09 March 2024 , 14:15
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Scoffing a full English breakfast makes men more attractive to women, suggests a new scientific study.
But a continental brekkie of refined-carbohydrate foods - such as croissants, waffles, pancakes, pastries, muffins and certain cereals - are a turn-off, say French scientists. The researchers found that breakfasts resulting in an increase in attractiveness to members of the opposite sex comprised mainly fats and proteins - such as dairy and meat - with few refined carbs.
They also found that men who snack in the afternoon on high glycaemic load snacks - such as a bag of chips or sweetened dairy products like fruit yoghurts - "may appear more attractive" due to the immediate glucose boost. However, for women, high glycaemic load snacks in the afternoon may lead to a negative effect on attractiveness - possibly due to an older appearance linked to hyperglycaemia's ageing effects on the skin.
The French team found that "acute" and "chronic" consumption of high-glycaemic food was associated with lower attractiveness ratings, independent of factors such as body mass index (BMI) and age. The participants' levels of consumption of refined carbs were statistically linked with their facial attractiveness as rated by heterosexual volunteers of the opposite sex.
The University of Montpellier researchers explained that the Western diet consists of high levels of refined carbs - foods processed in ways that typically remove much of their nutritional value - such as white flour, table sugar, and ingredients in many packaged snacks. Prior studies have linked increased consumption of refined carbs with adverse health effects including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
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Preliminary evidence has suggested that eating high levels of refined carbs might also affect non-medical traits, such as a person's attractiveness. To further explore that possibility, the Montpellier team conducted a study involving 104 French male and female adults.
The researchers gave some of the participants a high-glycaemic breakfast - one with refined carbs known to boost blood sugar levels - while others received a low-glycaemic breakfast. The participants also completed a questionnaire to evaluate their typical habits of consumption of refined carbs.
Additional heterosexual volunteers were then asked to rate the facial attractiveness of opposite-sex participants as captured in photos taken two hours after the provided breakfast. Statistical analysis showed that consuming the high-glycaemic breakfast was associated with lower subsequent facial attractiveness ratings for both men and women.
Chronic consumption of refined carbs during breakfast and snacks was also associated with lower attractiveness ratings - although consumption of high-energy foods at these times was associated with higher attractiveness ratings, according to the findings published in the journal PLoS One.
The researchers noted that afternoon snacking in men specifically, high-energy intake was instead associated with lower attractiveness ratings, while high-glycaemic intake was linked to higher attractiveness ratings. The team said that all results held true after statistically accounting for other factors that could affect attractiveness, including actual age, perceived age, BMI, smoking habits, and facial hairiness.
Research engineer Claire Berticat said: "We were initially intrigued by the profound impact of our food choices on our physiology. While the effects of refined carbohydrates on certain hormones are well-documented, it is less known that sex hormones can also be affected."
"Certain traits, such as facial attractiveness, are influenced by sex hormones. Thus the possibility of uncovering a previously unexplored connection between refined carbohydrate consumption and attractiveness was highly appealing. Attractiveness, and specifically facial attractiveness is an important trait that affects a variety of key social outcomes such as mate choice and social exchange decisions."
"This is why we investigated this relationship. We used a combination of experimental and observational methods. By conducting controlled experiments where participants consumed high or low glycaemic breakfasts, we aimed to isolate the immediate effects of refined carbohydrate consumption.
"Chronic consumption was assessed considering the habits concerning three high glycemic risk meals: breakfast, afternoon snacking and between-meal snacking. Facial attractiveness was then assessed by opposite sex raters using pictures taken two hours after the controlled breakfast. This approach allowed us to understand both the immediate and chronic effects of refined carbohydrate intake on attractiveness."
She added: "We have found that consumption of refined carbohydrates, whether immediate or chronic, affects 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. The varying impact of different meals on attractiveness highlights the complexity of dietary influences on physiology."
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"The fact that the ecophysiology of food intake varies throughout the day - physiology, needs, environment, cultural habits et cetera - could be an interesting explanation to explore further. In our experiment, breakfast resulting in an increase in attractiveness comprised mainly fats and proteins - such as dairy - with few refined carbohydrates."
"Afternoon snacking fulfils 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, for women, high glycaemic load snacks in the afternoon may lead to a negative effect on attractiveness, possibly due to an older appearance linked to hyperglycemia's aging effects on the skin.
"We observed differences in how men and women responded to different meals. As physiology and metabolism are profoundly different between men and women, sex differences were not unexpected. 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.
"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 behaviour."
The French team said more research, including for larger and more diverse sample sizes, is needed to deepen understanding of exactly how refined carbs may be linked to attractiveness and other social traits.