Weekly Health Quiz: Spices, Saunas and More

1 Which of the following spices is a gum resin with an offensive rotten smell that gives a lovely umami taste to many Indian and other savory dishes?

• Asafoetida

  The Indian cooking spice asafoetida is a gum obtained from a type of giant fennel. It has an offensive smell akin to that of rotting garlic and sweaty feet, but an appetizing savory, umami taste. Learn more.

• Turmeric
• Mastic
• Curry

2 Which of the following U.S. agencies is responsible for regulating cannabidiol (CBD) and dictates its legal status on the federal level?

• Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

  While hemp has been legalized, CBD is under the regulatory authority of the FDA, which views CBD as a drug. As such, all CBD supplements are considered "unapproved drugs." Learn more.

• Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

3 Just as nutritional deficiencies can cause severe problems, so can certain excesses. Which of the following has been shown to encourage cancer, heart disease, diabetes, neurodegeneration and more, when your levels are too high?

• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Iron

  Excess iron can cause severe problems by encouraging oxidation and tissue damage. Common health problems associated with elevated iron levels include cirrhosis, cancer, hepatitis C, gouty arthritis, arrhythmia, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's and more. Learn more.

• Glutathione

4 Which of the following has been identified as contributing to the opioid crisis in the U.S.?

• Aggressive marketing by opioid makers
• Unemployment and poverty
• Widespread prevalence of physical pain, especially back pain
• All of the above

  Evidence suggests the opioid addiction crisis is the result of a perfect storm of poverty, trauma, availability and pain. Aggressive marketing has also made an unmistakable contribution to the problem. Learn more.

5 Which of the following exercise strategies has been shown to effectively lower stress and anxiety, improve cognition and reduce body image dissatisfaction?

• Yoga

  Regular yoga practice has been shown to lower stress, reduce body image dissatisfaction and anxiety, improve cognition and protect against age-related brain changes and much more. Learn more.

• Jogging
• Strength training
• Walking

6 Which of the following health benefits have been linked to regular sauna use?

• Reduced risk of stroke
• Reduced risk of death from heart problems
• Increased longevity
• All of the above

  Sauna bathing can be used as an exercise mimetic to increase your longevity and health span. Men using Finnish-style sauna seven times per week cut their risk of death from fatal heart problems in half, compared to those who used it only once a week. This frequency of use can also lower your stroke risk by 61%. Learn more.

7 Lactic acid tolerance refers to your body's ability to:

• Digest milk protein
• Buffer lactic acid in your muscle, which affects your muscle endurance

  Lactic acid tolerance refers to your ability to buffer lactic acid, which affects your muscle endurance. Learn more.

• Buffer lactic acid in your joints, which affects your gout risk
• Make new mitochondria