Just 30 minutes of activity on 5 days could save lives

A study of people living in 17 wealthy and less wealthy nations has found that all forms of physical activity, be it working out in the gym, walking to work, or doing housework, reduces deaths and heart disease risks.

Researchers have found that people getting the recommended amount of exercise are much less likely to die prematurely.
In a paper published in The Lancet, the researchers describe how the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological Study (PURE) study followed nearly 131,000 people in 17 countries over 7 years.

It found that just 30 minutes of physical activity on 5 days per week could prevent 1 in 12 deaths and 1 in 20 cases of cardiovascular disease (including stroke, heart attack, and heart failure).

The study also found that a high amount of exercise, totaling 750 minutes each week, was linked to the greatest benefit.

The team notes that this amount of exertion was more achievable for people who incorporated exercise as part of daily life, such as through "active transport," because of their job, or from doing household chores.

The finding confirms much of what has already been discovered from research done in wealthy nations. But those studies have tended to focus on leisure time activity.

The PURE study, which is the largest of its kind, is significant because it includes middle- and low-income countries and does not focus solely on leisure time.

"If everyone was active for at least 150 minutes per week, over 7 years," says principal investigator Prof. Salim Yusuf, director of the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, "a total of 8 percent of deaths could be prevented."

People not meeting exercise guidelines
Guidelines published by the World Health Organization (WHO) advise that people aged 18 to 64 years to do two types of exercise every week: aerobic and muscle-strengthening.

For aerobic exercise, the guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity spread over the week - for example, 30 minutes per day on 5 days of the week. The advice on muscle-strengthening exercise is that it should be performed at least twice each week.


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The guidelines for the United States are very similar. But estimates of global physical activity levels suggest that nearly a quarter (23 percent) of people are not meeting the recommended levels.

In the U.S., the figure is much higher, with estimates suggesting that most adults (around 79 percent in 2014) are not meeting the recommended levels of physical activity.

In their study paper, the authors note that cardiovascular disease is the "leading cause of death worldwide and a major economic global burden."

Furthermore, although rates of death due to cardiovascular disease have fallen in wealthy nations, global mortality from this cause has actually increased by 41 percent over the period 1990 to 2013, "largely driven by rises in low-income and lower-middle-income countries."

Sufficient activity reduced deaths
For the PURE study, 130,843 participants aged between 35 and 70 years, and living in either urban or rural communities in 17 countries around the world, filled in questionnaires.

The questionnaires asked them about their weekly exercise level and other characteristics, such as medical history, lifestyle, income status, weight, height, and blood pressure.

The researchers followed the participants for 6.9 years and recorded information on cardiovascular disease and death. The cardiovascular data allowed them to note specific events, such as heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and deaths from cardiovascular disease.

The 17 countries taking part in the study were: Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, the United Arab ²Emirates, and Zimbabwe.

The researchers found that compared with people who did not meet the recommended levels of physical activity, the risk of death from any cause was 28 percent lower and the risk of heart disease was 20 percent lower in those who did.

They also found that the reductions were the same regardless of the type of physical activity that people did.

For people doing at least 750 minutes per week of recommended physical activity, the reduction in risk of death was 36 percent.

However, the team notes that fewer than 3 percent of participants achieved this level of exertion during leisure time, compared with 38 percent who achieved it while commuting, having physically active jobs, doing housework, or through another non-leisure activity.

"In low-income and lower-middle-income countries," notes Dr. Shifalika Goenka, of India's Centre for Chronic Disease Control, "cardiovascular disease can push people to below the poverty line."

She adds, in a linked editorial, "Promotion of physical activity, active transport, and active living by means of interventions contextualized to culture and context will have powerful and long-lasting effects on population health and developmental sustainability."

"For low- and middle-income countries where having heart disease can cause a severe financial burden, physical activity represents a low-cost approach that can be done throughout the world with potential large impact."

Prof. Salim Yusuf

High-sugar diets raise heart disease risk in healthy people

A groundbreaking study has found that just 3 months on a high-sugar diet alters fat metabolism in such a way that it may cause even healthy people to raise their risk of heart disease.

Researchers find that consuming too much sugar can alter the fat metabolism of a healthy person to raise their risk of heart disease.
The study suggests that the liver deals with fat differently on a high-sugar diet than it does on a low-sugar diet.

