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Weekly Health Quiz: Forever Chemicals in Medicines and Getting the Most of Your Supplements

1 Many PFAS-containing medicines can break down into which persistent compound?

  • Acetic acid
  • Lactic acid
  • Citric acid
  • Trifluoroacetic acid

    Many per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-containing medicines can degrade into trifluoroacetic acid, a highly persistent compound that is difficult to remove from water. Learn more.

2 What caused most GLP-1 medication exposures reported to U.S. poison centers?

  • Allergic reactions
  • Accidental dosing mistakes

    A Journal of Medical Toxicology analysis found that most glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) reports involved therapeutic errors, such as taking the wrong dose or injecting too often. Learn more.

  • Intentional overdoses
  • Drug interactions

3 What can happen when the intestinal barrier becomes more permeable?

  • Digestion stops completely
  • Stomach acid production increases to aid digestion
  • Nutrient absorption becomes faster and higher
  • More substances can pass through the gut lining

    A more permeable intestinal barrier allows substances that normally stay inside the digestive tract to pass more easily through the lining. Learn more.

4 Which factors help determine whether a supplement formula makes scientific sense?

  • Bottle size, label design, and price
  • Flavor, packaging, and serving size
  • Brand recognition, color, and texture
  • Nutrient form, dose, absorption, and delivery

    Nutrient form, amount, absorption, and delivery all affect how well a supplement is designed to provide its intended nutrients. Learn more.

5 Which groups showed a stronger link between poor muscle health and Type 2 diabetes?

  • Men and adults over 70
  • Teenagers and older men
  • Women and adults younger than 60

    Women and adults younger than 60 showed a greater increase in Type 2 diabetes risk when poor muscle health occurred with excess body fat. Learn more.

  • Men and adults younger than 40

6 Which of these habits can make tonsil stones more likely to form?

  • Drinking water regularly
  • Chewing crunchy foods
  • Gargling with salt water
  • Mouth breathing

    Mouth breathing reduces saliva, so bacteria and food debris are less likely to be washed away before they collect in the tonsils. Learn more.

7 When is the colon naturally more active?

  • After waking up

    The colon naturally becomes more active after waking, which helps move stool toward the rectum and makes morning bowel movements more common. Learn more.

  • Late at night
  • During deep sleep
  • Before bedtime