Weekly Health Quiz: How Microplastics Get In, Hidden Kidney Stress Signs, and Knee Health Truths

1What is one simple way to reduce microplastic exposure?

• Drink expensive spring water in glass bottles
• Limit consumption of ultraprocessed foods

  Ultraprocessed foods are one common source of microplastic exposure. Choosing fewer packaged, highly processed foods helps reduce one steady route of plastic particles entering the body. Learn more.

• Heat meals in plastic containers
• Use organic plastics when prepping food for the week

2Which hormone influenced by vitamin D helps balance energy?

• Leptin

  Leptin helps regulate energy balance, while myostatin limits muscle growth. Vitamin D plays a role in both pathways, linking it to energy use, muscle building, and fat storage. Learn more.

• Myostatin
• Cortisol
• Insulin

3Which cardiovascular condition remains the second leading cause of death worldwide?

• Heart failure
• Stroke

  Stroke happens when blood flow to part of the brain becomes blocked, cutting off oxygen to brain cells. Warning signs can include sudden weakness, facial drooping, slurred speech, dizziness, confusion, and severe headache. Learn more.

• Atrial fibrillation
• High blood pressure

4Which option is not an early warning sign of chronic kidney disease?

• Swelling in the ankles or legs
• Fatigue and shortness of breath
• Muscle cramps and urination changes
• Fever and unexplained weight gain

  Early chronic kidney disease may cause swelling, fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle cramps, fluid retention, and urination changes. Sharper vision and stronger hearing are not warning signs. Learn more.

5Which form of added iron is commonly used in enriched flour?

• Ferrous sulfate

  Enriched flour is often fortified with ferrous sulfate, a cheap and highly reactive form of iron. This added iron is used in many grain products, including bread, pasta, cereals, and packaged foods. Learn more.

• Ferric citrate
• Iron bisglycinate
• Heme iron

6Which food provides butyrate directly?

• White rice
• Chicken breast
• Grass fed butter

  Gut bacteria make butyrate when they ferment fiber from vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and beans. Grass fed butter and ghee can also add butyrate from food. Learn more.

• Natural sweeteners

7How does excess body weight place added stress on the knees?

• It lowers inflammation inside the joint
• It prevents pressure from reaching the cartilage
• It makes knee muscles work less during walking
• It increases force through the knees during daily movement

  Extra body weight raises the force moving through the knees during walking, stair climbing, and standing. Learn more.

8Which term describes the ability to solve new problems without relying on past experience?

• Crystalized intelligence
• Fluid intelligence

  Fluid intelligence helps with flexible thinking and solving unfamiliar problems. It usually peaks in early adulthood and tends to decline with age. Learn more.

• Emotional intelligence
• Practical intelligence

9Which plant fiber acts as a prebiotic that feeds beneficial gut bacteria?

• Pectin
• Cellulose
• Inulin

  Inulin is a non-digestible fiber found in many plants. By feeding beneficial gut bacteria, it helps support microbial activity tied to sugar handling, fat metabolism, and inflammation. Learn more.

• Lignin

10What did brain imaging show in people with anxiety disorders?

• Lower levels of choline-containing compounds in key brain regions

  Brain imaging found lower choline-containing compounds in regions tied to thinking, attention, and emotional regulation. Learn more.

• Higher levels of vitamin D in areas tied to focus
• Weaker blood flow in regions that control stress
• Increased bone density near the nervous system

11What term had replaced the older phrase “crib death”?

• Infant sleep apnea (ISA)
• Neonatal respiratory failure (NRF)
• Postnatal immune collapse (PIC)
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

  The condition was first referred to as “crib death” before the term Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) became more widely used in medical and public health discussions. Learn more.

12What is the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength called?

• Osteopenia
• Sarcopenia

  Sarcopenia often starts subtly in midlife and becomes more noticeable with age. Losing muscle mass and strength can raise the risk of frailty, falls, and fractures. Learn more.

• Neuropathy
• Frailty

13What type of fabric is a better choice for outdoor exercise?

• Lightweight cotton or linen

  Lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-colored clothing helps the body release heat more easily. Learn more.

• Heavy dark synthetic fabric
• Tight waterproof clothing
• Thick layered workout gear

14Which amino acid was broken down at a higher rate by gut bacteria in people with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)?

• Glutamate
• Glycine
• Aspartate

  People with social anxiety disorder had a more active aspartate degradation pathway in their gut bacteria. Aspartate helps support glutamate production, which plays a role in mood and brain function. Learn more.

• Histidine

15When someone has dry eye, what do their eyes fail to produce enough of?

• Protective moisture
• Lubricating fluid
• Tears

  Dry eye can happen when tear production is too low or tears evaporate too quickly. Irritation, redness, blurry vision, and burning discomfort may follow. Learn more.

• Natural oils

16Which label detail suggests a supplement may absorb better?

• A large dose printed in bold on the front along with ingredients used
• Broad strength claims without delivery details
• Simple wording that avoids absorption terms for easier understanding
• Delivery terms like liposomal, lipid nanoparticle, or microencapsulated

  Well-designed delivery systems can help protect a compound and move more of it into usable form. Liposomal, lipid nanoparticle, and microencapsulated are examples of absorption-focused wording. Learn more.

17How can excess linoleic acid (LA) raise toxic byproducts in the body?

• By helping cells clear damaged parts more quickly
• By breaking down into damaging molecules like 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE)

  LA oxidizes easily when the body has too much of it. That breakdown can create toxic aldehydes such as 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), which may injure DNA, proteins, and mitochondria. Learn more.

• By lowering inflammatory chemicals in the bloodstream
• By overdriving the mitochondrial energy process

18Which plant is also known as boldo-rasteiro in Brazil and has essential oils linked to blood sugar regulation?

• Vicks plant

  Vicks plant (Plectranthus neochilus) is a fragrant mint-family herb used in traditional medicine. Its essential oils contain compounds studied for blood sugar, antifungal, and antioxidant effects. Learn more.

• Lemon balm
• Holy basil
• Peppermint

19How can shoppers better identify high-quality supplements?

• Choose brands with flashy packaging and broad claims
• Look for transparent sourcing, testing, and manufacturing details

  Strong supplement brands are more open about ingredient sourcing, delivery systems, manufacturing control, and testing. Those details give shoppers a clearer sense of quality than marketing claims alone. Learn more.

• Focus only on the highest dose printed on the label
• Trust products that avoid explaining delivery systems

20Which option is not a benefit associated with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)?

• Helps thin the blood
• Supports lower triglyceride levels
• Helps balance blood sugar

  EPA and DHA support blood thinning, triglyceride levels, blood pressure, inflammation control, and cell membrane function. Blood sugar balance is not included among these benefits. Learn more.

• Supports healthier blood pressure

21Which factor is not one of the major threats to cellular energy?

• Seed oils
• Plastics
• Electromagnetic fields (EMFs)
• Physical appearance

  Seed oils, plastics, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can disrupt mitochondrial function and interfere with energy production inside cells. Physical appearance does not affect cellular energy in the same way. Learn more.