Red Is a "Go" for More Energy

Red is an evocative color. If you're seeing red you're angry. If you're red-faced, you're embarrassed. A red tie is a power tie. A red dress is sexy. And red says "Stop" like nothing else. Now researchers have found that simply looking at the color red can energize us.

Researchers at the University of Rochester studied 30 students who looked at numbers and words written in gray, blue or red while holding a device that measured grip strength and reaction time. When the students looked at the red color, they had a stronger grip and faster reaction time.

What's the moral of this study for people with CFS and fibromyalgia? When you need a pick-me-up, take a look at something red. But don’t overdo it. Red works because it signifies danger, said the researchers. That means it stimulates the fight-and-flight response of the sympathetic nervous system, tightening muscles. But patients with CFS and fibromyalgia can have exhausted adrenals from sympathetic overdrive. So while you might rely on red for a little oomph now and then, don't paint your walls red or wear a lot of red clothes!

References

"Energy Boost from the Color Red?," WebMD, Sep 6, 2011