The researchers, led by a team from the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom, describe their findings in the journal Clinical Science.

They report how otherwise healthy men had higher levels of fat in their blood and liver after consuming a high-sugar diet for 12 weeks.

They also found that the men's fat metabolism bore similarities to that of people who have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition that develops when fat builds up in the liver.

"Our findings provide new evidence that consuming high amounts of sugar can alter your fat metabolism in ways that could increase your risk of cardiovascular disease," comments Bruce Griffin, a professor of nutritional metabolism at the University of Surrey.

NAFLD raises heart risk
Estimates suggest that NAFLD affects 30 to 40 percent of adults in the United States. It is more common in people who have obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Although NAFLD most often develops in adults, there is evidence to suggest that it affects nearly 10 percent of children in the U.S. aged between 2 and 19.

There is also evidence to suggest that NAFLD can increase people's risk of cardiovascular disease, which is also known as heart and blood vessel disease or simply heart disease.

Cardiovascular disease is mainly associated with atherosclerosis, a condition that develops when a fatty deposit called plaque builds up in the linings of blood vessels and restricts blood flow. This can lead to a blood clot that blocks the vessel, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Around 92.1 million adults in the U.S. have "some form of cardiovascular disease" or are living with the after-effects of stroke.

Changes to fat metabolism
In the new study, 11 men with NAFLD and 14 healthy men were fed one of two diets, a high-sugar diet or a low-sugar diet, for 12 weeks.

Both had the same amount of daily calories, except that in the high-sugar diet, sugar accounted for 26 percent of total calories, whereas in the low-sugar diet it accounted for 6 percent.

The study was designed as a "randomized cross-over," which means that each participant followed first one diet and then the other, and that the order in which they followed them was randomly assigned.

The team wanted to find out whether the amount of fat in the liver affects how sugar consumption influences cardiovascular health. The liver plays an important role in fat metabolism, or the process through which fats are transported and broken down for use in cells throughout the body.

The researchers compared changes in various biomarkers of fat metabolism, including lipids and cholesterol in the blood, in the two groups as they followed the two diets.

They found that, after 12 weeks on the high-sugar diet, the men with NAFLD showed changes in fat metabolism that have been linked to a raised risk of heart disease.

It was also found that, after the high-sugar diet, the healthy men - whose livers had previously shown a low level of fat - had higher levels of fat in the liver, and their fat metabolism also resembled that of the men with NAFLD.

The researchers note that while most adults are unlikely to consume the amount of sugar in the study's high-sugar diet, some children and teenagers may actually consume this amount due to their high intake of sugar-sweetened drinks and candy.

"This raises concern for the future health of the younger population, especially in view of the alarmingly high prevalence of NAFLD in children and teenagers, and exponential rise of fatal liver disease in adults."

"Prof. Bruce Griffin"

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Added sugar: What you need to know

Sugar is a simple, edible, crystalline carbohydrate that comes in many different forms. All variations have a sweet flavor.
The main types of sugar are sucrose, lactose, and fructose. Common table sugar is typically sucrose, which is extracted from cane or beets.

Sugar is added to many foods and drinks to sweeten the flavor. However, it should be consumed in small amounts as too much can lead to ongoing health problems, including diabetes and heart issues.

Contents of this article:

What is in sugar?
Types
Sugars in the diet
Health risks
What is in sugar?

Sucrose, or table sugar, is made from glucose and fructose. Glucose is found in many different types of carbohydrates like grains, fruit, and vegetables. Fruit, vegetables, and honey contain fructose, while milk has lactose.

These base units of the common sugars are known as saccharides. The smallest are monosaccharides, which consist of a single unit. These include:

- glucose
- fructose
- galactose

Glucose is often referred to as blood sugar, as it is the type of sugar found circulating in our blood. Galactose is contained in milk. Both fructose and sucrose can be found in fruit.

The other primary category of sugars is disaccharides. These are made of a combination of two or more monosaccharides, for example:

- sucrose, also known as table sugar = glucose + fructose
- lactose, also known as milk sugar = glucose + galactose
- maltose = glucose + glucose

When people talk about "sugar," they often mean table sugar, or sucrose, whereas "sugars" refers to the whole group of saccharides.

