Eating fruit and vegetables is better than a suntan to achieve desirable sexy complexion, state researchers at the University of St Andrews.

The study showed Caucasian men and women preferred light golden skin, rather than the dark colour obtained by tanning.

“In the West we often think that sun tanning is the best way to improve the colour of your skin,” said Ian Stephen, “but our research suggests that living a healthy lifestyle with a good diet might actually be better.”

The lighter golden colour made possible by eating a healthy diet high in fruit and vegetables.

“This discovery is very exciting and has given us a promising lead into cues to health,” said Professor David Perrett, head of the Perception Lab at the University of St Andrews.

In the study, to be International Journal of Primatology this week, 54 Caucasian participants of both sexes were asked to manipulate the skin colour of faces on a computer to look as healthy as possible.

Healthy skin is coloured by blood and oxygen. The study demonstrated that people naturally prefer this colouring.

“Skin that is slightly flushed with blood and full of oxygen suggests a strong heart and lungs” stated the study.

“Rosier skin appeared healthy” they said “Smokers and people with diabetes or heart disease have fewer blood vessels in their skin, and so skin would appear less rosy.”

These pigments colour the bright mating displays in birds and fish and may be behind human attractiveness.

We may prefer golden because the antioxidant carotenoid pigments comes from fruit and vegetables in our diet.

Antioxidants combat disease by soaking up dangerous compounds, prevent cancer and build our immune and reproductive systems.

Most previous research considered facial shape and skin texture, said Dr Ian Stephen, now at the University of Bristol.

Good examples of healthy, attractive skin include Keira Knightly and Johnny Depp, and musician Myleene Klass, said Dr Ian Stephen.