Red Hair Could Make You More Susceptible To Illness

Spanish scientists have just published research linking red hair with increased cell damage. They carried out a study on wild boars and found that those with reddish coats had more cell damage than those with duller coats. The research also suggested that grey hair could be a sign of good health.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2176368/How-grey-hair-sign-good-health--redhead-make-susceptible-illness.html

The study suggests that the production of red pigment is to blame. Pheomelanins, which produce red and 'rich chestnut' hues, require a chemical called glutathione (GSH). This chemical is also an antioxidant. The suggestion is that producing red pigment uses up the GSH leaving less to work their antioxidant magic.

Yet more bad press for redheads!

Red Hair and British Israelism

Came across a few mentions of red hair on Wikipedia's page about British Israelism;

"British Israelites often quote the ethnological work of Assyriologist Archibald Sayce who discovered from ancient artwork and tablet descriptions in Palestine, that the Amorites (Akkadian: Amurru) were a pale skinned, blue eyed, red haired race. Flinders Petrie also wrote they were fair haired."

And;

"Apocryphal historical texts are also often cited which describe Jesus as golden or red haired, these include the Description of Jesus by Publius Lentulus which describes the hair of Jesus as chestnut (reddish-brown) and his eyes bright blue[.]"