Weekly Health Quiz: Cumin, Autism and Insulin

1 Which of the following supports healthy thyroid function, boosts metabolism and helps normalize insulin and leptin function?

• Trans fat
• Vegetable oils
• Margarine
• Coconut oil

  Coconut oil supports thyroid function, normalizes insulin and leptin function, boosts metabolism and provides excellent and readily available fuel for your body in lieu of carbohydrates. Learn more.

2 How many carcasses per minute must USDA food inspectors inspect for signs of disease and fecal material in chicken slaughter lines?

• 140

  Food inspectors visually inspect 140 carcasses per minute — between two and three chickens per second — for the presence of fecal material; they test for drugs and bacteria during spot checks only. Learn more.

• 100
• 50
• 10

3 Chagas disease is contracted from and spread by which of the following insects?

• Ticks
• Triatomines, aka "kissing bugs"

  Chagas infection is contracted through a bite from a triatomine, a nocturnal insect that crawls around on your face while you're sleeping. It will typically bite around the lips or eyes — hence the nickname "kissing bug." Learn more.

• Mosquitoes
• Spiders

4 Which of the following placebo treatments or criteria has been shown to be the most effective?

• Large placebo capsules
• Small placebo tablets
• Sham surgery

  The placebo effect taps into your body's own virtual pharmacy. Drugs work because your body has chemical receptors for the drugs, but you also have natural brain chemicals that act on those same receptors, effectively mimicking the results of drugs. Learn more.

• Sham acupuncture or injections

5 Cumin has a warm, earthy flavor that plays a starring role in which popular spice blend:

• Herbes de Provence
• Italian seasoning
• Pumpkin pie spice
• Chili powder

  Cumin also features a starring role in many spice blends, including chili powder, garam masala, sofrito and bahaarat. Learn more.

6 The SAR value on your cellphone tells you:

• How deeply the phone can heat tissue, and the distance from your body required to prevent overexposure that can result in heat-induced cell damage

  Cellphones have a safety limit, beyond which you may suffer heat-induced cell damage. This safety limit, known as the specific absorption rate (SAR), is typically buried in the legal section of your phone, will state the distance from your body required in order to prevent overexposure. Learn more.

• How powerful the phone's reception is, and how clear your calls will be
• How safe the phone is in terms of nonthermal, non-ionizing radiation emitted
• How long you can safely talk on your phone without it causing any biological harm

7 Which of the following has NOT been scientifically linked to autism?

• Excess vaccination
• Low manganese levels

  Childhood vaccinations, electromagnetic field exposure and glyphosate exposure through contaminated foods are all pernicious, and all have been shown to contribute to autism. Heavy metal and manganese toxicity can also cause symptoms of autism. Learn more.

• Electromagnetic field exposure
• Glyphosate exposure