Weekly Health Quiz: Oxygen-Intolerant Gut Bacteria, Lupus Symptoms, and Microplastic Exposure

1 What might happen if your gut microbiome is imbalanced (gut dysbiosis)?

• Your brain stops producing more calming hormones
• You could experience mental health challenges like depression
  

  Gut dysbiosis, or microbial imbalance, is linked to mental health issues like depression, often due to reduced levels of beneficial bacteria, such as those producing butyrate. Learn more.

• Your gut will absorb more vitamins automatically
• Your stress resilience will improve significantly

2 Why do you crave junk food when you haven’t slept enough?

• Your brain wants a quick sugar boost to stay awake
• You’re just bored and snack to pass the time
• Lack of sleep messes with your hunger and stress hormones
  

  Poor sleep disrupts hormones that regulate hunger and stress, making you crave junk food and leading to emotional eating. Learn more.

• Your body needs extra calories to function without sleep

3 What role does butyrate-producing bacteria play in your mental health?

• They increase gut inflammation to signal the brain
• They produce beneficial compounds linked to lower depression risk
  

  Butyrate-producing bacteria create short-chain fatty acids, like butyrate, which support gut health and are linked to reduced depression risk through the gut-brain connection. Learn more.

• They speed up digestion to reduce stress hormones
• They absorb more calories to fuel brain activity

4 How do processed meats like deli meats affect your overall mortality risk?

• They increase it by 8%
• They have no impact on mortality
• They reduce it by 5%
• They increase it by 13%
  

  Processed meats, such as deli meats, are linked to a 13% higher all-cause mortality risk. Limiting these foods can improve your chances of a longer, healthier life. Learn more.

5 What does a “ghost poop” tell you about your gut health?

• Your gut is struggling to process nutrients, and you need more fiber
• Your digestive system is working efficiently, absorbing nutrients well
  

  A ghost poop indicates excellent gut health and proper digestion. It shows your body is efficiently processing nutrients, leaving minimal waste behind. Learn more.

• You’re likely dehydrated and need to drink more water
• Your gut microbiome is imbalanced, causing irregular digestion

6 Why is potassium so important for your blood pressure?

• It helps your body store more sodium to balance fluids
• It reduces hormones that raise blood pressure and helps flush out excess sodium
  

  Potassium lowers blood pressure by helping your body get rid of excess sodium, activating early kidney responses, and reducing hormones that raise blood pressure. This makes it a key player in keeping your blood pressure in check. Learn more.

• It increases sodium absorption in your kidneys
• It slows down your heart rate to lower blood pressure

7 How does kefir make your bones more resilient to fractures?

• It lowers markers of bone breakdown
  

  Kefir reduces bone breakdown markers, helping maintain stronger bones and reducing fracture risk. Learn more.

• It speeds up bone healing after injuries
• It increases bone length for better structure
• It enhances bone elasticity for flexibility

8 Why do ultraprocessed foods create cravings even when you don’t enjoy them?

• They trigger dopamine pathways like addictive drugs
  

  Ultraprocessed foods activate dopamine pathways similar to addictive drugs, driving cravings even if the food isn’t enjoyable. This addictive-like response makes it critical to reduce their consumption. Learn more.

• They contain extra nutrients your body needs
• They improve your brain’s reward system permanently
• They disrupt your blood sugar levels

9 Why might stress and trauma make it harder for you to stand up for what you believe in?

• They prevent you from feeling any emotions at all
• They force you to agree with everyone around you
• They make you overly confident in your beliefs
• They cloud your thinking and weaken your resolve
  

  Stress and trauma can impair clear thinking and make it harder to stand against what you know is wrong. Learn more.

10 What’s a common symptom you might notice if you have lupus?

• Increased appetite
• Joint pain
  

  Lupus often causes inflammation, leading to symptoms like joint pain, fatigue, skin rashes, and fever. Learn more.

• Improved sleep quality
• Enhanced muscle strength

11 How does cognitive shuffling help you fall asleep?

• It mimics your brain’s natural shift to random, dreamlike patterns
  

  Cognitive shuffling works by mimicking your brain’s natural transition from focused thinking to the random, dreamlike patterns that occur as you fall asleep. This gentle redirection helps calm racing thoughts without forcing your mind to be completely clear, which can be difficult. Learn more.

