As I mentioned in my previous post on Redheads, Inflammation, and Celiac Disease, we all know that a redhead's skin is subject to burn in the sun, but a redhead's digestive tract might also be vulnerable to the stress and inflammation of everyday digestion. Identifying and avoiding food intolerances and allergies can be very therapeutic for a redhead's overall health. Below are some therapeutic diets and cookbooks that can help keep digestive inflammation in check.
Gluten Free Girl and the Chef Blog
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
What Makes Red Hair Red?
The chemical compound found exclusively in red hair which causes the “red” is trichosiderin which was first isolated in 1945 by Dr. Peter Flesch and Dr. Stephen Rothman from the University of Chicago. This compound is made up partly of iron. So it would seem that “rusty head”, which implies the oxidation of iron, may be a more appropriate nickname for redheads than “carrot top,” which would mistakenly suggest that beta-carotene causes red hair. I guess my Grandpa Leo had it right when he affectionately called me rusty head while gently giving me a noogie.
Does this mean that redheads need more iron in their diet to produce more red hair? Something to ponder. Good dietary sources of iron include red meat, fish, poultry, lentils, beans, leafy green vegetables, soy, chickpeas, and black-eyed peas. Animal protein sources of iron tend to be more absorbable than vegetarian sources of iron. It's not recommended to take iron supplements unless a blood test confirms that you are low and a doctor recommends it.
Also, there is yet another gene that Europeans may have inherited from the Vikings that causes a condition called hemochromatosis. It causes people to retain iron, which can be very dangerous. If you are a redhead AND you have hemochromatosis, you probably have too much iron, actually almost an endless supply to produce the "red" in your hair. Doctors recommend that those with this condition donate blood regularly to help maintain normal iron levels.
Does this mean that redheads need more iron in their diet to produce more red hair? Something to ponder. Good dietary sources of iron include red meat, fish, poultry, lentils, beans, leafy green vegetables, soy, chickpeas, and black-eyed peas. Animal protein sources of iron tend to be more absorbable than vegetarian sources of iron. It's not recommended to take iron supplements unless a blood test confirms that you are low and a doctor recommends it.
Also, there is yet another gene that Europeans may have inherited from the Vikings that causes a condition called hemochromatosis. It causes people to retain iron, which can be very dangerous. If you are a redhead AND you have hemochromatosis, you probably have too much iron, actually almost an endless supply to produce the "red" in your hair. Doctors recommend that those with this condition donate blood regularly to help maintain normal iron levels.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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