Red
Rainbow Of Your Life series
Red is one of the most represented colours in nature. It is a primary colour and in the history of humankind, it is one of the first colours that were used in art.
In plants, three pigment families give fruit and vegetables red colour: Carotenoids, anthocyanins and betacyanins. These phytonutrients (we spoke about them in the Rainbow of your life article) are also powerful antioxidants.
Tomatoes, watermelons or red peppers, for example, get their red colours from carotenoids called Lycopene and beta-carotene. Carotenoids are a good dietary source of vitamin A which supports our immunity or vision. They are potent antioxidants. Based on scientific research it seems that they also help protect skin from UV light, support cognitive function and bone health (so important for the prevention of osteoporosis).
Anthocyanins are responsible for a wide range of pigmentation of plants, from red and pink to purple and blue. Remember them when you eat strawberries, blueberries, red cabbage or red onion or when you are marvelling at tulips and roses. They also give a dark colour to black rice or beans.
Anthocyanins also exhibit antioxidant properties. They look promising in inhibiting cancer {e.g. prostate, breast, liver) as well as in helping overcome inflammation. They seem to play a major role in delaying age-related health issues like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease and/or preventing diabetes.
Betacyanins can be found in beets and amaranths for example. It will come as no surprise that betacyanins are also antioxidants. They scavenge on free radicals and show the ability to fight cancer, inhibit tumour growth and they have anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Isn’t it amazing what eating red fruits and vegetables can do for you?
In the Animal world, we can find red, for example, as a warning sign for predators – think about a ladybird, or for attracting a partner like scarlet ibis which gets its vibrant red colour from feeding on shrimp that have feasted on algae full of carotenoids. When the ibis is well-fed and strong, its colour clearly shows that. Some use of red colour is more devious (or smart) as some predators may get infested and spread eggs of certain parasites by eating the them posing as ripe cherries.
In psychology, the red colour is proven to draw attention. It seems to make people more aggressive or more confident which may be useful in combat sports, for example. The use of red colour in traffic lights has been debated passionately as some experts believe it naturally makes people move rather than stop.
Since it attracts attention, too much red may make people feel stressed. Its perception depends on circumstances though. We are generally positive when we relate to red in food or associate it with love and passion but in many situations, the colour of the blood may have negative connotations. When we get angry, our blood pressure increases and causes our face to get red. That is where the “see red” expression originates from.
Many studies agree though that the red colour does draw our attention and makes us respond faster. These properties are widely used in warning signs.
In symbolism, the colour red is very important in many cultures. In Christianity, it is the colour of Jesus’ blood, of the fire or martyrdom. Red is a sacred colour in Tibetan Buddhism, auspicious colour in China - being associated with courage, honour, happiness or fertility. Red is the colour of base (root) chakra which represents vital life force. It represents life force in Islamism too.
It is a common misconception that one of its shades – pink – is a colour suitable for girls only. The colour red has been associated with power for a very long time. It was also expensive to produce red garments and only the wealthiest could afford it. Just think about the coats the kings used to wear or catholic cardinals still do. In their case, it also represents the blood of martyrs or their willingness to die for their faith.
In science, red light has the longest wavelength of 625 – 740 nanometers. Past this range, it is called infrared light and cannot be seen by the human eye although the heat can be sensed.
Experts believe that primates have developed sensitivity to red colour to be able to identify ripe fruits.
If you believed that bulls are attracted to red colour though, you may be interested in the fact that some mammals like dogs or cattle are dichromatic, i.e. they can see blues and yellows but not red. The bulls at bullfighting (“la corrida de toros”) are attracted to the movement of the cloth, not to the colour red. This romanticised torture of animals is another subject though. That is when I see red…
If you want to dive a bit deeper and learn how to use colours to your benefit in various aspects of your life (healthy food, work performance, personal appearance, home, outdoor activities), join us at our Rainbow of your life webinar.
Check the available dates on our Events page.
