Five-a-day diet alternative to sunbathing

Five-a-day diet alternative to sunbathing

People looking to top up their tans this summer have been advised that a healthy five-a-day diet could be the answer.

Scientists at Bristol University have found that eating plenty of fruit and veg can enhance the colour of pale skin, without the associated risks of prolonged exposure to the sun.

Volunteers who took part in the study were put on a diet of five fruit and vegetables every day for a minimum of one month.

Before and after photographs of the participants were shown to strangers, who were asked to say which image they found more attractive, with the majority picking the after shots.

The results came as a surprise to researchers, who said many people were completely unaware of the effect that diet can have on skin tone.

Earlier this month, the Irish Cancer Society launched its SunSmart campaign, which highlights the 92 per cent increase in cases of skin cancer in Ireland between 1998 and 2008.