Weekly Health Quiz: Your Body on Akkermansia, Impact of PMOS on Women, and How to Hydrate Better

1 Where is Akkermansia muciniphila found in the body?

• Inside the stomach lining
• In the mucus layer of the intestinal tract

  Akkermansia muciniphila lives in the intestinal mucus layer, where it may help support the gut barrier. Learn more.

• Along the walls of the stomach
• Within the bloodstream

2 What mineral can damage brain cells and contribute to Alzheimer’s disease?

• Low calcium
• Excess sodium
• Excess iron

  Excess iron can react with fats and proteins in brain cells, causing oxidative damage in areas involved in memory and decision-making. Learn more.

• Low potassium

3 What protein supports the growth and survival of brain cells?

• C-reactive protein (CRP)
• Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
• Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)
• Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

  BDNF supports neuron growth and survival and plays an important role in learning, memory, and stress resilience. Learn more.

4 Which symptom is not associated with polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS)?

• More hair growth on the scalp

  PMOS is linked to scalp hair thinning, not increased scalp hair growth. Other symptoms include irregular periods, infertility, acne, facial hair growth, fatigue, anxiety, insulin resistance, and abdominal weight gain. Learn more.

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Increased facial hair
• Abdominal weight gain

5 What is the leading cause of health care spending in the United States?

• Emergency injuries
• Maternity care
• Chronic disease

  Long-term conditions drive most health care costs through repeated doctor visits, hospital care, surgeries, and prescription drug use. Learn more.

• Cosmetic procedures

6 How does methylene blue help cells produce more energy?

• By storing glucose inside the mitochondria
• By improving the electron transport chain

  Methylene blue cycles between oxidized and reduced forms, helping mitochondria work more efficiently. Learn more.

• By slowing the breakdown of nutrients
• By blocking oxygen from entering cells

7 Why can taking a supplement with food improve consistency?

• It connects the supplement to an existing daily habit

  Meals provide a familiar, stable setting, so taking the supplement does not require a separate ritual. Learn more.

• It makes every supplement work quicker
• It removes the need to follow any directions
• It allows people to skip meals more often

8 Why is the belief that one glass of wine a day protects the brain considered misleading?

• Wine only benefits people under age 40
• Brain benefits depend on the type of wine
• Alcohol raises dementia risk at every consumption level

  Research involving 559,559 adults found no protective level of alcohol use. Earlier claims may have been distorted because people with early cognitive decline often drink less. Learn more.

• Protection occurs only when wine is taken with food

9 Which method wasn’t traditionally used to preserve food?

• Drying
• Wax paraffin seals

  People commonly preserved food through drying, fermenting, curing, and pickling, which extended shelf life without modern refrigeration. Learn more.

• Fermenting
• Pickling

10 Which is a common side effect of beta blockers?

• Increased appetite
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue

  Beta blockers may cause tiredness by slowing the heart rate and lowering blood pressure. Other common effects include dizziness, cold hands and feet, and sleep problems. Learn more.

• Excessive sweating

11 What type of exercise may help regulate blood sugar more effectively?

• Resistance training

  Resistance exercise produced greater improvements in glucose control and insulin sensitivity than endurance exercise in the comparison. Learn more.

• Endurance training
• Flexibility training
• Balance training

12 Which statement about dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is true?

• It remains stored in body tissues for long periods even after sweating
• It cannot pass through biological membranes easily
• It prevents other compounds from entering through the skin
• It may cause a garlic- or clam-like odor on the breath or skin

  A small amount of DMSO is converted into dimethyl sulfide (DMS), which produces the distinctive odor. Learn more.

13 What type of exercise may help rebuild the muscles that support painful joints?

• Blood flow restriction (BFR) training

  BFR training uses lighter weights while challenging the muscles, which may strengthen joint support without placing excessive stress on vulnerable tissue. Learn more.

• High-intensity interval training
• Heavy powerlifting sessions
• Long-distance endurance running

14 Which ingredient in some laxatives may cause sensitivity or allergic reactions?

• Magnesium citrate
• Sodium phosphate
• Polyethylene glycol

  People with constipation may absorb more polyethylene glycol because of slower bowel transit, increasing the risk of side effects or toxicity. Learn more.

• Calcium carbonate

15 How many grams (g) of high-quality protein may support recovery after exercise?

• 5 to 10 g
• 10 to 20 g
• 15 to 25 g
• 20 to 40 g

  Protein after exercise helps repair muscle tissue, reduce muscle breakdown, and preserve strength for future activity. Learn more.

16 What ingredient created a cooling sensation and helped preserve jump performance?

• Caffeine
• Menthol

  Menthol activates cold-sensing receptors in the mouth and throat, reducing perceived heat without lowering core body temperature. Learn more.

• Beta-alanine
• Sodium bicarbonate

17 Which therapy uses different light wavelengths inside blood vessels?

• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy
• Intravascular laser therapy

  Intravascular laser therapy is used to influence mitochondrial activity and blood properties from within the vascular system. Learn more.

• Infrared sauna therapy

18 How small are ultrafine particles (UFPs)?

• Less than 100 nanometers

  Their tiny size allows them to remain suspended in indoor air and pass deep into the lungs. Learn more.

• Less than 500 nanometers
• Less than 1,000 nanometers
• Less than 5,000 nanometers

19 Which food may help support natural butyrate production?

• Fruit leather made of artificial fruit juice
• Tater tots fried in extra virgin olive oil
• Plant-based burger patties
• Cooked and cooled white rice

  Cooked and cooled rice may nourish beneficial gut bacteria that help produce butyrate. Learn more.

20 What is the body’s internal 24-hour timekeeping system called?

• Ultradian rhythm
• Diurnal rhythm
• Circadian rhythm

  The circadian rhythm responds to light and darkness, helping coordinate digestion, hormone release, cellular repair, and metabolism. Learn more.

• Circecian rhythm

21 Which sugar should infant formula contain?

• Corn syrup solids
• Natural lactose

  Lactose is the natural sugar in breast milk, while added sugars may encourage a stronger preference for sweet foods. Learn more.

• Maltodextrin
• Biodynamic glucose syrup