Types

White sugar.
White sugar consists of 99.95 percent sucrose, and its varying types are often due to crystal size.

There are different types of specialty white sugars:

Superfine or bar sugar: the crystals are very small and dissolve easily.
Confectioner's or powdered sugar: extremely fine, dust-like crystals.
Sugar cubes: lumps of sugar crystals stuck together with sugar syrup.
Coarse sugar: the crystals are especially large and resistant to breakdown at cooking temperature.
Nutritional value of white sugar per 100 grams (g), or 3.5 ounces:
- Energy 1,619 kilojoules (387 kilocalories)
- Carbohydrates 99.98 g
- Sugars 99.91 g
- Dietary fiber 0 g
- Fat 0 g
- Protein 0 g
- Water 0.03 g
- Riboflavin (Vit. B2) 0.019 milligrams (mg)
- Calcium 1 mg
- Iron 0.01 mg
- Potassium 2 mg (0 percent)
- Brown sugar

Unlike white sugar, brown sugar contains molasses. Molasses is the raw juice from the extraction process which draws the sugar from the cane or beet. As a result of the naturally occurring minerals from the molasses, it contains slightly more nutritional value than white sugar.

Among the many types and styles of brown sugar, the main two are:

Sticky brown sugar contains a heavier concentration of molasses that make it denser and sticker.
Free-flowing brown sugar consists of finely granulated sugars that do not stick together and therefore "flow" like white sugar.

Nutritional value of brown sugar per 100g (3.5oz):
- Energy - 1,576 kJ (377 kcal)
- Carbohydrates - 97.33 g
- Sugars - 96.21 g
- Dietary fiber - 0 g
- Fat - 0 g
- Protein - 0 g
- Water - 1.77 g
- Thiamine (Vit. B1) - 0.008 mg
- Riboflavin (Vit. B2) - 0.007 mg
- Niacin (Vit. B3) - 0.082 mg
- Vitamin B6 - 0.026 mg
- Folate (Vit. B9) - 1 microgram (μg)
- Calcium - 85 mg
- Iron - 1.91 mg
- Magnesium - 29 mg
- Phosphorus - 22 mg
- Potassium - 346 mg
- Sodium - 39 mg
- Zinc - 0.18 mg

Liquid sugars and syrups: some made of pure sucrose are commonly used in food processing to add flavor and color. Golden syrup is made by breaking down the disaccharide sucrose to its constituent sugars - glucose and fructose - a process called inversion. Inversion helps prevent crystallization during storage. Treacle is made from molasses.

Sugars in the diet

Brown sugar is an alternative to white sugar and contains natural molasses.
Dietary sugar, or the sugar that we eat, can be naturally occurring, such as fructose in fruit or lactose in milk.

Added sugars are those we put on our food or in our drinks before eating, as well as sugars and syrups that have been added to foods in processing and preparation.

Foods with added sugars include sodas, candy, cakes, cookies, pies, fruit drinks, desserts, dairy products, breakfast cereals, and processed foods.

It is recommended to look carefully for added sugars in the ingredients listed on the packaging. These may be included under several names, many ending with the letters -ose, such as:

- maltose
- high fructose corn syrup
- molasses
- cane sugar
- corn sweetener
- raw sugar
- syrup, honey
- fruit juice concentrates
- Recommended intake

According to the American Heart Foundation, women should consume no more than 100 calories from added sugars per day, and men at most 150 calories per day.

Added sugars should make up no more than 5 percent of our daily energy intake.

Health risks
Added sugar supplies no extra nutritional value to a meal, and our bodies do not need it to function. It serves only to add calories to our daily energy intake, and unused calories are turned into fat and extra weight.

Excessive intake of added sugars can lead to obesity and its associated health risks like Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.


People with diabetes do not need to cut sugar from their diets completely, but some careful moderation is required.
Sugar also has a corrosive effect on the teeth and can cause tooth decay and gum disease.

Diabetics can consume sugar, but people with diabetes are recommended to consume no more than 25 g daily. This is half the recommended amount for those without diabetes.

As exercise uses the excess calories generated by added sugar, its intake is less harmful, though still not advisable, as part of a balanced diet and active lifestyle.

An overview of the sugar content of popular foods can be found in the article, How much sugar is in your food?

How much sugar is in your food and drink?

