Weekly Health Quiz: Pollution, Diabetes and Meditation

1 In plants, this compound triggers the creation of beneficial nitric oxide. When obtained from processed meat, the same compound triggers creation of carcinogenic compounds in your body.

• Sterols
• 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.

• Protein
• Purines

3 Estimates suggest about half of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contributing to air pollution comes from:

• Electric vehicles
• Plastic waste
• Fragrance manufacturing
• Consumer products such as household cleansers

  Air quality evaluation in the Los Angeles area found the amount of VOCs released by consumer products is two to three times greater than previously estimated, and may account for as much as half of all VOC emissions — the other half coming from gasoline-driven cars. Learn more.

4 The following strategy has been scientifically validated as a way to boost health, happiness and life satisfaction:

• Gratitude

  Practicing gratitude has been scientifically verified as a way to boost happiness and life satisfaction. It also benefits your mental and physical health. Learn more.

• Narcissism
• Light therapy
• Taking nutritional supplements

5 The following strategy has been scientifically shown to reverse Type 2 diabetes in a matter of months, even if you've had diabetes for a decade:

• Eating a low-fat diet
• Fasting

  Research confirms that fasting can effectively reverse Type 2 diabetes in a relatively short amount of time. Fasting has also been shown to trigger the regeneration of the pancreas in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. Learn more.

• Nutritional supplementation
• Aerobic exercise

6 Which of the following industries is the largest user of groundwater, contributing to the draining of aquifers around the globe?

• Chemical industry
• Pharmaceutical industry
• Industrial farming

  Water scarcity is getting worse around the world as aquifers are drained faster than they can be refilled. The most significant contributor to the problem is industrial farming, due to its heavy use of potable water for irrigation. Learn more.

• Paper industry

7 Meditation has been scientifically shown to have a number of biological effects. The following is not one of them:

• Stem cell production
• Cellular regeneration
• Telomere lengthening
• Increases in height

  Meditation has been scientifically shown to have a number of biological effects, including the generation of stem cells, and regeneration of cells and telomeres. Learn more.