Weekly Health Quiz: Obesity, Cycling and Salmon

1 Which of the following compounds is found in both plants and processed meats, yet have very different health effects due to the presence or absence of antioxidants and heme? In plants, this compound triggers the creation of beneficial nitric oxide; obtained from processed meat, the same compound triggers creation of carcinogenic compounds.

• Nitrates

  Nitrates from plants turn into beneficial nitric oxide in your body due to the presence of antioxidants, while nitrites from processed meat turn into carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds due to the presence of proteins and heme. Learn more.

• Nitrogen
• Protein
• Purines