Modern life is so fast-paced that it can be difficult to keep a healthy balance of nutrients in the food you eat. Sugar is one of these nutrients, and the cells in the body would die without it.
Consuming too much sugar, however, raises the risk of several dangerous health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, increased pressure on the heart and blood vessels, and dental decay.

It is estimated that the average person in the United States consumes around 19.5 teaspoons, or 82 grams (g) of sugar, per day. That is over double the amount recommended by the American Heart Association (AHA), which is 9 teaspoons per day for men and 6 teaspoons for women.

To keep control of sugar levels, it can be helpful to know just how much sugar is in the most widely-available foods. This MNT Knowledge Center article is a one-stop resource listing the sugar content for a range of both processed and natural foods that people in the U.S. eat every day.

Fast facts on sugar content
Men should eat no more than 9 teaspoons of sugar per day and women no more than 6.
Chocolate bars, sweet cereals, and soda often contain high levels of added sugar.
Fruits contain natural sugars that are less harmful than the sugar found in processed food.
Regularly consuming too much sugar increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
What is sugar?

Sugar is a sweet addition to food that can cause serious health problems when consumed in excess over an extended period.
Sugar is a simple carbohydrate that belongs to a class of chemically related sweet-tasting substances. It is available in many different forms.

The three main types of sugar are sucrose, lactose, and fructose.

Even though cells need glucose to survive, consuming too much can cause health problems.

The AHA says that added sugars contribute zero nutrients and are empty calories "that can lead to extra pounds, or even obesity, thereby reducing heart health."

Being aware of the existing and added sugar content in foods and drinks is vital to overall health. So many products have sugar added to them that, in the modern food market, people must take extra steps to avoid consuming more than the recommended amount.

In March 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) published new guidelines recommending that adults and children reduce their intake of added sugars to less than 10 percent of their total energy intake. A further reduction to below 5 percent is associated with additional health benefits.

The term "free sugars" refers to any glucose, fructose, and sucrose added to foods and drinks, as well as the sugars that occur naturally in syrups, honey, and fruit juice. The term does not apply to the natural sugars found in fresh fruit, vegetables, or milk because there is no evidence linking these sugars to health problems.

A single teaspoon of sugar is around 4 g. The AHA recommendation for daily added sugar intake, 6 teaspoons for women and 9 teaspoons for men, is equal to 24 g and 36 g of added sugar, respectively.

Below are some common everyday foods and drinks, listed with their sugar content.

This aims to give guidance when making dietary choices. The sugar content of some of the following items may be higher than expected.

Chocolate bars
While there are less harmful chocolate options, such as dark or raw chocolate, there is a wide range of chocolate bars available on the market and the sugar content varies between brands and products.

- Snickers bar (57 g): 5.83 teaspoons of sugar
- Milky Way bar (58 g): 7.02 teaspoons of sugar
- 3 Musketeers bar (60 g): 8.14 teaspoons of sugar
- Butterfinger bar (60 g): 5.58 teaspoons of sugar
- Dove chocolate bar (37 g): 4.16 teaspoons of sugar
- Hershey's Milk Chocolate bar (43 g): 4.87 teaspoons of sugar
- Twix bar (57 g): 5.68 teaspoons of sugar
- Milk chocolate M&M's packet (42 g): 5.68 teaspoons of sugar.
- Milk chocolate M&M's packet (42 g): 5.68 teaspoons of sugar


Soft drinks
Drinking fizzy, sugary beverages can end up contributing most of your daily sugar intake.

- Coca-Cola (one can, 330 ml): 7.25 teaspoons of sugar
- Red Bull (one can): 5.35 teaspoons of sugar
- Sprite (one can): 7.61 teaspoons of sugar
- Old Jamaica Ginger Beer (one can): 10.18 teaspoons of sugar

A study published in Circulation, the journal of the AHA, identified a link between drinking more than one can of soda a day and an increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

Can fish oils and omega-3 oils benefit our health?

Fast facts on fish oils
Here are some key points about fish oils. More supporting information is in the main article.

Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and D.
Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils may protect the heart and offer other health benefits, but research results have been mixed.
Eating fish is a better way of getting fish oil or omega 3 than taking supplements.
What are omega-3 fatty acids?

Oily fish is a good source of omega-3 oil, but what are the benefits?
Omega-3 fatty acids are fats commonly found in plants and marine life.

