Weekly Health Quiz: Caring for Your Kidneys, Ultraprocessed Food Dangers, and the Soybean Oil Lie

1 How does butyrate help regulate metabolism?

• Fat absorption slows down in the small intestine
• Blood sugar becomes more stable and insulin works better
  

  Butyrate enhances insulin sensitivity and helps stabilize blood sugar, both key to reducing the risk of metabolic disease. Learn more.

• The body no longer needs high amounts of carbohydrates for fuel
• Energy use increases through a rise in stress hormones

2 Why can pre-workout supplements slow progress in teens and young adults?

• They replace food-based fuel and reduce effectiveness of workouts in general
• They limit flexibility gains and increase the probability of muscles getting sore
• They keep the body alert at night, reducing the sleep needed for recovery
  

  Stimulants keep the nervous system active at night, disrupting deep sleep. Less sleep means poorer recovery, weaker adaptation, and slower long-term progress. Learn more.

• They may make you endure more workouts, but that’s about it

3 Why does butyrate help protect against colorectal cancer?

• It tells damaged colon cells to self-destruct
  

  Butyrate nourishes healthy colon cells while slowing cancer growth and activating apoptosis, or programmed cancer cell death. Learn more.

• All cell growth in the colon shuts down completely
• Fiber gets cleared out before microbes can ferment it
• Stomach acid rises and destroys harmful cells in the gut

4 Why is early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) often missed?

• Most people skip routine doctor visits
• It usually causes no symptoms at first
  

  Early CKD is often silent, so people feel fine and don’t know their kidneys are declining until the disease is advanced. Learn more.

• Tests can only confirm it after major damage
• It’s too uncommon for doctors to check for

5 Roughly how many people worldwide are affected by osteoarthritis (OA), the leading cause of hip pain?

• 80 million
• 120 million
• 200 million
• 240 million
  

  Osteoarthritis affects around 240 million people globally, making it the most common cause of hip pain and a major reason for joint surgeries. Learn more.

6 How does your gut microbiome help your body every day?

• It builds muscle and stores extra calories for energy
• It supports digestion, immunity, and inflammation control
  

  Your gut microbiome helps break down food, keeps your immune system balanced, and reduces inflammation that can lead to chronic health problems. Learn more.

• It filters your blood and controls how fast your heart beats
• It produces oxygen and keeps your breathing rate steady

7 Which action helps lower your risk of colorectal cancer?

• Drinking more homemade fruit juice and avoiding all fats
• Taking daily multivitamins with iron and zinc
• Switching to low-fat packaged meals and shakes
• Reducing linoleic acid and supporting gut health
  

  Cutting linoleic acid, boosting fiber, and protecting your gut with real foods lowers your colorectal cancer risk. Learn more.

8 Which result has been observed from taking saffron daily?

• People reported feeling hungrier and noticed a slower heartbeat
• Muscle growth improved along with better calcium uptake
• Participants felt less depressed and felt more satisfied
  

  A daily 30 milligrams (mg) saffron dose has been shown to ease depression and enhance sexual function, without the side effects common to antidepressants. Learn more.

• Blood sugar dropped slightly and sugar cravings went away

9 What do uterine fibroids often signal beyond reproductive issues?

• They cause infertility without other health risks
• They improve circulation but worsen hormone balance
• They shrink naturally once menopause begins
• They point to hidden cardiovascular stress early on
  

  Fibroids are linked to inflammation and blood vessel issues, acting as an early sign of deeper heart strain before typical symptoms appear. Learn more.

10 Why is soybean oil linked to long-term metabolic problems?

• It lowers vitamin absorption and reduces bile flow
• It causes oxidative stress and damages mitochondria
  

  Linoleic Acid (LA) in soybean oil creates oxidative stress, weakens mitochondria, and lingers in body fat, disrupting metabolism for years. Learn more.

• It digests too slowly and stays in your liver
• It has a short half-life and spikes blood pressure

11 When knee pain comes from arthritis or a meniscal tear, which approach works best as a starting point?

• Resting the joint as much as possible to avoid further wear
• Relying on surgery early to correct the damaged tissue
• Using supervised physical therapy only for long-term relief
• Doing regular, joint‑friendly exercises to keep knees strong
  

  Regular movement strengthens muscles, reduces stiffness, and supports knee function, while avoiding activity or jumping to surgery often worsens long-term pain. Learn more.

12 What plays the biggest role in most Parkinson’s disease cases today?

• Daily lifestyle and environmental exposures
  

  Most Parkinson’s cases are linked to chronic stressors like poor sleep, toxin exposure, and inflammation — not genetics. Learn more.

• A rare inherited mutation passed through families
• Childhood brain injuries and head trauma
• Bacterial infections that trigger autoimmunity

13 Which vitamin helps reduce frequent migraines?

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin D
  

  Low vitamin D weakens nerve stability and increases inflammation, making migraines more frequent and intense, especially during low-sunlight seasons like winter. Learn more.

14 How many ounces (oz) 100% unsweetened elderberry juice to help regulate how the body uses energy?

• 4 oz
• 8 oz
• 12 oz
  

  Drinking 12 oz of unsweetened elderberry juice each day for a week helps your body switch more easily between burning carbs and fat for fuel. Learn more.

• 16 oz

15 Which of the following statements about Crohn’s disease is not true?

• It mainly causes persistent bloating in the large intestine
  

  Bloating isn’t the primary issue. Crohn’s affects the digestive tract more broadly, with symptoms like pain, diarrhea, and fatigue being far more typical. Learn more.

• Additives in ultraprocessed foods can damage the gut lining and raise risk
• Long-term complications may include bowel obstruction and malnutrition
• Common symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, and weight loss

16 What is the approximate half-life of linoleic acid (LA) in human fat tissue?

• 6 weeks
• 6 months
• 1 year
• 2 years
  

  Linoleic acid remains in body fat for years. Its half-life is about two years, meaning the effects of seed oils accumulate and linger long after consumption. Learn more.

17 Which option is a safer alternative to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)?

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
• Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
  

  GABA is your brain’s natural calming neurotransmitter. Unlike SSRIs, it promotes balance without overstimulating serotonin or causing the side effects linked to many antidepressants. Learn more.

• Berberine

18 What is one key reason rosacea often worsens in midlife?

• Hormones permanently change the skin’s pigment
• Inflammatory signals stay active and block recovery
  

  In midlife, chronic inflammation keeps immune signals turned on, preventing blood vessels from resetting and making redness more frequent and harder to calm. Learn more.

• Oil production stops entirely, drying the skin out
• Blood vessels vanish, causing deeper tissue damage

19 How did Dr. Soon-Shiong avoid getting COVID-19?

• He isolated himself completely for 3 years
• He used strong prescription antivirals preventively
• His body had early immune memory that cleared the virus
  

  Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a surgeon and biotech founder, said his body cleared the virus quickly due to pre-existing immune memory, not isolation or medication. Learn more.

• He got five booster shots as soon as they were available

20 Which of the following is not a valid test for early cognitive decline?

• Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)
• APOE genetic testing
• Phospho-tau 181 and 217
• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
  

  A Complete Blood Count (CBC) is a general blood test and does not detect early brain changes. The others help assess risk or early markers for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s. Learn more.

21 About how many strokes occur in the U.S. each year?

• 300,000
• 500,000
• 795,000
  

  Roughly 795,000 strokes happen annually in the U.S., making stroke a major health concern and the fifth leading cause of death. Learn more.

• 1.2 million