Nutrition and Lifestyle Recommendations for Pain Management

Pain and sensitivity to pain comes in all shapes and sizes and is a very individual thing, and let’s not forget about emotional pain. Maybe the link between red hair and pain makes sense to you or maybe you have another gene that balances out your red hair gene and you think it's a bunch of bunk. If there is anything that I’ve learned about genetics is that the more we learn about genetics, there’s always something more to learn about genetics.

If you are in pain, please consult with your physician or seek out complimentary treatment to try to get to the root cause of your pain and do what you need to do to take care of yourself. The majority of the battle is learning about yourself and having the discipline to take care of yourself. I struggle with it too - I just found out that I aggravated my sciatic nerve, probably while doing forward bends in yoga and then by sitting and writing most of the day. It causes pins and needles in my feet and they swell – ugh! But I’m getting referred to physical therapy, and I’m going to try to do what they tell me to do, so that I can feel better. You can make your health a priority too!

Please do NOT avoid the dentist because of anxiety or fear of pain. As a child, my teeth were drilled on without any numbing medication, and this has given me a certain level of dental care anxiety. Just thinking about the sound of the dental drill makes me cringe – so I can completely relate. But my anxiety is not enough to make me avoid dental care completely. My anxiety actually motivates me to floss daily, get my cleanings every six months (thanks to my employer-based insurance), and pray during my x-ray and exam that I don’t need a filling or a crown or worse -- a root canal. So far, so good on the root canal, and that is most likely because I do all of the above. When I do need dental work, the drugs my dentist uses work pretty well for me (thankfully!), but then again, I only have the red hair gene on one side of my family so I might have a bit of protection that other redheads don’t have. If anxiety and fear of dental pain are an issue for you, please consult your physician to see if you can be medicated before procedures and ask a friend or relative to take you to and from the dentist.

If your dentist or physician dismisses your concerns about your anxiety or past pain experiences, then say goodbye to him or her and find another practitioner. There are many practitioners in the sea who will listen to you and support you. If it helps, print out Redheads and Pain: A Recap, send it to him or her, and interview him or her over the phone or in person before deciding how to proceed. A better sense of control will help ease your anxiety.

Dietary Recommendations for Pain Management

Please consult your physician before embarking on any new dietary regimen.

A fresh, local, seasonal, natural, whole food diet consisting predominantly of plant-based foods is anti-inflammatory and would best support pain. If you have access to organic food that is fresh and local and you can afford it, purchasing it will help reduce your exposure to pesticides, herbicides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Shop at Farmer's Markets, the Perimeter of the Grocery Store, the Bulk Section and the Oil Section!

-Produce Section – leafy greens (chard, kale spinach), crunchy veggies (broccoli, asparagus, green beans), starchy veggies (yam, parsnip), fruit, sprouts

-Meat/Fish Section – grass-fed, range-raised, organic, hormone & antibiotic free, wild or organically farmed fish

-Cultured Dairy Products (as tolerated) – yogurt, kefir, butter, buttermilk, cottage cheese – try goat dairy products too!

-Eggs – range-raised, cage-free, omega 3

-Bulk Section – nuts & seeds, legumes, whole non-glutinous grains (e.g. wild or brown rice, quinoa, millet)

-Quality Oils – extra virgin olive oil, unrefined coconut oil, flax seed oil, unrefined sesame or safflower seed oils

Restock your pantry with healthy staples:

-Chicken or vegetable stock

-Non-irradiated organic herbs

-Natural sweeteners (agave syrup, pure maple syrup, or whole leaf stevia powders)

-Change table salt to REAL Salt or Himalayan Crystal Salt and use herbs

-Try seaweed for flavoring (full of minerals and a natural source of iodine)

Eat 2-3 servings a day of quality protein to avoid hypoglycemia (e.g. meat, fish, dairy, legumes, nuts, seeds)

Read All Labels and Avoid the Inflammatory Monsters!

-Avoid trans-, hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated fats or oils

-Avoid processed and refined carbohydrates

-Avoid white or “enriched” flours

-Choose whole flours or sprouted grain breads and eat minimally

-Choose whole grain pastas and eat minimally

-Avoid refined sugar and alcohol

-Avoid labels that read above 7 grams of sugars per serving

-Watch out for hidden sugars – alcohol, high fructose corn syrup, dextrin, malodextrin, honey, sucrose (table sugar), molasses, sorghum, cane juice (evaporated too), brown sugar, xylitol, mannitol, sorbitol, barley malt, brown rice syrup, date sugar, fruit juice concentrates, maple syrup

-Avoid artificial sweeteners, preservatives & additives such as aspartame (Nutrasweet), saccharin (Sweet’n’Lo), sucrolose (Splenda)

-Avoid monosodium glutamate (MSG), nitrates/nitrites in lunch meats, sulfites, and artificial coloring.

IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS DON’T BUY IT.

Lifestyle Recommendations for Pain Management

Identify and Eliminate Underlying Food Allergies and Treat Inhalant Allergies – For more information, see ‘Tis the Season for Achooo!!

Do things that naturally increase endorphin levels:

-Get enough sleep: 7-8 hours nightly in a darkened room away from electronics

-Stay hydrated – drink eight 8-ounce glasses of purified water a day. Try refreshing it with a bit of lemon or you can substitute water with your favorite herbal tea.

-Exercise: 20-30 minutes daily to increase endorphins and maintain weight and energy. Start slowly by exercising 2-3 times a week and work your way up to daily. If you are injured, ask your physician or physical therapist for appropriate exercises and an exercise schedule -- be gentle with yourself. Exercises like yoga can also be meditative and reduce stress, but do not push yourself like I did!

-Practice meditation or deep breathing

-Put sensitivity to work artistically – indulge the creative redhead in you!

-Seek out complimentary therapies like chiropractic, acupuncture, naturopathy, massage therapy, or cranial-sacral therapy. Consider psychotherapy to work through unresolved emotional trauma or to learn coping mechanisms for stress.

Nutritional Supplements for Pain Management

WARNING: Consult your physician before taking any of the following nutritional supplements.

Licorice:
Inhibits the release of melanocyte stimulating hormone (this effect is not reported in the de-glycyrrhizinated form of licorice or DGL), assists with auto-immune conditions, and supports the adrenal glands. Use a standardized root extract of 100-200mg per day in the morning. WARNINGS: Do not use if pregnant or nursing, if you have heart disease, hypertension, or liver disease or with medications that contain diuretic, digitalis or glucocortiocoids. Do not exceed 600 mg of glycyrrhizic acid daily. Extended use at these levels may elevate blood pressure. If taking medication, consult your healthcare practitioner before use.

5-HTP or L-Tryptophan:
The amino acid in your Thanksgiving turkey that makes you blissfully sleepy, precursors to the neurotransmitter serotonin, helps modulate symptoms of depression, anxiety, anger, regulates sleep/wake cycles and assists with pain management. WARNING: Do not use if pregnant or nursing. Do not use concurrently with SSRI medications or MAO inhibitors. 5-HTP may cause gastrointestinal upset in sensitive individuals.
-Some people have better luck with 5-HTP and others have better luck with L-Tryptophan. I like L-Tryptophan myself.
-5-HTP: 50-300 mg per day, in divided doses, before meals (in the afternoon or evening)
OR
-L-Tryptophan: 1000-3000mg per day, in divided doses, before meals (in the afternoon or evening). Take with a piece of fruit to help with absorption.

DL-Phenylalanine (DLPA):
Precursor to Phenylethylamine (PEA) which is a mood enhancer found in chocolate, supports mood and relaxes muscles, inhibits enzymes that breakdown endorphins that modulate emotional and physical pain. 2000-3000mg per day in divided doses, between meals (e.g. mid-morning and mid-afternoon). WARNING: If pregnant or lactating, consult your physician before taking this supplement. Individuals with phenylketonuria or tardive dyskinesia should avoid this supplement. Occasional nausea, heartburn, or headaches have been associated with dl-phenylalanine.

GABA:
Helpful for stress and anxiety, acts as a natural tranquilizer. 500-750 mg once daily in between meals. WARNING: If pregnant, consult your physician before taking this or any other supplement.

Redheads and Pain: A Recap

Hello My Redheaded Lovelies!

I just had a post published on How to Be a Redhead that recaps all of my posts on Redheads and Pain. I'm re-posting the more long winded version below in case you prefer EXCRUCIATING detail (no pun intended, it's genetic from my Dad). The next How to Be a Redhead post will be about Nutritional and Lifestyle Recommendations for Pain.

Enjoy!
Carolbetty

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I’ve been researching redheads and pain for a few years and have written about it on my blog Blessed with Red: The Redheads Guide to Thrive. It’s a very confusing and complicated topic, and every time I read over a study that I’ve read dozens of times before, I always seem to understand something new.

