Weekly Health Quiz: Herbicides, Alzheimer's and Fluoridation

1 Which of the following foods contains the highest amounts of vitamin C by weight?

• Acerola cherry
• Lemon
• Kiwi
• Camu camu

  Camu camu appears to be the most vitamin C-packed fruit known, with 1,882 to 2,280 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams of fresh fruit. Acerola cherries are what I personally grow and come in a close second around 1,680mg of vitamin C per 100 grams. Kiwi, another fruit noted for its vitamin C content contains less than 93 mg per 100 grams, and both lemons and oranges contain just 53 mg per 100 grams. Learn more.

2 Which of the following substances has been shown to lower IQ in young children?

• Fluoride

  More than 220 animal studies have linked fluoride exposure to the disruption of various aspects of brain function; over 40 studies show fluoride interferes with learning and memory and 52 human studies have linked it to loss of IQ. Learn more.

• Glyphosate
• Mercury
• Aluminum

3 Roundup is the most widely used herbicides in the world with close to 5 million pounds used annually worldwide. Which is most toxic?

• Glyphosate
• Glyphosate with the surfactants used in Roundup

  Government researchers warn the Roundup formula is far more toxic than glyphosate in isolation, due to synergistic interactions between various chemicals. Testing reveals glyphosate formulations significantly alters the viability of human cells by disrupting the functionality of cell membranes. Learn more.

• The surfactants alone

4 Which of the following has been identified as a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease?

• High vitamin D levels
• Low insulin levels
• High iron levels

  Buildup of iron in the brain, causing a rusting effect, is common in most Alzheimer's patients and appears to play an important role in the development and progression of the disease. Patients with higher iron levels deteriorate earlier and faster than those with low iron. Learn more.

• Low iron levels

5 Which root vegetable contains a type of phytonutrient known as indoles, which may help you fight cancer — particularly colon cancer?

• Parsnip
• Carrot
• Potato
• Turnip

  Besides being an excellent source of vitamin C and fiber, turnips also contain a type of phytonutrient known as indoles, which may help you fight cancer — particularly colon cancer. Learn more.

6 Which of the following statements is false?

• Fluoride is an endocrine-disrupting chemical linked to thyroid disease
• Fluoride is a neurotoxin associated with impaired memory, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder and lowered IQ
• Fluoride overexposure causes mottling of the teeth
• Water fluoridation is a proven way to prevent dental cavities and improve oral health

  Fluoride is an endocrine-disrupter and a neurotoxin, associated with lowered IQ and other developmental problems. Dental fluorosis is a visible sign of overexposure, a condition characterized by hypermineralization on teeth, causing a mottled effect. Learn more.

7 Based on documented evidence, how many people have died from dietary supplements in the last three decades?

• None

  When properly prescribed, and taken as directed, the death toll from drugs is between 85,000 to 135,000 Americans per year. Meanwhile, there's no evidence of dietary supplements having caused a single death in over 30 years. Learn more.

• Between 1 and 15
• Between 85,000 and 135,000
• Unknown, as poisoning from supplements have not been tracked