Weekly Health Quiz: Big Pharma, Statin Risks and Vitamin K

1 Why is it important to focus on optimizing cholesterol levels instead of just lowering them?

• Cholesterol plays essential roles in the body, such as building cell membranes and producing hormones
  

  Cholesterol plays a crucial role in your body, helping to build cell membranes and produce hormones. Instead of focusing only on lowering it, optimizing cholesterol levels supports overall health. Learn more.

• Lowering cholesterol can help prevent all health conditions
• High cholesterol is always harmful and should be eliminated
• The only way to manage cholesterol is through medication

2 If you are taking statins and begin experiencing muscle pain or weakness, what could be a possible reason?

• Increased mitochondrial function improving muscle strength
• Mitochondrial dysfunction and changes in muscle protein metabolism leading to myopathy
  

  Some individuals taking statins develop myopathy, a condition linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and disruptions in muscle protein metabolism, which can cause muscle pain or weakness. Learn more.

• A natural adjustment period that strengthens muscles over time
• An indication that the statins are working more effectively

3 You want to support your heart health without relying on medications. Which approach would be most beneficial in the long run?

• Avoiding all fats and cholesterol in your diet
• Taking high doses of statins to prevent any risk of heart disease
• Following a comprehensive strategy that includes diet, exercise, and stress management
  

  A well-rounded approach — including dietary changes, regular physical activity, and stress reduction — supports heart health more effectively than relying on medications alone. Learn more.

• Relying on supplements alone to manage your cardiovascular health

4 How can you reduce your exposure to the cycle of dependency created by modern industrial agriculture?

• Support farmers who use regenerative practices and avoid synthetic inputs
  

  Regenerative farming helps break the cycle of chemical dependency by prioritizing soil health and biodiversity, reducing the need for synthetic inputs. Learn more.

• Focus on buying conventionally grown produce to maximize availability
• Rely on food labeled “all-natural” instead of checking sourcing practices
• Avoid eating meat entirely, as livestock is the main issue

5 If you regularly eat ultraprocessed foods, how could this impact your muscle health?

• It may reduce your muscle mass and increase intramuscular fat
  

  Studies show ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) increase intramuscular fat, even in active individuals with a normal BMI. UPFs lack essential nutrients like protein and contain harmful compounds that disrupt muscle function. Learn more.

• It will only affect your weight, not muscle quality
• It will improve your muscle tone due to added protein
• It has no impact if you exercise regularly

6 How can you positively influence your cellular memory to support overall well-being?

• By focusing solely on brain-training exercises
• By relying on medications to boost cellular function
• By avoiding all forms of learning to reduce cellular overload
• By managing stress, exercising, eating a healthy diet and getting quality sleep
  

  Research shows that lifestyle choices such as stress management, healthy diet, exercise and sleep positively influence cellular memory and overall well-being. Learn more Learn more.

7 If you take a vitamin D supplement, why should you also ensure adequate vitamin K2 intake?

• Vitamin K2 helps direct calcium to bones and prevents it from accumulating in arteries
  

  Vitamin K2 works with vitamin D to ensure calcium is deposited in bones rather than arteries, reducing the risk of arterial calcification and osteoporosis. Learn more.

• Vitamin K2 increases vitamin D absorption in the intestines
• Vitamin K2 neutralizes the potential side effects of vitamin D
• Vitamin K2 reduces the body’s need for calcium

8 If you frequently drink Earl Grey tea, what is an important consideration regarding potential PFAS exposure?

• Only loose-leaf teas are free from PFAS contamination
• All Earl Grey tea brands have been tested and found to be completely safe
• Most tested Earl Grey teas contained detectable levels of PFAS and drinking more tea may lead to higher PFAS blood levels
  

  Mamavation’s study found that 91% of tested Earl Grey tea leaves contained detectable PFAS chemicals and other research suggests that people who drink more tea may have higher PFAS levels in their blood. Learn more.

• Since tea naturally contains fluorine, it’s unnecessary to be concerned about PFAS in tea bags

9 You’ve been experiencing high stress and poor sleep and you notice your blood sugar levels are rising. Based on research, what role do stress hormones play in this process?

• Stress hormones lower blood sugar by increasing insulin production
• Stress hormones have no effect on blood sugar levels
• Excess stress hormones overshadow insulin, raising blood sugar and increasing diabetes risk
  

  Research shows that stress hormones like norepinephrine and cortisol increase glucose output, which raises blood sugar levels and contributes to metabolic disorders, including Type 2 diabetes. Learn more.

• Stress hormones only affect blood pressure, not metabolism

10 If you want to lower your risk of Parkinson’s disease, how might taurine help?

• It reduces inflammation and oxidative stress while maintaining efficient mitochondrial function in dopaminergic neurons
  

  Taurine protects against Parkinson’s by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, while also supporting mitochondria in dopamine-producing neurons. Learn more.

• It directly increases dopamine levels, reversing Parkinson’s disease
• It only works if taken in combination with high doses of caffeine
• It replaces the need for all other neuroprotective nutrients

11 If you want to support healthy wound healing and minimize the accumulation of harmful senescent cells, which dietary approach would be most beneficial?