I also learn from my readers – thank you!

I’m going to try to synthesize and summarize everything I’ve learned so far about redheads and pain in the following.

To recap my last post The Red Hair Factory, you may recall us previously discussing a hormone called alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH). It is the message sent out by the brain (the CEO) and skin melanocyte cells (pigment factories) in response to exposure to the sun (environmental demand). Under normal conditions, α-MSH binds to the melanocortin 1 receptor (MCIR) on skin melanocyte cells and relays the message over the MC1R intercom for the melanosomes (assembly lines) to begin the skin tanning process; however, for us redheads, the MC1R intercom doesn’t function or its function is significantly reduced, the message doesn’t get through, and this is why we burn.

BUT the hormone messenger α-MSH is a multi-tasking fiend!

It doesn't only play a role in pigment and hair color production. It also binds with other receptors to modulate pain. In the central nervous system, different hormones work together to create balance in the perception of pain: α-MSH increases sensitivity to pain via other melanocortin receptors, MC3R and MC4R, while opiates decrease sensitivity to pain via opioid receptors.

Now, unlike the MC1R gene, the MC3R and MC4R genes are not affected at all by the red hair mutation and more than likely work just fine in most redheads. It is postulated that because of the malfunctioning MC1R gene in redheads that there is a negative feedback loop to the pituitary in the brain which causes an overproduction of α-MSH in the central nervous system. The excess α-MSH acts on MC3R and MC4R which in essence overpowers the opiate hormones and receptors. In summary, the theory is that there is a hormonal imbalance in redheads that causes an increased sensitivity to pain.

Redheads and Pain Studies: A History

But how do you test to find out if redheads have more α-MSH pumping in their veins than non-redheads? Apparently, testing α-MSH is expensive and difficult due to circadian rhythms. As far as I know it has never been done….yet.

And what exactly does “sensitivity” to pain mean? How do you isolate and measure pain in an experiment? There are several studies on redheads and pain that I reference below. Some of them refer to the following different thresholds for pain:

-Perception or Sensory: When one initially senses or perceives a stimulus such as heat, cold, or an electrical current (I feel it, but no pain….yet).

-Pain Perception: This is the first point where a stimulus actually begins to cause pain (OK this is starting to hurt……).

-Pain Tolerance: This is the maximum level of pain that a person can tolerate from a stimulus (I can’t take it anymore!!!!! Stop now!!!!).

Study 1:
Pain Sensitivity Differences Between the Sexes and Between Redheads and Non-Redheads (2003)

In 2003, a study was conducted by Jeffrey Mogil and his colleagues that concluded there are significant differences in pain modulation between men and women. The study also concluded that there may be a genetic factor in pain modulation because the narcotic drug pentazocine had a greater analgesic (or pain reducing effect) on the female redhead participants than on other participants.

But how and why? It was postulated that pentazocine not only stimulates opioid receptors in the central nervous system which reduce pain, but that it may also inhibit the pain increasing effect of α-MSH by blocking it from binding with MC3R and MC4R, receptors that increase pain.

One of my readers wondered whether differences in drug metabolism could possibly account for different responses to drugs (as opposed to differences in pain perception or tolerance). The idea is that some people may metabolize certain drugs faster than others, and therefore will require more of it or less of it than others. That is a great question that could apply to this study and to the ones referenced below, and I do not have an answer for it. Does anybody know?

It is also important to note that the media can often misinterpret information. At an August 2005 press briefing, Professor Ian Jackson of the Medical Research Council’s Human Genetics Unit in Edinburgh was misquoted in a press release that stated Mogil’s study demonstrated that redheads have a “higher pain tolerance.” The press release failed to reference the fact the female redhead participants who demonstrated this effect were completely drugged up on pentazocine!

More simply put, if you are a hot female redhead in desperate need of a narcotic, you might get a better fix on penatazocine than any other type of drug. I'm joking, of course! I do not advocate drug use, as the adverse affects of pentazocine are similar to that of morphine. Also, as with many other narcotics, pentazocine is addictive.

Study 2:
Redheads Require More Anesthesia in Surgery (2004)

For many years, anesthesiologists have anecdotally observed that redheads required more anesthesia in surgery. In 2004, Dr. Edwin Liem and his colleagues at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, decided to put this theory to the test. They conducted controlled scientific experiments that confirmed that female redheads require 19 percent more anesthesia in surgery. Because of Mogil’s study above, Dr. Liem decided to only include female participants in his experiment. The desflurane anesthesia was inhaled by participants and they were monitored for gross involuntary movement of the legs and arms after being stimulated by electrical current. The amount of desflurane was adjusted according to their reaction. Overall, female redheads required 19% more anesthesia than female non-redheads.

Please note that this effect may not be the case for all female redheads so it is important that you discuss these findings with your physician if you ever have the need for a surgical procedure.

Study 3:
Redheads Have Increased Sensitivity to Thermal Pain and a Reduced Effectiveness of Injected Lidocaine

After his first study above, Dr. Liem was flooded with responses from redheads stating that their anesthesia had failed them or that they required unusually large does of local anesthetics to modulate their pain. In 2005, he and his colleagues decided to design another experiment to test whether redheads were more sensitive to pain than non-redheads and whether redheads were resistant to the local anesthetic lidocaine, either when applied topically or when injected. Again, to control for the differences of pain modulation between the sexes, he only included female participants in the study.

His results were as follows:

-Using electrical stimulation, there was no statistical difference between redheads and non-redheads regarding initial perception of the electrical current, pain perception, or pain tolerance.

-Redheads were more sensitive to cold pain than non-redheads, both in terms of cold pain perception and cold pain tolerance.

-Redheads were more sensitive to heat pain tolerance; but heat pain perception was not statistically different between the two groups.

-The local anesthetic lidocaine was less effective in redheads than non-redheads when it was injected (subcutaneous lidocaine); but there was no statistical difference between the two groups when it was applied topically (liposomal lidocaine).

Please note that this effect may not be the case for all female redheads so it is important that you discuss these findings with your physician or dentist if you ever have the need for a procedure that requires the use of lidocaine.

Study 4:
Redheads and Fear of Dental Pain, Anxiety Regarding Dental Care, and Avoidance of Dental Care (2009)

On August 6, 2009, an article appeared in the New York Times called The Pain of Being a Redhead by Tara Parker-Popeimes. It highlighted a new study which appeared in The Journal of the American Dental Association. This article brought the whole redhead and pain issue to the forefront again. Participants in the study completed surveys that measured “general and dental care–specific anxiety, fear of dental pain, and previous dental care avoidance.” The authors tested the participants’ blood samples to detect gene variants associated with natural red hair color. As expected, most redhead participants had the MC1R red hair variants (65 out of 67), but interestingly enough 20 out of 77 dark haired participants also had MC1R red hair variants – that is one-fourth! The conclusion was that participants with MC1R red hair variants, including redheads and non-redheads, reported significantly more dental care-related anxiety, fear of dental pain, and avoidance of dental care, even when the authors adjusted for general anxiety and sex.

It should be noted that this study is somewhat different than Dr. Liem’s studies as it did not attempt to measure pain itself. It used surveys to measure the participant’s anxiety about dental care and dental pain and compared it to genetic MC1R red hair variant results. While any anxiety about dental care is most likely due to painful past experiences, apparently anxiety and phobia about dental care in itself can also be a factor in increased sensitivity to dental pain.

Study 5? (well sort of):
Mythbusters: No Pain, No Gain

In Season 8 of Mythbusters, there was an episode entitled No Pain, No Gain that aired on April 20, 2010. Mythbusters is filmed in the San Francisco Bay Area where I live, and I could have totally participated in this episode if I had been paying better attention -- I’m so disappointed that I missed it! Jamie and Adam’s goal was to test three pain myths:

-Women Tolerate Pain Better than Men
-Swearing Increases Tolerance to Pain
-Redheads Have a Lower Pain Tolerance

First, they visited Stanford University to determine what pain testing methods they would use for their experiment:

1. Heat pain tolerance
2. Electrical pain tolerance
3. Capsaicin pain tolerance - the active ingredient in spicy hot chili peppers
4. Cold pain tolerance

They settled on testing cold pain tolerance by setting up a contraption that would measure the amount of time that a person could tolerate leaving their hand in ice water. They maintained the water as close to 1 degree centigrade as possible by adding salt and monitoring it with a thermometer. While they asked participants when they first started to perceive pain, their experiment results only focused on the amount of time until pain tolerance was achieved.

Myth: Women Tolerate Pain Better than Men
CONFIRMED!
On average, women could tolerate cold pain for 100.4 seconds, while men could only tolerate it 84.3 seconds. Apparently, women who had previously given natural childbirth without anesthetics were the ones to pull the average up. Hello! Of course!