Two types are plentiful in oily fish:

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA): The best-known omega-3 fatty acid, EPA helps the body synthesize chemicals involved in blood clotting and inflammation (prostaglandin-3, thromboxane-2, and leukotriene-5). Fish obtain EPA from the algae that they eat.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): In humans, this omega-3 fatty acid is a key part of sperm, the retina, a part of the eye, and the cerebral cortex, a part of the brain.

DHA is present throughout the body, especially in the brain, the eyes and the heart. It is also present in breast milk.

Health benefits
Some studies have concluded that fish oil and omega-3 fatty acid is beneficial for health, but others have not. It has been linked to a number of conditions.

Multiple sclerosis

Fish oils are said to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) due to its protective effects on the brain and the nervous system. However, at least one study concluded that they have no benefit.

Prostate cancer

One study found that fish oils, alongside a low-fat diet, may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer. However, another study linked higher omega-3 levels to a higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

Research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggested that a high fish oil intake raises the risk of high-grade prostate cancer by 71 percent, and all prostate cancers by 43 percent.

Post-partum depression

Consuming fish oils during pregnancy may reduce the risk of post-partum depression. Researchers advise that eating fish with a high level of omega 3 two or three times a week may be beneficial. Food sources are recommended, rather than supplements, as they also provide protein and minerals.

Mental health benefits

An 8-week pilot study carried out in 2007 suggested that fish oils may help young people with behavioral problems, especially those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The study demonstrated that children who consumed between 8 and 16 grams (g) of EPA and DHA per day, showed significant improvements in their behavior, as rated by their parents and the psychiatrist working with them.

Memory benefits

Omega-3 fatty acid intake can help improve working memory in healthy young adults, according to research reported in the journal PLoS One.

However, another study indicated that high levels of omega-3 do not prevent cognitive decline in older women.

Heart and cardiovascular benefits

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils may protect the heart during times of mental stress.

Findings published in the American Journal of Physiology suggested that people who took fish oil supplements for longer than 1 month had better cardiovascular function during mentally stressful tests.

In 2012, researchers noted that fish oil, through its anti-inflammatory properties, appears to help stabilize atherosclerotic lesions.

Meanwhile, a review of 20 studies involving almost 70,000 people, found "no compelling evidence" linking fish oil supplements to a lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or early death.

People with stents in their heart who took two blood-thinning drugs as well as omega-3 fatty acids were found in one study to have a lower risk of heart attack compared with those not taking fish oils.

The AHA recommend eating fish, and especially oily fish, at least twice a week, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Alzheimer's disease

For many years, it was thought that regular fish oil consumption may help prevent Alzheimer's disease. However, a major study in 2010 found that fish oils were no better than a placebo at preventing Alzheimer's.

Meanwhile, a study published in Neurology in 2007 reported that a diet high in fish, omega-3 oils, fruit, and vegetables reduced the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's.

Vision loss

Adequate dietary consumption of DHA protects people from age-related vision loss, Canadian researchers reported in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

Epilepsy

A 2014 study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry claims that people with epilepsy could have fewer seizures if they consumed low doses of omega-3 fish oil every day.

Schizophrenia and psychotic disorders

Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may help reduce the risk of psychosis.

Findings published in Nature Communications details how a 12-week intervention with omega-3 supplements substantially reduced the long-term risk of developing psychotic disorders.

Health fetal development

Omega-3 consumption may help boost fetal cognitive and motor development. In 2008, scientists found that omega-3 consumption during the last 3 months of pregnancy may improve sensory, cognitive, and motor development in the fetus.

Foods
The fillets of oily fish contain up to 30 percent oil, but this figure varies. White fish, such as cod, contains high concentrations of oil in the liver but less oil overall. Oily fish that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids include anchovies, herring, sardines, salmon, trout, and mackerel.

Other animal sources of omega-3 fatty acids are eggs, especially those with "high in omega-3" written on the shell.

Can beets tackle Alzheimer's at its root?

Alzheimer's disease is characterized by beta-amyloid plaques in the brain that disrupt the normal functioning of neurons. Could a common vegetal pigment provide the fix?
beets
A pigment found in beets may lead the way to better Alzheimer's drugs, new research suggests.
The most prominent physiological characteristic of Alzheimer's disease is the over-accumulation of clusters of amino acids called amyloid beta in the brain.