• Increasing your intake of linoleic acid (LA)
• Consuming more senolytic compounds like fisetin and quercetin while reducing linoleic acid intake
  

  Senolytic compounds help clear harmful senescent cells, while reducing linoleic acid intake minimizes cellular damage and promotes a healthier balance of senescent cells. Learn more.

• Eating more processed foods to reduce inflammation
• Avoiding all forms of dietary fat

12 You are concerned about getting healthier, unprocessed food that retains its natural probiotics and enzymes. What is the best way to ensure access to these nutrient-dense options?

• Support stricter government regulations to oversee food production
• Choose only foods labeled as “organic” in grocery stores
• Advocate for food freedom reforms that support small farmers
  

  By supporting policies that allow direct-to-consumer sales of raw milk and other unprocessed foods, you help maintain access to nutrient-dense options while strengthening local food systems. Learn more.

• Avoid all dairy products to prevent potential contamination

13 If you live in an area affected by wildfire smoke, what is a major health risk you should be aware of?

• Only temporary eye irritation, with no long-term effects
• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease, lung disease and dementia due to particulate matter exposure
  

  Wildfire smoke contains particulate matter that can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, lung disease and dementia. Protect yourself by staying indoors, using air filters and wearing an N95 mask when outside. Learn more.

• Higher risk of seasonal allergies but no impact on long-term health
• A temporary drop in air quality that resolves once the smoke clears

14 You are concerned about maintaining good oral health to reduce your risk of systemic diseases. Which of the following practices best supports oral and overall health?

• Brushing aggressively to remove all bacteria from your mouth
• Avoiding dental visits and relying only on mouthwash for oral health
• Proper brushing, flossing and visiting a biological dentist who understands oral and overall health
  

  Proper oral hygiene, including correct brushing, flossing and seeing a biological dentist, is essential for preventing systemic diseases linked to poor oral health, such as heart disease, diabetes and brain function issues. Learn more.

• Avoiding dental visits and only using over-the-counter remedies

15 You’re at the grocery store and want to pick the freshest eggs. What should you check first?

• The “sell-by” date
• The three-digit Julian date on the carton
  

  The Julian date tells you the exact day the eggs were packed, helping you select the freshest ones, as eggs can be sold up to 30 days after packaging. Learn more.

• The USDA grading mark
• The color of the yolks

16 When should you carefully manage your sun exposure for vitamin D?

• If you consume seed oils, as they oxidize under UV light and can lead to inflammation and DNA damage
  

  Safe sun exposure is ideal for boosting vitamin D, but extra caution is needed if you consume seed oils, as they contain linoleic acid, which oxidizes under UV light. Learn more.

• Only during winter months, when sunlight is less intense
• If you take vitamin D supplements, as sun exposure is unnecessary
• Only if you have naturally high vitamin D levels

17 If you want to avoid unnecessary additives in your diet, which of the following is the best choice for milk?

• A plant-based milk that is ultra-processed but fortified with vitamins
• A raw, full-fat dairy option from grass fed cows
  

  Raw, full-fat dairy from grass fed cows is minimally processed and contains beneficial odd-chain saturated fatty acids, which support immune health. Many plant-based milk options undergo extensive processing and contain additives like emulsifiers and thickeners, which may have negative health effects. Learn more.

• A plant-based milk with added thickeners and emulsifiers to improve texture
• A plant-based milk with natural sugars to enhance taste

18 You’re trying to minimize your exposure to harmful food additives. Which of the following actions would best help you avoid titanium dioxide in your diet?

• Choosing brightly colored candies and frostings that list “natural flavors” on the label
• Opting for processed snacks that claim to be organic without checking the ingredients
• Checking ingredient labels for “titanium dioxide” or “E171” before purchasing packaged foods
  

  Titanium dioxide, still allowed in U.S. foods, has been linked to DNA damage and gut inflammation. To reduce exposure, it’s important to read ingredient lists carefully and avoid products containing “titanium dioxide” or “E171.” Learn more.

• Consuming small amounts of titanium dioxide daily to build resistance

19 If you want to improve your gut health and achieve proper cellular energy, which dietary approach is most effective?

• Completely eliminating carbohydrates indefinitely
• Eating more processed foods and refined sugars
• Gradually reintroducing healthy carbohydrates while reducing environmental toxins
  

  A balanced approach that removes harmful environmental factors while incorporating healthy carbohydrates supports mitochondrial function, gut health and cellular energy production. Learn more. Learn more.

• Increasing your intake of omega-6 seed oils for better digestion

20 Lab-grown meat is being promoted as a sustainable alternative to traditional animal products. Based on its production process, why should you avoid consuming it?

• It is a minimally processed alternative to conventional meat
• It contains genetically engineered ingredients and harmful additives that can impact long-term health
  

  Lab-grown meat is an ultraprocessed product that relies on genetic engineering, synthetic ingredients and corporate control of the food supply. Unlike regenerative farming, it does not support human or environmental health. Learn more.

• It provides the same nutritional benefits as grass-fed, regenerative meat
• It supports small farmers and promotes food sovereignty

21 You want to improve your gut health and hormone balance. Based on recent findings, what is the best approach regarding alcohol?

• Limit drinking to weekends only
• Switch to red wine for its antioxidants
• Avoid alcohol completely
  

  Research shows that even moderate alcohol consumption harms gut health and hormone balance. Cutting it out entirely is the best option for health. Learn more.

• Drink in moderation following industry guidelines