Myth: Swearing Increases Tolerance to Pain
CONFIRMED!
On average, the five subjects could tolerate about 30% more cold pain when they swore than when they didn't swear (is this why I swear like a sailor?) However, since the same five subjects immersed their same hands during the non-swearing sessions as they did for the swearing sessions afterward, I wonder if the thermal nociceptors (pain sensory receptors) in their hands might have habituated and adapted naturally. When winter comes, we all have to habituate to it. The same temperature doesn't seem so cold the second or third time around, does it? Hmmmmm……pondering.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST......

Myth: Redheads Have a Lower Pain Tolerance
BUSTED! In fact, possibly the reverse???
On average, non-redheads tolerated 79.1 seconds of cold pain, while the redheads could tolerate 132.2 seconds of cold pain. Jamie was very proud that his redhead-kind are such bad-asses and so am I!

So the redhead myth being busted brings up some interesting questions as it contradicts what we read above in Dr. Liem’s experiments which indicated that redheads were more sensitive to cold pain perception and cold pain tolerance. The discrepancy between Dr. Liem’s experiments and Mythbusters’ experiment may be related to:

-Equipment and Methods: Dr. Liem’s equipment was likely more sophisticated. Also, in Dr. Liem’s first experiment, the participants were completely unconscious; whereas, in Mythbusters, the participants were conscious and it was almost a game or dare to beat the clock. Oh how us redheads love to live up to a challenge or a dare - that is when we are conscious of it!

-Type of Pain Tested: Dr. Liem tested electrical and thermal pain, while Mythbusters only tested thermal pain. Dr. Liem also measured pain perception and pain tolerance. While Mythbusters asked about pain perception, they only measured or published pain tolerance results.

-Sex: Dr. Liem limited his study to female redheads because of the differences in pain pathways between the sexes; whereas Mythbusters tested both male and female redheads. Could male redheads have pulled the average up?

I think one Mythbuster participant put it nicely when he said “I think it is a myth. I think we may feel it faster than other people, but I think we can stand it just as well, if not better.” Well said!

New Redhead Website: How to Be a Redhead

Hello!

I wanted to alert you to an amazing new redhead website called How to Be a Redhead. I have been asked by the creators, Stephanie and Adrienne, to be a contributing writer on their nutrition column and will post every other Thursday or Friday starting this Thursday, July 14th. Initially, I will be re-posting some articles that I've written already here on my blog, but eventually, I plan to start writing some new stuff which I will post both here and there. I'm excited! Please check them out when you get a chance!

Carolbetty

‘Tis the Season for AAAAACHOOOOOOOOO!!!

Hello my dear redheaded lovelies! I’ve been horrible. I haven’t written you in forever. Shame on me. Well, in my defense, my Dad passed away last fall and then a dear family friend passed away a month later sooooooo I haven’t been in the mood to write in a while. Also at work, I HAVE to write really boring policy-type stuff which makes me tired of writing, then I don’t wanna do it when I get home.

But enough with this pity party! It is spring! That big bunny is hopping around and hiding eggs, and there is just way too much chocolate mischief going on (preferably dark 70% chocolate, thank you). BUT that also means that some of us redheads may be sneezing, wheezing, and our eyes might be watering and itching. Ugh! Who said spring was awesome?! I myself have to do an allergy scratch test in a couple weeks with my new immunologist. I cannot imagine the torture. Wait, there I go with that pity party again. Focus. Yes, it is allergy season. There is no use in denying it. So we may as well learn more about it and see what we can do to cope.

What are allergies?

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, allergies are diseases of the immune system that cause an overreaction to substances called "allergens." Allergies are grouped by the kind of trigger, time of year or where symptoms appear on the body, whether they are indoor and outdoor allergies (also called "hay fever," "seasonal," "perennial" or "nasal" allergies), food allergies, latex allergies, insect allergies, skin allergies and eye allergies. People who have allergies can live healthy and active lives. If you have severe allergies and/or asthma, it is very important to consult an immunologist and get yourself on a regimen that will work for you; sudden asthma attacks or anaphylactic shock can be life threatening.


Common inhalant and/or skin allergies and sensitivities:

-plant pollens
-animal dander
-casings of dust mites or cockroaches (Those damn dust mites! I hate them!)
-mold spores
-tobacco smoke
-vehicle exhaust
-formaldehydes or chemical products including paint or cleaning products

Other common skin contact allergens include:

-latex
-cosmetic ingredients
-jewelry metals such as nickel, copper and chromates.

Most inhalant and contact allergens can be identified with a skin scratch test. The goal is to either remove the allergen or implement control measures to minimize exposure to it while simultaneously building up immune defenses.

To reduce exposure to allergens and chemical sensitivities:

-Select an environmentally friendly residential neighborhood with minimal exposure to pollutants, pesticides and herbicides.

-Employ control measures in your bedroom to minimize dust and allergens such as encasing mattress, box spring and pillows in dust mite proof covers, laundering sheets weekly and blankets monthly, and keeping pets out of the bedroom.

- Use an air purifier in the bedroom. My immunologist recommended a Blueair (pricey), but I have used Honeywell HEPA filters in the past (slightly more affordable).

-Remove carpeting if possible and vacuum weekly with HEPA filtered vacuum.

-Clean your heating and cooling systems and ducts.

-Purify your water supply. I use the Multi-Pure system.

-Clean and do laundry without toxic chemicals. There are a lot of natural cleaning and laundry products on the market now. Fabric softener, for me, is the worst! A dear friend of mine gave me a pair of her pants that did not fit her and my eyes started watering as I was driving home with them because of the laundry detergent or fabric softener. I had to wash them FIVE times before I could even wear them.

- For pest control, employ toxic-free measures. I have a California ant problem every winter. Inside, I use natural products that have thyme or orange oil. Outside where there is more ventilation, I sometimes use stronger more toxic products in order to get the issue under control.

-Prevent water damage and mold growth. In the Bay Area there is plenty of mold and mildew. I use my monthly Bed, Bath and Beyond coupons to buy Damp Rid and put them in the closets, under the sink and in cabinets where there is a lot of moisture. I also installed a ceiling fan in my studio cottage and open the windows often to keeps the air circulating. This prevents condensation and mildew build up on the walls and windows.

-Properly ventilate gas stoves.

-Use less toxic building materials, paint, and carpeting (e.g. low VOC paint)

-Those with asthma are recommended to not use fireplace. If using fireplace, use clean unadulterated hard wood only, properly ventilate and keep flue closed when not in use.

-Keep your refrigerator clean inside, behind and underneath.

-Use natural hygiene products, cosmetics and clothing, although, you can even be allergic and sensitive to natural products. Anyone can be allergic to anything so listen to your body. I had a reaction to a “natural” deodorant after they changed the formulation. I use Herbal Magic now with no problem.

-For allergic nasal congestion, consider using a neti pot and doing regular saline nasal lavages. I also use saline sprays like Ocean. Cleaning out your nasal passages regularly also keeps colds at bay. See below for a home nasal lavage/neti pot solution recipe.

-If you suspect a metal allergy, ask your doctor to order you a test like the MELISA. Dentists and doctors often order this test to ensure that dental work and bodily implants are compatible.

Elimination and Rotation Diet

A healthy whole food diet can be therapeutic for allergies, but anyone can be allergic to anything, which is why you might consider doing an elimination diet to help identify any possible food allergies and sensitivities. Identifying and eliminating food allergies and sensitivities might also alleviate your inhalant and skin allergies. Eating foods high in Vitamin C, eating nettles (a leafy green), or drinking nettles tea can have an anti-histamine effect and may provide some relief. See resources at the end for some book references for elimination and rotation diets.

Food allergy blood tests are also available. An immunologist can likely test for immunogobulin E (IgE). Immunoglobulin G (IgG) blood tests are also available through places like York Test Laboratories.

Helpful Nutritional Supplements:

Please consult your physician before using any supplement; it can interact with medications that you are taking.

Vitamin C:
-Anti-histamine effects are found to occur with large doses of 2000 mg
-Use a corn-free form since corn is a common food allergen
-Use a buffered form to lessen acidity
-500-5000 mg daily (or to bowel tolerance)

Bioflavonoids:
-Quercitin suppresses release of histamines and other substances that cause allergic response
-400 mg daily, 20 minutes before meals
-There are a lot of allergy supplement formulas with quercitin available. I just ordered Designs for Health HistaEze.

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC):
-Precursor to glutathione for liver detoxification support.
-Augments effects of vitamin C.
-Anti-oxidant and promotes mucolytic activity in the airways.
-I find that the sulfuric component of this supplement helps to calm sensitive skin. It helped to ease my rashes and acne.
-Start with 100-200mg a day and work your way slowly up over the course of a few months to 500mg three times a day (or 1500mg/day).
-This supplement can have a liver detoxification effect that might make you feel a little flu-like after a few days of use, but it should pass. Drink a lot of water (8 glasses a day). If it doesn’t pass, discontinue use.