These clusters may sometimes come together into even larger formations, known as beta-amyloid plaques.

When too many groupings of beta-amyloid are able to "pile up" in the brain, it disrupts the normal signaling between neurons. Beta-amyloid groupings also trigger the nervous system's inflammatory response, which has been linked with the progression of this condition.

But what if some of these physiological processes could be slowed down thanks to a common substance found in a widely available root vegetable?

Researchers from the University of South Florida in Tampa have experimented with a compound called betanin, which is the pigment that gives beets their dark red color.

Li-June Ming, Darrell Cole Cerrato, and their colleagues explain that this vegetal pigment interacts with amyloid beta, preventing some of the processes that may have harmful effects on the brain.

The results of the team's research were presented this week at the 255th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society, held in New Orleans, LA.


Betanin may prevent oxidation
A study published last year in The Journals of Gerontology Series A showed that drinking beetroot juice before aerobic exercise made the aging brain look younger by increasing blood flow to the brain and regulating the circulation of oxygen.

Intrigued by this and similar research, Ming and team decided to see whether betanin, commonly found in these root vegetables, could be used to prevent amyloid beta from forming into clusters that impacted communication between brain cells.

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Studies show that the aggregation of amyloid beta into harmful clusters is often dependent on their interaction with metal molecules — especially those of zinc and copper — in the brain.

When such clusters do form, the researchers of the new study explain, amyloid beta facilitates brain inflammation and the oxidation of neurons, which results in irreparable damage to these brain cells.

Ming and colleagues decided to see whether adding betanin into the chemical mix could disrupt the process of aggregation and prevent the harm.


To do so, they conducted a series of laboratory experiments in which they monitored the activity of amyloid beta in different contexts using 3,5-Di-tert-butylcatechol (DTBC), a compound that allows researchers to observe the process of oxidation.

By employing ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry, the researchers then observed whether and under what circumstances amyloid beta was able to oxidize DTBC. Unsurprisingly, they saw that amyloid beta on its own did not produce much oxidative damage — but when it bound to copper molecules, the oxidation was considerable.

However, in a further experiment that added betanin to the mix, Ming and colleagues saw that the pigment reduced the amount of oxidation caused by amyloid beta by up to 90 percent.

Such a discovery prompted the researchers to hypothesize that the beet-derived compound may be a good place to look for better Alzheimer's drugs.

"Our data suggest that betanin, a compound in beet extract, shows some promise as an inhibitor of certain chemical reactions in the brain that are involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease," says Ming.


"This is just a first step, but we hope that our findings will encourage other scientists to look for structures similar to betanin that could be used to synthesize drugs that could make life a bit easier for those who suffer from this disease."

Li-June Ming
While the scientists are wary of claiming that the beet-derived compound may prevent Alzheimer's entirely, they do suggest that it may provide the key to tackling its physiological roots.

"We can't say that betanin stops the misfolding [of amyloid beta] completely, but we can say that it reduces oxidation," explains Cerrato.

"Less oxidation," he continues, "could prevent misfolding to a certain degree, perhaps even to the point that it slows the aggregation of beta-amyloid peptides, which is believed to be the ultimate cause of Alzheimer's.

Why do I have red diarrhea? Six causes:

Table of contents
A healthy stool is usually solid, soft, and brown. While diarrhea is unpleasant, it is not usually a sign of something serious. Red or bloody diarrhea, however, may be a sign of an underlying health problem.
Diarrhea occurs when digested food material and water pass through the intestines too quickly. Instead of having time to form a solid mass, the material passes through in a liquid form.

Red diarrhea may be alarming, but stool color can help a person determine the cause of their symptoms. In this article, we look at the possible causes and treatment, as well as what other stool colors mean.

