences were not unexpected."
It is important to note that this study looked at a relatively small group of heterosexual, white individuals and may therefore not be representative of the whole population. It is also difficult to isolate biological attractiveness from societal stereotypes and expectations. However, the results do offer tantalizing insights into the wide-reaching effects of our diets on our appearance and physiology.
"Our findings serve as a compelling reminder of the far-reaching impact of dietary choices not only on health but also on traits having particular social importance such as facial attractiveness," Berticat said. "Investigating how refined carbohydrate consumption may influence other traits influenced by sexual hormones could provide valuable insights into the complex interplay between diet, biology, and social behavior."
Is there a health problem that's worrying you? Do you have a question about refined carbohydrates? Let us know via health@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured in Newsweek.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Pandora Dewan is a Senior Science Reporter at Newsweek based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on science, health ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