Homeopathy:
-Some people find relief with homeopathic remedies. You can find remedies for specific allergens and take them sublingually.
-I use homeopathic eye drops called Similasan which are very soothing.

Desensitizing Techniques

Consulting an immunologist and receiving immunotherapy injections are the most common treatment for severe allergies. Other injection therapies include serial endpoint titration (SET), Enzyme-Potentiated Desensitization (EPD) or Provocation/Neutralization (P/N). It is debated whether injections could create an imbalance between humoral and cell-mediated immune response. Alternative non-injection desensitizing techniques include Nambrudipad’s Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET) or Natural Elimination of Allergy Therapy (NEAT). I myself get immunotherapy allergy shots for dust mites, grass and dander (so that I can hang out at my friends’ houses without being miserable). Unfortunately, my immunologist mentioned that I might need them for the rest of my life to stay symptom-free – those damn dust mites!

Drug Therapies

Allopathic drug therapy including anti-histamines, oral and inhaled corticosteroids may be necessary in acute cases or in the interim before allergens are identified and effectively controlled. Side effects of anti-histamine use may include drowsiness (which may cause impairment in ability to drive), headaches, nervousness, anxiety, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, impaired learning ability in children, and cardiovascular problems including palpitations, arrhythmias and hypertension. Personally, I have been taking Zyrtec and I haven't had any problems with it, but it depends on the individual.

Long term use of oral corticosteroids such as prednisone can increase patients’ risk for developing osteoporosis, diabetes, immune depression, adrenal suppression, cataracts, facial swelling, candidiasis and loss of minerals including potassium, calcium and magnesium. Long term use of inhaled corticosteroids can slow growth in asthmatic children, suppress normal adrenal function, cause excessive weight gain, and increase risk for osteoperosis. Other asthma drugs such as theophylline can contribute to learning disorders and nervousness and beta-agonist sprays are associated with increased death risk.

Some Allergy References and Resources:

Nasal lavage or Neti Pot Solution Recipe:
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon sea salt per cup of water. I use Himalayan or
real salt. They say you can use tap water but that you might want to boil it
first to make it sterile or you can use distilled water and mix the salt in it.

1/4 to 1/8 teaspoon of baking soda (buy aluminum free baking soda)

2 drops grapefruit seed extract - good for infections/colds


The Allergy Store

Julianne Moore's Freckleface Strawberry Goes Musical!

Julianne Moore's Freckleface Strawberry is going musical. See the article in the New York Times.

Also, check out the children's books on Amazon:

Blessed with Red: Clarifying This Blog's Purpose

I recently had an exchange on a Redhead World forum where someone assumed that I believed redheads are made of fairy dust, that if anything goes wrong with our health that I believe it always has to do with us being redheads, and that I am an extremist and do not support western medicine practices. I want to take a moment to regroup and clarify my background and what I'm trying to accomplish in writing this blog.

My background is in nutrition, specifically holistic nutrition. I attended Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts in Berkeley, CA. The scope of what I’m able to do on this blog is to provide nutritional information or give information concerning proper nutrition -- the role of food and food ingredients, including dietary supplements. In other words, I give advice as to how diet and lifestyle can support overall wellness. I do not have medical training, and therefore cannot give medical advice in relation to the diagnosis, prevention, treatment, or cure of any disease, pain, deformity, injury or mental or physical condition. I strongly encourage everyone to consult their doctors about any health conditions they have and before they start any new dietary, nutritional supplement, or exercise regimen.

Personally, I consult my physician and use western medical treatment to complement my holistic diet and lifestyle regimen. I especially consult a physician and get conventional medical treatment anytime I have an acute issue so as to get it under control, but I use my holistic dietary and health regimen to maintain my long term wellness. I see no reason why we can’t benefit from both worlds! I mean why suffer?

But I also want to mention that we often are too quick to dismiss the importance of diet and lifestyle in relation to our overall health and wellness. I often see Dr. Oz and the Doctors on TV tell people that the first step for intervention for any pre-diabetic or high cholesterol condition is to change to a healthier diet and embark on an exercise routine. Yet people often rather take a pill because it is easier, yet pills often have undesired side effects that diet and lifestyle does not have.

It has been my personal experience that I’m more sensitive than other people, and I believe that some of this sensitivity is related to the red hair gene. Studies show that the gene responsible for hair color/skin pigment also manages inflammation. For redheads, this gene doesn’t work, which not only gives us red hair, but may make us prone to more inflammatory conditions. This definitely includes sunburn and skin cancer, but it also may include other inflammatory conditions. I discuss the relation of the red hair gene and inflammation a little further in my post Redheads, Inflammation, and Celiac Disease. I have formed this inflammation theory based on studies I have read, but again, it is a theory. I am not a medical scientist or medical doctor, and I have not proved it.

Now there are many many, many, many other genes in the body that also regulate inflammation so inflammatory conditions may not be an issue for all redheads because these other genes may make up the difference adequately for many. I also think that it is a bit of a slippery slope and it’s too easy to blame red hair for health issues when there is no genetic proof or history of it in a person's family. Correlation is not necessarily causation. Our genes plus the environment in which they operate are much more complex than that. Nothing is ever that simple.

There are so many health-related “myths” out there about redheads, and I come across them all of the time. They intrigue me and sometimes they annoy me. For instance, when I go to my gynecologist and she tells me that I bleed more easily because I’m a redhead, I have to seek out the source of this myth and whether there is any real scientific merit in it. See Redheads, Postpartum Hemorrhage, and Bruising.

The goal of my blog is to explore these redhead myths and tease out whether there is any scientific merit in any of them. Also, if there is anyone who is happening to read the blog with the condition we are discussing, I will also suggest how to nutritionally support wellness related to the issue and welcome them to share their comments and experiences, but nothing that I post is intended to replace or substitute for a physician's care. I may impart my personal belief, experience, or pose questions here and there with an editorial comment, but I will always present the facts and defer to the science over my personal belief or desire.

World's Largest Redhead Gathering in North America & Redhead Networking

You can attend the World's Largest Redhead Gathering in North America on August 6, 7, 8, 2010 at the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio. There will be special redhead events on Sunday, August 8, 2010!

Also, here's a list of websites for further redheaded social networking:
Redhead World
Realm of Redheads
Red and Proud
Redhedd.com

Mythbusters: No Pain, No Gain

So I finally watched Mythbuster's episode entitled No Pain, No Gain. First, they visited Stanford University to determine what pain testing methods they would use for their experiment:

1. Heat pain tolerance
2. Electrical pain tolerance
3. Capsaicin pain tolerance - the active ingredient in spicy hot chili peppers
4. Cold pain tolerance

They settled on testing cold pain tolerance by setting up a contraption that would measure the amount of time that a person could tolerate leaving their hand in ice water, which was maintained at 1 degree centigrade.

Myth: Women Tolerate Pain Better than Men
CONFIRMED!
On average, women could withstand cold pain for 100.4 seconds, while men could only withstand it 84.3 seconds. I've always believed this; women are made to withstand childbirth after all!

Myth: Swearing Increases Tolerance to Pain
CONFIRMED! (but I have my suspicions)
On average, the five subjects could tolerate about 30% more cold pain when they swore than when they didn't swear. However, since the same five subjects immersed their same hands during the non-swearing sessions as they did for the swearing sessions afterward, I wonder if the thermal nociceptors (pain sensory receptors) in their hands might have habituated and adapted naturally. When winter comes, we all have to habituate to it. The same temperature doesn't seem so cold the second or third time around, does it?

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST......

Myth: Redheads Have a Lower Pain Tolerance
BUSTED! In fact, possibly the reverse???
On average, non-redheads tolerated 79.1 seconds of cold pain, while the redheads could withstand 132.2 seconds of cold pain. I always knew redheads were bad-asses!

So this brings up some interesting questions. In my blog entry entitled Redheads and Pain Tolerance, I cite the studies of Dr. Edwin Liem whose experiments showed that redheads were more sensitive to pain, including cold pain and heat pain. The discrepancy between Dr. Liem and Mythbusters may be related to methods, possibly to type of pain tested, or may not have anything to do with pain at all.

There are different types of nociceptors for different types of pain - thermal, mechanical, chemical, and sleeping/silent. The Mythbusters experiment only used thermal stimulation; whereas, Dr. Liem's experiments used both electrical stimulation and thermal stimulation. It also seems that the equipment Dr. Liem used to test thermal pain tolerance was more sophisticated than Mythbusters (or complicated depending on how you want to look at it). Also, possibly to account for the myth above that women have a higher pain tolerance than men, Dr. Liem restricted his redhead study to women only, whereas Mythbusters tested both male and female redheads. Any of the above could account for differing results.