Causes
beetroot may cause red diarrhea
Red foods, including beets, may be a cause of red diarrhea.
Six causes of red diarrhea:

 Dysentery: Diarrhea with blood is called dysentery. The most common causes of dysentery are Shigella bacteria or Entamoeba histolytica, a type of parasite. These can cause severe infections that inflame the intestines enough to result in bleeding.
 Red foods: Foods that are naturally red or contain red food coloring can turn the stool red. Red diarrhea might occur if the food that a person eats causes food poisoning or irritates the stomach. Foods that can turn stool red include beets, cranberries, red candy, red frosting, red licorice, tomatoes, and tomato sauce.
 Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding: A range of conditions can result in GI bleeding, including colon polyps, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or gastric cancer. These conditions can cause significant blood loss that may turn diarrhea red.
 Hemorrhoids: Hemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that occur inside the rectum and anus. They are a common cause of rectal bleeding and red diarrhea.
 Medications: The side effects of some medications may cause red stool. They can also irritate the stomach and potentially lead to diarrhea. Medications that cause red stools include liquid antibiotics.
 Anal fissure: Sometimes a scratch in the rectal area called an anal fissure can cause the stool to appear bloody. In this case, it may only be a small amount of bright red blood.
Other stool colors
Looking at stool color can often help a person determine what is causing their gastrointestinal symptoms.

Stool can come in a range of colors and have a variety of causes:

Black stools: Tarry, black stools or stools the consistency of coffee grounds can indicate potential gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Black diarrhea can sometimes point to an upper GI bleed because the blood has had more time to travel through the GI tract and darken. Certain foods, such as licorice or high quantities of grape juice, may also turn stool black.
Green stools: Green stools may be due to the presence of bile in the stool. Taking iron supplements can also cause stool to become dark green.
Pale stools: Pale or clay-colored stools may indicate stones in the bile duct that empty from the gallbladder. If a person observes dark urine as well, this is a further sign that the gallbladder or liver could be the underlying cause. Some antacids that contain aluminum hydroxide can also cause pale stools.
Yellowish, greasy stool: Yellow stool may be a sign of an infection or a malabsorption disorder, such as celiac disease.
Everything you should know about dysentery
Everything you should know about dysentery
Dysentery can cause severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. Without proper hydration, it can even be fatal. Learn more.
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Treatment
woman sipping water may help as a treatment for diarrhea
Frequently sipping water may help prevent dehydration caused by diarrhea.
When a person has diarrhea, they can lose a significant amount of fluid via their stool. When this happens, a person can become dehydrated.

A person should drink small sips of water or an electrolyte-replacement beverage regularly to help replace the lost water.

Diarrhea is often a way in which the body gets rid of an unwanted virus. Instead of prescribing medications that would slow the intestines and cause the body to retain the bacteria for longer, doctors may encourage a person to allow the diarrhea to run its course.

However, prolonged diarrhea may require additional treatments, such as intravenous fluids and medications to reduce cramping in the bowels.

In more severe cases of dysentery, a person may be given antibiotics or amoebicidal medications, or both if the exact cause is unknown.

If a person's red diarrhea is due to GI bleeding, they may require a blood transfusion until the body can produce more blood. This procedure takes place in the hospital, and the person will need to remain there until their blood count is within a normal range.

If a person thinks red diarrhea is due to their medication, they should speak to a doctor about possible alternatives.

Prevention
If red diarrhea is the result of dysentery or infection, a person can take steps to prevent it in the future.

Ways to help prevent red diarrhea include:

Thoroughly cleaning all food preparation areas.
Cooking foods thoroughly, as raw foods are more likely to carry Shigella bacteria.
Drinking bottled or boiled water when traveling to a foreign country.
Avoiding sexual contact with a person with an active shigellosis infection or who has recently been ill with the Shigella virus.
Not swallowing water used for recreational purposes, such as water from a lake or river.
Washing hands frequently with soap and water, especially after touching contaminated surfaces or changing a diaper.
Avoiding food dyes known to cause red diarrhea can also help to keep this symptom at bay.
When to see a doctor
a lady in bed with a fever
If a person has chills and a fever alongside red diarrhea, they should consults a doctor.
Bloody diarrhea may be a sign of a medical emergency, so a person should see a doctor as soon as possible.

A person should also see a doctor if they have the following symptoms in addition to red diarrhea:

chills
diarrhea that lasts more than 2 weeks
fainting
a fever that is 101°F or higher
severe diarrhea that lasts longer than 2 days
vomiting
pain or cramping that gets worse with time
While diarrhea is not always a cause for concern, severe or persistent bleeding may be a medical emergency.
Anyone who is concerned about their red stool should speak to a doctor as soon as possible.

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