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
Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. is one of the world's leading integrative medical authorities on fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue. He is the lead author of eight research studies on their effective treatments, and has published numerous health & wellness books, including the bestseller on fibromyalgia From Fatigued to Fantastic! and The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution. His newest book (June 10, 2024) is You Can Heal From Long COVID. Dr. Teitelbaum is one of the most frequently quoted fibromyalgia experts in the world and appears often as a guest on news and talk shows nationwide including Good Morning America, The Dr. Oz Show, Oprah & Friends, CNN, and Fox News Health.
