Weekly Health Quiz: Deli Meat Concerns, How Caffeine Affects Metabolism, and Reasons to Eat More Beets

1 What compounds can form when meat is cooked at high temperatures?

• Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HAAs)
  

  Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HAAs) can form during high-heat cooking and may contribute to cellular damage. Learn more.

• Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)
• Colony forming units (CFUs) and active fluorescent units (AFUs)

2 What substance is fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)?

• Mineral
• Enzyme
• Vitamin
• Hormone
  

  Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a hormone. Phosphate in soda may raise FGF23 levels, which can affect blood vessels, bones, and heart health over time. Learn more.

3 What food group was linked to lower oral cancer risk?

• Vegetables
  

  Vegetables were identified as a protective dietary factor, making whole foods a better daily choice than heavily processed or charred meats. Learn more.

• Deli meats
• Fried meats
• Pastured eggs

4 Which factor was the biggest contributor to kidney-related health loss?

• Low vitamin D levels
• High fasting blood sugar
  

  High fasting blood sugar accounted for the largest share of kidney-related health loss, followed by high blood pressure and excess body weight. Learn more.

• Too much dietary potassium
• Low daily water intake

5 Which test is a common starting point for checking iron overload?

• Serum ferritin test
  

  A serum ferritin test shows how much iron the body stores, making it a useful first step when checking for possible iron overload. Learn more.

• Vitamin D blood test
• Thyroid antibody test
• Fasting insulin test

6 What molecule is central to cellular energy and mitochondrial health?

• Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
• Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)
• Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)
  

  Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) helps drive energy production, supports mitochondrial function, and plays a role in DNA repair and inflammation control. Learn more.

• C-reactive protein (CRP)

7 How does caffeine help the body use more fat for fuel?

• It blocks carb digestion during exercise
• It blocks adenosine receptors in the body
  

  Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, raising signals like epinephrine that help release fatty acids for working muscles to use during exercise. Learn more.

• It increases the need for daily movement
• It lowers all hormone activity at once

8 What is one way to reduce PFAS exposure at home?

• Using more waterproof products
• Heating food in fast food wrappers
• Cooking with high-quality nonstick pans
• Filtering your drinking water
  

  Filtering drinking water with a system designed for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can help cut off a major source of exposure. Learn more.

9 What amount of sleep may support long-term well-being?

• At least 7 hours a night
  

  At least 7 hours of sleep per night was defined as sufficient, while regularly sleeping less was linked to lower long-term well-being. Learn more.

• Around 4 hours with naps
• Less sleep on work nights
• Any amount if energy feels fine

10 Does a food-based supplement format mean it should replace meals?

• Yes, because supplements work better alone
• Yes, because food becomes less important
• No, it should support real meals
  

  Food-based formats are meant to support a food-first approach, where real meals remain the foundation and supplements fill gaps when needed. Learn more.

• No, but it can replace breakfast from time to time

11 Which compound is described as an “umbrella remedy”?

• Methylene blue
• Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)
  

  Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is described this way because it may support inflammation control, circulation, and tissue repair across many uses. Learn more.

• Molecular hydrogen
• N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

12 What drugs are commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol?

• Statins
  

  Statins are commonly prescribed to lower cholesterol, though their broader effects on heart health are being questioned. Learn more.

• Antibiotics
• Antacids
• Antihistamines

13 What type of exercise routine is easiest to maintain?

• A strict plan that feels difficult every day
• A workout chosen mainly to impress others
• A routine that constantly pushes your current fitness level
• An activity that feels fun, safe, and realistic
  

  Exercise is easier to repeat when it fits a person’s interests, schedule, and ability. Learn more.

14 Which common over-the-counter painkillers may increase bacteria’s resistance to antibiotics?

• Naproxen and aspirin
• Caffeine and melatonin
• Ibuprofen and acetaminophen
  

  Ibuprofen and acetaminophen may help bacteria adapt against antibiotics, making ordinary infections harder to clear. Learn more.

• Antacids and antihistamines

15 What eating pattern can disrupt gut bacteria and increase junk food cravings?

• Calorie cycling
• Intermittent fasting
• Low-carb dieting
• Yo-yo dieting
  

  Yo-yo dieting means repeatedly switching between restriction and overeating, which may disrupt gut bacteria and make junk food cravings harder to control. Learn more.

16 Why might milk or some carbohydrates bother the gut after a stomach bug?

• The body can no longer use carbohydrates
• Digestion may be temporarily reduced
  

  A stomach bug can temporarily reduce digestion of lactose or larger starch servings, but tolerance often improves as the intestinal lining heals. Learn more.

• Dairy always becomes a lifelong problem
• All starches should be avoided permanently

17 What is a natural way to support vitamin D production?

• Avoid sunlight all throughout noon
• Regularly undergo vitamin D testing
• Get enough healthy sunshine
  

  Healthy sunlight exposure helps the skin begin vitamin D production, but timing should consider skin color, linoleic acid intake, and regular blood testing. Learn more.

• Rely only on fortified foods

18 How do many women first learn they have an ovarian cyst?

• An ultrasound exam
  

  Many ovarian cysts cause no symptoms, so they are often found when an ultrasound reveals fluid-filled sacs on or inside the ovaries. Learn more.

• A blood pressure check
• A skin allergy test
• A routine vision test

19 What helps start the nitrate-to-nitric oxide process?

• Extra stomach acid
• Beneficial mouth bacteria
  

  Beneficial bacteria in the mouth help convert dietary nitrate into nitrite, an early step in the body’s nitric oxide pathway. Learn more.

• Stronger tooth enamel
• Higher protein intake

20 What biomarker may dysfunctional breathing habits lower in the body?

• Vitamin D levels
• Blood sugar levels
• Muscle protein levels
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels
  

  Dysfunctional breathing patterns may become linked to emotional triggers and can lower carbon dioxide (CO2), which plays an important role in healthy breathing balance. Learn more.

21 What was the Flexner Report?

• A 1910 report that reshaped medical education
  

  Commissioned by John D. Rockefeller, the Flexner Report standardized medical education and pushed schools toward a model centered on drugs and surgery. Learn more.

• A nutrition plan for improving hospital meals
• A drug trial focused on chronic care models
• A public guide for lowering medical costs