Weekly Health Quiz: Cabbage, Processed Foods and Sleep

1 What natural plant compound has been found to be a powerful remedy against cold, flu and other viral illnesses, and is a far safer alternative flu remedy than the antiviral drug Tamiflu?

• Resveratrol
• Quercetin

  Quercetin, a plant flavonol found naturally in apples, plums, red grapes, green tea, elder flower and onions, packs a powerful antiviral punch, inhibiting several strains of influenza, hepatitis B and C and other viruses. Learn more.

• Coffee Fruit Extract
• Berberine

2 Which of the following industry lobbying groups was in 2016 found guilty of money laundering and intentionally violating state campaign disclosure laws, and ordered to pay $18 million in fines?

• The Grocery Manufacturers Association

  In 2016, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), the largest and most powerful lobbying group for the processed food industry, was found guilty of money laundering and intentional violation of state campaign disclosure laws. After a six-year-long boycott against all GMA companies, the association is now teetering on the brink of collapse after losing 50 of its members. Learn more.

• The American Chemistry Council
• The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
• The Biotechnology Innovation Organization

3 What percentage of processed foods consumed in the U.S. is ultra-processed?

• 90 percent
• 60 percent

  Sixty percent of the processed foods consumed by Americans is ultra-processed and account for 90 percent of the added sugar consumption. French researchers now warn that ultra-processed foods raise your risk of cancer, and the more ultra-processed foods you eat, the greater your risk. Learn more.

• 50 percent
• 10 percent

4 Research suggests there's a distinct tipping point when hours spent at work begins to adversely affect your health. What's the ideal length of your work week to ensure life balance and good health?

• 35 hours
• 39 hours

  Research suggests 39 hours to be the ideal length of your work week to ensure life balance and good health. If you work more than 55 hours a week, you may be 40 percent more likely to develop an irregular heartbeat, compared to someone who works just 35 to 40 hours a week. Learn more.

• 47 hours
• 55 hours

5 This member of the Brassica (cabbage) family is a key ingredient in the popular fermented dish Koreans call kimchi:

• Kohlrabi
• Bok choy

  Koreans love to ferment bok choy with daikon radish, garlic, ginger and scallions to make a traditional spicy side dish called kimchi. Learn more.

• Cauliflower
• Savoy cabbage

6 To lower your risk of heart disease, which of the following fats should be avoided?

• Saturated fat from plants and animals
• Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (trans fat) and regular vegetable oils

  Refined carbs, sugar and trans fats found in processed foods are the primary dietary culprits causing heart disease, not saturated fat or cholesterol. While the dangers of trans fats are now becoming widely recognized, the recommended replacement — vegetable oils — may actually be even more harmful. Learn more.

• Plant-based omega-3 fats
• Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)

7 Deep sleep is important for optimal brain health, as your brain detoxifies and cleans itself out only during the deep sleep cycle. Which of the following strategies can help improve your deep sleep?

• Avoid late-night, high-calorie eating and/or alcohol consumption
• Keeping your bedroom cool and avoid sleeping with extra blankets
• Finish any intensive evening exercise routine at least three hours before bedtime
• All of the above

  One effective way to improve your deep sleep is to make sure your core body temperature is sufficiently lowered during sleep. You may be sabotaging your deep sleep by doing things that prevent lowering of your core temperature, such as late-night, high-calorie eating, keeping your bedroom too warm, and performing intense evening exercise routines too close to bedtime. Learn more.