Also, Dr. Liem's original experiment, which showed that redheads need more anesthesia in surgery than others, may not have accounted for differences in metabolism rates of the drug used for the experiment (desflurane). Some people may metabolize the drug faster than others and therefore will require more of it (thanks to Celtic Curls for hooking me onto this theory).

In any case, this Mythbusters episode only raised more questions for me than it answered. And my redhead studies continue.....

What is Mythbusters Up To? Busting a Redhead Myth?

Alas, I am inconsolable. I saw a post on a forum from January that the Discovery Channel show Mythbusters was looking for natural redheads in the Bay Area to volunteer. The problem is that I saw it in April and am too late. I wonder what they are up to? There are several redhead myths that they could test, many of which have been posted on their web forum. I wish they could have a regular segment on their show dedicated to redhead myths, and I could guest star. One can only dream.....

I want to apologize for not regularly posting, but unfortunately this is a hobby and the job and life tend to take my focus away, but I will not give up on this blog. It is a passion and I have many many posts to come, but must wait for time and inspiration. Please stick with it and me and check regularly.

Redheaded Self-Acceptance with the Help of John Hughes and Molly Ringwald

I happened to pick up the March 2010 issue of Vanity Fair while in a waiting room today and there was this really great article on John Hughes called
Sweet Bard of Youth by David Kamp. After being horribly picked on for most of my childhood, it was really great to be a redheaded female teenager in the 80s mainly because of John Hughes and Molly Ringwald. They really helped me accept myself, embrace differences among people, and enjoy life.

Thank you John and Molly! John, you will be missed.

Therapeutic Diets for Redheads

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

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.

Redhead Books That You or Your Children Might Enjoy

Redheads, Postpartum Hemorrhage, and Bruising

How many of you female redheads have visited the gynecologist and were told that you bleed more easily, have more fragile or less elastic tissue, or are at risk for postpartum hemorrhage? I have been told all of these by my gynecologist and my physical therapist. But when you ask where they have heard this information, they are unlikely able to cite a source or a scientific study.

Like anesthesiologists who observed for many years (until it was scientifically proven) that redheads have a lower pain threshold, the redheads and postpartum hemorrhage observation is only anecdotal at this point. Currently, there are no scientific studies conducted to prove that female redheads are at risk for postpartum hemorrhage; however, it is common in practice for gynecologists, obstetricians, obstetric nurses and midwives to warn redheads that they are predisposed to postpartum hemorrhage. Often OBGYN manuals at birthing centers inform medical staff to take special precautions for natural redheads who are in labor. An article in the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health mentions that risk factors for hemorrhage were criteria for intravenous hydration (IVH) during labor and that natural redheads are at risk for hemorrhage. In Peggy Vincent’s Baby Catcher, an appendix entitled “Pearls of Wisdom” simply states “Redheads bleed” with no explanation or source. The scientific accuracy of this topic is often debated on online chat message boards such as Midwifery Today Forums, www.allnurses.com and www.babycenter.com. It should be noted that other risk factors for postpartum hemorrhage include: prolonged third stage of labor, preeclampsia, mediolateral episiotomy, previous postpartum hemorrhage, multiple gestation, arrest of descent, maternal hypotension, coagulation abnormalities (see the Redhead Bruising Phenomenon below), lacerations of the cervix/vagina/perineum, Asian or Hispanic ethnicity, delivery with forceps or vacuum, augmented labor, nulliparity/multiparity, and polyhydramnios.

To be cautious and to prevent postpartum hemorrhage, all women especially redheads, should optimize their nutritional status prior to and during pregnancy by eating well and by taking high quality prenatal supplements, preferably supplements that are research-based and have pharmaceutical grade manufacturing practices. A colleague of mine, Julie Matthews conducts classes on holistic nutrition for pregancy and conception and has some information on her website at Healthful Living. Redheads should also have blood work that checks their blood coagulation (see more info below), and their practitioners should not rush delivery of the placenta.

For more information about painful intercourse, please see Redheads and Pain.

The Redhead Bruising Phenomenon

How many of you have had a boyfriend who told you that you bruise like a banana? Only me? Dr. Edwin Liem, who previously studied redheads and pain, has once again stepped up to the plate for redheads to test whether they bruise more easily.

Dr. Liem’s predecessors, Reid and Trotter, observed that the blood of redheaded males takes slightly longer to coagulate than the blood of dark-haired males, but both groups remained within the normal range. This study was conducted in 1973, and blood coagulation tests have since improved.

Dr. Liem recruited female volunteers aged 18-40 of comparable heights and weights with bright red hair and dark black or brown hair. Each volunteer completed a questionnaire about their bruising history and were given blood coagulation tests. Seven out of 25 redheads reported a history of easy bruising versus only 2 of the 26 dark-haired volunteers. There were no significant differences in the blood coagulation tests between the volunteers. The conclusion was that if red hair is associated with bruising, the abnormalities are subtle and not detected by commonly used blood coagulation tests.

However, it should be noted that the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), whose function may be compromised in redheads, appears on endothelial cells which are a vital part of the lining of the blood vessels. This malfunctioning receptor also appears on immune cells which contribute to anti-inflammatory processes during the blood clotting process. It remains unknown whether the malfunctioning MC1R compromises the structural integrity of the skin or blood vessels or compromises anti-inflammatory response during blood clotting, but it is possible that these theories may help to explain the observed “Redhead Bruising Phenomenon” that 7 out of 25 redheads (and my ex-boyfriend) report.

Redheads, Inflammation, and Celiac Disease

As I mentioned in previous blogs, when the gene for the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) does not work on skin melanocyte cells, it causes the individual to have red hair and fair skin. But recent studies show that MC1R is not only expressed on skin melanocyte cells, where it determines pigment. It is also expressed on antigen-presenting and other immune cells, including monocytes, macrophages, mast cells, T and B cells and dendritic cells, where its primary role is to down regulate inflammation and allergic response. Basically, when these cells encounter an inflammatory environment, they increase the number of MC1 receptors and produce more α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) to put out the fire. Since the MC1 receptor genetically doesn’t function in the skin melanocyte cells of redheads, then can it conceivably be hypothesized that it also doesn’t function, or that its function is significantly compromised, in these other immune cells where it also appears, possibly compromising a redhead's defense against allergic and inflammatory conditions? One possible example of an allergic and inflammatory condition to which redheads might be vulnerable is Celiac Disease.

Redheads and Celiac Disease

When I first started researching redheads and health, one of the first studies I encountered related Celiac Disease to the melanocortin 1 receptor, the gene responsible for red hair. At the time, my sister who is a redhead had recently been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, and I wondered if there was some sort of connection between the two. Celiac Disease is a food intolerance to a gluten protein found in grains including wheat, rye, oats, barley, triticale, spelt, and kamut. It affects approximately 1 in 133 Americans, and it causes damage to the intestinal villi, which results in malabsorption of nutrients and intestinal permeability (leaky gut), which may lead to other food allergies or intolerances. Celiac Disease is considered to be a multi-system, multi-symptom disorder. Celiac Disease is strongly associated with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecule, which is a gene encoded on alleles DQ2 and DQ8. Approximately 92 to 98 percent of patients with Celiac Disease carry the HLA-DQ2 gene, while the remaining 2 to 8 percent of cases carry the HLA-DQ8 gene. Celiac Disease symptoms are extremely varied, can often mimic other bowel disorders and are not always gastrointestinal. Infants, toddlers, and young children often exhibit growth failure, vomiting, bloated abdomen and behavioral changes. Symptoms of Celiac Disease may include one or more of the following:

* Abdominal cramps, gas and bloating
* Anemia
* Borborygmi (stomach rumbling)
* Coetaneous bleeding
* Diarrhea
* Easy bruising
* Epitasis (nose bleeding)
* Failure to thrive
* Fatigue or general weakness
* Flatulence
* Fluid retention
* Foul-smelling or grayish stools that are often fatty or oily
* Gastrointestinal symptoms
* Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
* Hematuria (red urine)
* Hypocalcaemia/ hypomagnesaemia
* Infertility
* Iron deficiency anemia
* lymphocytic gastritis
* Muscle weakness
* Muscle wasting
* Nausea
* No obvious physical symptoms (just fatigue, overall not feeling well)
* Osteoporosis
* Pallor (unhealthy pale appearance)
* Panic Attacks
* Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)
* Stunted growth in children
* Vertigo
* Vitamin B12 deficiency
* Vitamin D deficiency
* Vitamin K deficiency
* Vomiting
* Voracious appetite
* Weight loss
* Obesity

In a study by Colombo et al. regarding Celiac Disease, it was found that the production of α-MSH and the activity of MC1 receptors in the goblet cells of the damaged atrophic intestinal villi of untreated Celiac patients significantly increased when exposed to gliadin (a glycoprotein of gluten). It was postulated that this increased activity was for the purpose of putting out the fire of inflammation and protecting the gut from further damage. The study suggested that if a Celiac patient has poor compliance with a gluten-restrictive diet, the administration of pharmaceutical α-MSH might be therapeutic. But were there any redheads with Celiac Disease in the study? If so, did they also exhibit enhanced production of α-MSH and MC1 receptor activity? In general, do the MC1 receptors on goblet cells in the intestine of a redhead also work to protect them from the damage of inflammation since this receptor is known not to work on the skin melanocyte cells of redheads?