• It clears your mind completely, stopping all thoughts
• It stimulates your brain with complex tasks to tire it out
• It focuses your mind on a single thought to avoid distractions

12 What’s a key reason to increase fiber in your diet for heart health?

• Fiber helps you control weight to support heart function
• Fiber reduces LDL cholesterol and supports artery health
  

  Increasing fiber in your diet helps reduce LDL cholesterol levels and promotes long-term cardiovascular health by preventing plaque buildup in arteries, making it a practical and effective choice for heart health. Learn more.

• Fiber increases sugar absorption for energy
• Fiber replaces the need for all fats in your diet

13 How does DMSO transform your cancer care at a cellular level?

• It repairs damaged DNA in all cells
• It only targets healthy cells to make them stronger
• It causes cancerous cells to stop being cancerous
  

  DMSO can cause cancerous cells to stop being cancerous, offering a transformative approach to cancer care. Learn more.

• It slows down cancer growth but doesn’t stop it

14 Why does eating slower help you feel full and prevent overeating?

• It speeds up your chewing tempo, so you eat less food
• It reduces the number of bites you take during a meal
• It gives your brain more time to register fullness signals
  

  Eating slower increases meal length through more chews and bites, allowing your brain extra time to process fullness signals, which helps prevent overeating. Learn more.

• It slows down your metabolism, so you burn fewer calories

15 Why should you care about getting enough vitamin K2 in your diet?

• It helps your body store more sugar for energy
• It boosts your muscle growth for better workouts
• It directs calcium to your bones instead of your arteries
  

  Vitamin K2 is crucial for guiding calcium to your bones, where it strengthens them, and away from your arteries, where it could cause harm. This supports both your brain health and reduces inflammation, keeping you feeling your best. Learn more.

• It improves your eyesight in low-light conditions

16 What type of plastics are commonly found in human lungs that you should avoid?

• Synthetic fibers like cotton and wool
• Common plastics like polypropylene and PET
  

  Polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are common microplastics found in human lungs, posing health risks. Learn more.

• Biodegradable materials that break down safely
• Glass-based particles that are safe for inhalation

17 Why might avoiding movement make your knee pain worse?

• Inactivity weakens muscles, putting more stress on your knee joints
  

  When you avoid movement, your muscles weaken, which adds stress to your knee joints. This makes everyday activities like walking or standing more painful, showing why staying active is key to knee health. Learn more.

• Inactivity reduces blood flow, causing your knees to swell more
• Inactivity stiffens your tendons, making your knees less flexible
• Inactivity increases cartilage growth, which irritates your joints

18 What happens to growth hormone levels when children snack constantly?

• They surge three times more than with regular meals
• They remain flat, reducing bone development
  

  Constant snacking disrupts growth hormone rhythms, leading to flat, ineffective levels that can reduce bone development by up to 17%. Learn more.

• They increase steadily throughout the day
• They only surge at night during sleep

19 What was a key reason some early COVID-19 treatments were controversial?

• They were only available to a small group of patients
• They were proven ineffective in all clinical trials
• They were too expensive for most hospitals to use
• They were promoted by doctors despite opposition from medical authorities
  

  Early treatments like ivermectin sparked controversy because doctors promoted them based on clinical observations, even though medical authorities opposed their use, leading to censorship and backlash. Learn more.

20 What happens to your body when you have too many electrons in the electron transport chain?

• Your metabolism speeds up, improving energy levels
• Your inflammation levels decrease, improving overall health
• Your body burns more fat, leading to weight loss
• Your metabolism slows down, increasing the risk of degenerative diseases
  

  Excess electrons in the electron transport chain cause reductive stress, which slows your metabolism and can lead to degenerative diseases. This makes managing your metabolic health crucial for long-term well-being. Learn more.

21 Why might you want to be cautious about iodine in your diet?

• It can lead to weight gain and fatigue
• It may increase your risk of thyroid disease
  

  Excess iodine, from sources like processed foods or iodized animal feed, can contribute to thyroid disease, as seen after iodine fortification in salt led to a rise in thyroid issues. Monitoring intake helps keep your thyroid healthy. Learn more.

• It causes headaches and muscle pain
• It reduces your energy levels significantly