It should be noted that both the Celiac Disease genes and the red hair gene are common to those of European ancestry. Those who are born with and continue to have flaming red hair through adulthood are “hard-wired” genetically to have loss of function of MC1R in skin melanocyte cells and possibly immune cells; whereas, the Celiac Disease genes may be asymptomatic, latent or silent and then turn on like a “lightswitch” due to adverse environmental or lifestyle conditions. Redheads with genetic Celiac Disease markers may not have the defense of fully functioning MC1 receptors on immune cells in the digestive tract to protect them and may be predisposed to gastrointestinal inflammation, which creates a stressful environment that could ultimately cause the Celiac Disease genes to come out of latency. In other words, just as the exterior skin of a redhead is vulnerable to damage from ultraviolet radiation from the sun, the interior “skin” or intestinal tract of a redhead might also be vulnerable to the stress and damage of everyday digestion. It’s possible that if redheads with Celiac Disease gene markers are not following a gluten-restrictive diet, not only would the fire of inflammation in the intestinal tract rage on, but also the proposed treatment with the pharmaceutical α-MSH hormone might be ineffectual.

I suggest that if you are a redhead, and most especially if you are exhibiting any symptoms of Celiac Disease noted above, that you get tested. There are a few tests that you can take:

*A genetic DNA test - this will tell you whether you have a genetic tendency towards the disease

*A blood test for Celiac Disease immune markers - this test indicates whether you might be having an immune reaction to gluten.

*A biopsy of the small intestine - this is the only test that can confirm whether you indeed have developed Celiac Disease. You must be eating gluten regularly at the time of the test for it to be accurate. Full atrophy and partial atrophy of the intestinal villi confirms that you are reacting to gluten. (Please note that some doctors only recognize full atrophy of the intestinal villi as confirmation of Celiac Disease so be sure to get a copy of the test results.)

If a redhead has a genetic predisposition towards Celiac Disease, a lifelong gluten-restrictive diet (avoiding wheat, rye, oats, barley, triticale, spelt, kamut) may be a preventive measure to ensure long-term health and vitality. Long-term consequences of undiagnosed Celiac Disease can lead to intestinal cancer, neurological and autoimmune disorders, and even death. For support and more information, please visit www.celiac.com and www.celiac.org. Please also see Therapeutic Diets for Redheads.

Even if a redhead does not have the Celiac Disease gene markers, wheat and glutinous grains can still cause allergies or gastro-intestinal disturbances due to their difficulty to digest and their over-consumption in the modern diet, particularly of wheat. If a redhead does not have the Celiac Disease genes, but is still showing signs of allergy or intolerance to gluten or wheat, one or both may need to be removed from the diet for three to six months, introduced and observed for reaction (provocatively tested), and if no reaction, included on rotation every fourth day. Whole grains that are soaked overnight with lemon juice or whey or fermented then cooked may be better tolerated than those that are not. Many redheads may also happily partake of non-glutinous organic grains such as brown or wild rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat, teff or amaranth. Minimal consumption of grains is recommended for redheads depending on their sensitivities.

Glutinous grains, especially refined glutinous grains, are usually over-consumed and one of the biggest culprits for weight gain, so restricting gluten may have the added benefit of weight loss. But in case you need that chocolate chip cookie or cake for an occasional indulgence, there a lot of delicious gluten-free options available now. Look for boxes that are marked "gluten-free" in your local natural grocery. There are also some great specialty bakeries in more urban areas available.

I myself have never gotten a DNA test to see if I have the gene for Celiac Disease. After my sister was diagnosed, I did get a blood test which showed that I had high anti-gliadin antibodies which indicated some sort of allergic reaction to gluten. Since other autoimmune diseases run in my family, including Multiple Sclerosis, and since my sister has a confirmed case of Celiac Disease, I decided to restrict gluten from my diet, and I'm so happy that I did! I feel that a gluten-restrictive diet was very instrumental to my resolving my digestive problems. Somehow I still found a way to occasionally indulge in cookies, cake, and pizza -- as the 20 pounds I've recently gained keep reminding me, but for me that's a good thing, because my Celiac Disease symptom was weight loss. I was too thin! So it all worked out.

Some supportive books, blogs, and websites for Celiac Disease and digestion:

www.celiac.com

www.celiac.org

Gluten Free Girl and the Chef Blog

Dr. Doherty's C-liac Vitality Supplement Packets

Albinism

On Friday, October 2nd, ABC's 20/20 aired a broadcast entitled Albinism: Caught Between Light and Dark. I found this broadcast to be very heartwarming. Whatever ridicule or self-consciousness I experienced as an extremely pale redheaded child is mild in comparison to what a child with albinism may experience. I was also quite shocked to hear about the brutal murders of albinos in Tanzania and other African countries. Apparently, their body parts sell for a premium as ingredients for wealth potions made by witch doctors. It is barbarism at its worst.

I highly encourage all of us redheads to help out our fellow albino brothers and sisters by signing a petition or making a donation at Under the Same Sun.

Also, if you want to find out more about what genetically causes albinism, please see my blog The Red Hair Factory.

Redheads and Pain Tolerance

Redheads Require More Anesthesia in Surgery

For many years, anesthesiologists have anecdotally observed that redheads required more anesthesia in surgery. In 2004, Dr. Edwin Liem from the University of Louisville, Kentucky, decided to put this theory to the test. He conducted controlled scientific experiments and confirmed that female redheads require 19 percent more anesthesia in surgery. In a follow up study in 2005, he confirmed that female redheads “were significantly more sensitive to cold pain perception, cold pain tolerance, and heat pain tolerance”, and that again they were resistant to injected anesthesia, but not as resistant to topical anesthesia. They restricted the studies to women to eliminate the possible differences in analgesic pathways between men and women. This effect may not be the case for all female redheads so it is important that you discuss these findings with your doctor if you ever have the need for a surgical procedure.

But why? How? In the central nervous system, different hormones work together to create balance in perception of pain: alpha-MSH increases sensitivity to pain via melanocortin receptors, MC3R and MC4R, while opiates decrease sensitivity to pain. Dr. Liem postulates that there is a negative feedback loop from the malfunctioning MC1 receptor in redheads to the pituitary, which induces it to secrete excess circulatory alpha-MSH. The excess alpha-MSH acts on other fully functioning receptors in the central nervous system, MC3R and MC4R, and overpowers the opiate hormones. The result is a hormone imbalance and increased sensitivity to pain. Read more about this negative feedback loop in The Red Hair Factory. Redheads may also be susceptible to altered serotonin secretions from the skin melanocyte cells, which may exacerbate this effect since serotonin is a known modulator of pain. In a personal communication, Dr. Liem mentioned that he has not been able to challenge his hypothesis regarding alpha-MSH secretions in redheads since testing this hormone is expensive and difficult due to circadian rhythms.

Wait, redheads have a higher pain tolerance? Alright, which is it?

It is important to note that the media can often misinterpret information. For instance, in August 2005 there was a media release stating that studies demonstrate that redheads have a higher pain tolerance which would conflict with Dr. Liem’s findings above; however; this information was not put in the correct context by the media. The correct context is that redheads have a higher pain tolerance over others WHEN they are drugged up on an opioid medication called pentazocine. At an August 2005 press briefing Professor Ian Jackson of the Medical Research Council’s Human Genetics Unit in Edinburgh quoted a 2003 study conducted by Jeffrey Mogil et al. In this study, it was concluded that when female redheads were administered the opioid medication pentazocine, they demonstrated a significantly higher pain threshold. This medication was not as effective on red-haired men nor on those individuals with a higher ratio of brown-black pigment. It was postulated that the medication not only stimulates opioid receptors in the central nervous system which reduces pain, but that it may also somehow prevent the pain increasing effect of alpha-MSH (a hormone that may be excessive in redheads) by blocking it from binding with the melanocortin receptors, MC3R and MC4R. The combination of stimulating the opioid receptors and blocking the stimulation of the MC3R and MC4R dramatically increases the effect of the medication.

More simply put, if you are a hot redheaded female in desperate need of an opioid pain killer, you might get a better fix on penatazocine. Of course I'm joking, I do not advocate drug use, as the adverse affects of pentazocine are similar to that of morphine. Also, as with many other opioid medications, pentazocine is addictive.

Dental Pain

On August 6, 2009, an article appeared in the New York Times called The Pain of Being a Redhead by Tara Parker-Popeimes. It highlighted a new study which appeared in The Journal of the American Dental Association. This article brought the whole redhead and pain issue to the forefront again. Participants in the study completed surveys that measured “general and dental care–specific anxiety, fear of dental pain, and previous dental care avoidance.” The authors tested the participants’ blood samples to detect gene variants associated with natural red hair color. The conclusion was that redheads were more than twice as likely to avoid dental care as were the participants without red hair, even after the authors made adjustments for general anxiety and sex.

It's interesting that the results of this study do not distinguish between red-haired males and females as the others do. It indicates that the effect was observed in both sexes. I'd be curious to know what adjustment they made for sex. I guess I'll have to pay to download the full study then! I'll keep you posted.

What's Your Pain?

Pain can manifest in so many different ways and differently in different people. So as a redhead, are these findings true for you, and if so, how does your pain manifest itself? Somebody mentioned to me last weekend that they had a redheaded friend who stated with pride that she went through labor without an epidural. To that, I say……go girl!......are you frickin’ crazy?........And why am I not more like you?

The findings regarding sensitivity to temperature are interesting. I tend to get cold very easily, but that is fairly normal for many women. Female circulation generally runs closer to the organs, while male circulation runs closer to the surface muscles. I’m also very thin and have little insulation. When I’m at one of my friend’s parties on their deck overlooking a glorious Bay Area view, I always seem to be huddled up in a hat, sweater, and gloves, while others are baring their legs. One of those more scantily-clad lassies is often my redheaded friend Sue, who never seems to get cold at all.

As a kid, my dentist drilled into my teeth without any shots or gas at all. I distinctly remember being tortured and pushing his hand away when it hurt, but I would think that would be normal for anyone. My current dentist numbs me up just fine for crown work, but I still hate going. Again, isn’t that normal?

For me, the physical pain that I had to overcome in my life had something to do with why I waited until my thirties to lose my virginity – yes, painful intercourse. It’s not something that I’m particularly excited to advertise to the world on my blog, but after reading a couple posts on the NYT article from a few other female redheads who have had a similar problem, I feel the need to share my journey for their sake and any others who can benefit from this information. Unfortunately, this topic is as shameful to discuss as menopause was many years ago. So it's about time to bring it out in the open for the purpose of healing.

The main cause of painful intercourse is usually a tight vaginal opening. Some women also are born with their urethra closer to the vaginal opening than other women, which also contributes to the discomfort. My advice in this situation is as follows:

1. Treat Infections: Make sure that any urinary or vaginal infections are treated. Drug stores sell test strips for both now. Some great infection prevention techniques are Jarrow's Fem-dophilus supplement and boric acid vaginal suppositories like Vitanica's Yeast Arrest.

2. Hygiene: Soaps can be very drying and irritating to the vagina, urethra, and rectal areas. Wash the vaginal and urethra area with a gentle pH-balanced cleanser like Sweet Spot. A proctologist told me to clean the rectal area with nothing but a good spray of water in the shower and to clean with moistened cotton medallions after bowel movements as toilet paper can be too rough. I remember thinking, really? Hey, it worked! Irritation gone.

3. Diet: Drink lots and lots of water, eat a healthy diet of whole foods, and avoid caffeine and acidic foods, which can irritate and cause discomfort to the bladder and urethra. They always recommend cranberry juice for urinary tract infections, but I find that it can be quite irritating and make you think you have an infection when you don't! Try a D-Mannose supplement to get the benefit of cranberry without so much of the acid. Common bladder irritants are: coffee (even decaffeinated), caffeinated tea, caffeinated soda, alcoholic beverages, medication with caffeine, chocolate (that's a tough one), smoking, acidic foods, citrus juices and fruits, tomatoes and tomato-based products, artificial sweetener, highly spiced foods, milk and milk products, sugar and honey, corn syrup, and cranberry juice. And if you happen to partake in the above (because let's face it, who can refuse chocolate?) just be sure to cut it with water, water, water.....

4. Physical Therapy: Get a referral from your gynecologist to a physical therapist that specializes in vaginal exercises. Yes, they actually have physical therapy for painful intercourse now and thank God! Usually, these types of physical therapists also work with women on incontinence issues.

5. Sex Toys for Stretching and Pleasuring: Purchase Dr. Berman’s vibrator dilator which starts small and can adjust gradually to larger sizes. This vibrator also works well for physical therapy.

6. Exercise: Take a yoga class. Poses such as lunges, triangles, and warriors stretch, open up, and strengthen the hips and the pelvis. Pilates is awesome too!

7. The Best Mate: Find a mate who understands, who is gentle when you need him to be, rough when you want him to be (if this pleases you!), and who loves to give and receive oral sex for variety and more options.

8. Lube up: If needed, transfer your lube into a pump container by the bed for ease of use and spontaneity. My therapist recommended Slippery Stuff, but Collective Well-Being Good Glide is my personal favorite.

9. Topical Lidocaine: Your gynecologist can give you a topical lidocaine gel that you can use a few hours before intercourse or apply a small dose daily. Dr. Liem's experiments indicate that topical lidocaine is effective on redheads.

10. Surgery: Worse comes to worse, you might need to ask your gynecologist to surgically cut your hymen to open up the space, but I encourage you to try the physical therapy first. The cut may cause some scar tissue which is less flexible and could also cause discomfort during intercourse.

I’m very happy to report that I have achieved the elusive vaginal orgasm to my surprise and satisfaction several times. So please know that there is hope out there! My physical therapist said that fairer-skinned individuals tend to have less flexible tissue, yet again one of those anecdotal observations about redheads that I always hear. Another one is from the gynecologist who always tells me that redheads are bleeders, but more on that later. So stretch, stretch, and stretch again! If you can’t get physical therapy, please write me, and I will copy the exercises into a PDF and forward them to you. And remember if I can do it, so can you.

Just for the record, if fate decides to make me a mother one day, screw natural labor - I want the frickin’ epidural and I want to give birth in a tub of water as I hear that can ease the pain too!

The Red Hair Factory

So a mutation in the melanocortin 1 receptor gene, or MC1R, causes red hair. But how and why exactly?

Let’s break it down into a simple economic analogy by using the principle of supply and demand. In a person who can tan, the demand is the external environment, or the sun. The supply is darker skin pigment, which provides more UV protection. The skin is suddenly exposed to the stress of the sun, perhaps on a beach in Maui (sigh I wish!). So it needs to produce darker pigment to protect itself from being burned. The CEO and the COO of the pigment-producing corporation are the pituitary and hypothalamus glands in the brain. This corporation has several subsidiary pigment-producing factories called skin melanocyte cells. Together the CEO, the COO, and the factories sound an alarm by producing a hormone called the alpha melanocyte-stimulating hormone, or alpha-MSH. This alarm and message reaches all of the factory managers in the subsidiary factories and instructs them to increase production of darker pigment. The managers get on the factory intercom, or the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), and relay a broadcast to their assembly lines, or melanosomes, within the factory. The factory managers instruct the assembly lines to shift production from a lighter red/yellow type of pigment (pheomelanin) to a darker brown/black type of pigment (eumelanin). This process is called tanning. The factories also produce other products, such as nitric oxide, serotonin, melanocortins, catecholamines and inflammatory cytokines. These substances indicate that these factories also play an important role in immune function and in communicating between the skin and the central nervous system.

The Broken Intercom

So the above is what is supposed to happen when skin is exposed to the sun, but why does this not happen to redheads? Why do we not tan? There are any number of places where the system can break down. Specifically, the problem for the vast majority of redheads is in the intercom or MC1R. The factory manager receives the message and relays the broadcast over the intercom, yet nothing but static comes out on the other end to the assembly line (kind of like the glitchy intercom in one of the Dharma Initiative hatches on the TV show Lost). It’s like there is a short in the MC1R electrical wiring. Completely oblivious to the orders of all of their superiors, the assembly lines just keep making red/yellow pigment which is less photo-protective, burns more easily, and is more susceptible to melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Basically, we get sunburned, dammit! Scientists have discovered five unique kinds of electrical shorts in various locations throughout the MC1R wiring which causes red hair. Apparently, there are other variants in the MC1R intercom which hold the mystery of the genetics of blondes and brunettes as well. Scientists are still perplexed about dark hair, pale skin, and freckles.


Negative Feedback Loop

So when the redhead intercom doesn’t work, and the factories don’t produce the darker pigment, then what happens? Well, some people think the CEO and COO in the brain find out about it in a negative feedback loop and get kind of pissed off. I mean, wouldn’t you also be upset about such blatant insubordination? And they keep sending orders out, via alpha-MSH, to ask “What the hell is going on? Produce more darker pigment now!” So theoretically, if this is true, there would be extra alpha-MSH circulating throughout a redhead’s body, causing a slight hormonal imbalance which has unforeseen consequences in other areas. This is because alpha-MSH has multiple jobs. For example, another job it has is to send messages to increase one’s sensitivity to pain, which it sends to different types of intercoms and receptors that are still functioning quite well within a redhead’s body. Plus its still unclear whether this genetic electrical short may affect the other products that the factory produces. But more of this anon in future blogs!

Other Factors in the Pigment Production System

Other issues that can come up in the production of pigment are as follows:

Raw Materials:

Phenylalanine
Darker pigment is made from phenylalanine, an essential amino acid or protein that comes from wheat, dairy and oats. Malnutrition of this amino acid can cause red hair. I had an acquaintance who adopted a child in Iran. The child was a redhead who suffered from malnutrition. After a few months of proper nutrition, the child turned from a redhead into a brunette! Have you ever heard of red fur syndrome in black cats? Cat food with higher contents of phenylalanine will usually solve the problem.

Sulfur and Other Minerals
Levels of sulfur compounds such as glutathione and cysteine and minerals such as copper, zinc and iron are important components to the production of red/yellow pigment. Higher levels of these substances may cause increased production of lighter pigment over darker pigment. Since redheads are genetically short-wired to predominantly produce red/yellow pigment, which oxidizes easily and needs to be replaced frequently, they will more than likely use up more glutathione or cysteine in their pigment production. Taking a multi-vitamin/mineral supplement along with N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine supports proper pigment production for the fair-skinned and benefits the skin, hair, as well as the liver.

Lack of Proper Tools: The assembly lines, or melanosomes, need specific proteins and enzymes to produce pigment from the raw materials. Lack of these proteins or enzymes can cause red/yellow pigment to be produced or can even cause albinism or a lack of pigment.

A brief digression.....
I wish that I could go back to the age of 10 with this scientific knowledge and debate this point with a boy called Eric. Eric had gotten into the habit of calling me an albino during our many carpools to church youth club. As he would insult me, he would also recline the front car seat onto my knees as I sat in the back seat. Apparently, infuriating me at this age was entertaining to him and others. Eric was (and likely still is) one of those super-geeks who the teachers allowed to set off rockets in the playground as the entire school gathered around and watched in anticipation. Rumor had it that he had an FBI record in his teens for trying to build a bomb with his chemistry set; however, it seems that this rumor might bear some merit as the source was my high school chemistry teacher. Eric was very likable and popular in his geek-dom. I would even go as far as to say that he had a bit of a Spock-like appeal, which was particularly evident in his brow and his manner of speaking. He used to memorize his fellow band members' license plate numbers and recite them for fun, "Kymie, 3RNK036". I remember confronting him about the albino comment later on. To which he replied that ladies used to put arsenic in their tea to make their skin appear as porcelain as mine. Was this his geeky way of flirting with me?

anyway back to the assembly line....
Size of Assembly Lines or Melanosomes: The bigger the assembly lines, the more dense and darker the pigment. Those who have darker skin genetically have bigger melanosomes.

Old Dilapidated Factories: Old melanocyte cells that do not operate properly tend to produce gray hair. Gray hair occurs when melanocyte cells within hair follicles stop producing melanin. Scientists don’t know really know why hair turns gray for some especially as they grow older, but they believe it is based on genetics inherited from parents. It is possible that a thyroid problem, vitamin deficiency, and smoking can accelerate hair turning gray as one gets older.

The Assembly Line Environment: Darker pigment requires an alkaline pH within the melanosome; whereas, lighter pigment requires a more acidic environment. When you are sick, the melanosomal environment tends to become more acidic and your skin becomes a sickly pale.

The Message Itself: A genetic lack of the proopiomelanocortin hormone (POMC), the precursor or prohormone to alpha-MSH, will cause production of red/yellow pigment, adrenal insufficiency, and early onset obesity

The Message Gets Blocked: The agouti-signaling protein intermittently blocks or intercepts the message that goes to the factory managers, but this seems to only apply in mice, not in humans.

Phew! Who knew that red hair was so complicated? Well, I knew and so did you. And I'm glad that science is finally catching up and helping us understand ourselves better. You are all beautiful complicated mutations of nature, and I love you all.

The Benefits of Fair Skin – Vitamin D?

Dark skin provides extra UV protection from the sun; whereas, fair skin is less photo-protective, burns more easily, and is more susceptible to melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. While the genetic disadvantages of red hair and fair skin are commonly known, the genetic advantages or benefits aren’t as clear.

The sun is not as direct and penetrating in the north as it is in equatorial climates. One theory suggests that fair skin was suppressed in equatorial climates where dark skin is needed for survival; however, in the northern climates where dark skin is not as crucial to survival, fair skin was genetically allowed. Genes for fair skin continued on because they were perceived as sexually attractive; this is also called “sexual selection.” Like I said before, someone always wants to have sex with us redheads!

But a more common theory is that fair skin evolved to allow the skin to more easily synthesize the necessary nutrient Vitamin D with less sunlight exposure in the northern climates. Originally it was thought that Vitamin D’s main function was to assist the body in calcium absorption and ensure bone health, but recent studies within the past ten years on Vitamin D show that every cell and tissue needs vitamin D for its well-being. Underexposure to the sun can cause a vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to many health issues including rickets, osteomalacia, osteoperosis, high blood pressure, tuberculosis, cancer, periodontal disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, seasonal affective disorder, peripheral artery disease, cognitive impairment which includes memory loss and foggy brain, and several autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes.

Since you’re a redhead who burns easily and is likely genetically at risk for melanoma and non-melanoma type skin cancer, you probably limit your exposure to the sun. Either that or like most Americans, you are inside working most of the day and don't have much of an opportunity to sun bathe. So what can you do to ensure that you get enough Vitamin D, yet do not risk skin cancer?

A little sun never hurt anyone - even a redhead! Depending on the latitude where you live, your skin type, and the time of day, five to fifteen minutes of unprotected direct sunlight daily can be beneficial and safe, but no more than that. It’s probably best to expose the arms, legs, and torso as opposed to the face where sun damage accumulates more easily over the years and takes away from that wonderful alabaster complexion. For longer exposure in the sun, it’s vital to take proper precautions with chemical and estrogen-free sunscreens, hats, shade, and antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamins E, C and B-complex, Biotin, Folic Acid, and bioflavonoids. Don't forget to protect the tops of the hands! For those that are at greater risk for developing skin cancer, Vitamin D rich foods and supplementation may be a preferred method to ensure adequate levels of Vitamin D. I personally love to go to Chinatown in San Francisco and pick out a nice Chinese parasol. It's perfect for those unbearable scorcher days. It gives aeration around the head, makes a fashion statement, and makes you feel like you are living in a Masterpiece Theater Classic episode. Do people look at you funny? Yes, but you are a redhead, and you are used to it. For more information about the proper amount of sun exposure depending upon skin type, latitude, and time of day, please refer to Dr. Hollick's book, "The UV Advantage."



Eat foods high in Vitamin D: Dietary sources of Vitamin D such as cold water fish, cod liver oil, butter and egg yolks can be an alternative source to the sun. Vitamin D fortified milk is not the best source for Vitamin D. Milk is usually fortified with the D2 form of vitamin D which is less absorbable, and lab tests have shown that the vitamin D levels in the milk are not nearly what is advertised, especially for vitamin D fortified skim milk. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and some fat is needed as a nutrition co-factor to absorb it efficiently.

Get a Vitamin D Test: Your physician or gynecologist can periodically request a blood test for Vitamin D levels. The test should specifically be a 25(OH)D or also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D. An optimal range is considered to be between 50-65ng/ml. I had mine tested in December, and it was down to about 21ng/ml! Vitamin D levels tend to be lower in the winter months.

Vitamin D Supplementation: There are also Vitamin D supplements that you can take. It’s best to take the Vitamin D3 form. A normal dossge of 1000 IU should be safe, If you test low in Vitamin D, you may need a higher dosage. I take Carlson’s Solar Gems 4000 IU daily. I’m getting my Vitamin D levels retested soon, so I’ll let you know if it worked. While excessive exposure to the sun gives you a sunburn, it does not result in Vitamin D toxicity. Vitamin D supplements can cause Vitamin D toxicity if you are not careful, so its important to get your levels tested regularly if you choose to supplement.