Mindbender Trivia

If you answered ‘A’, you’re right! Halitosis is the medical term for bad breath. Bad breath is often caused by food like garlic and onions, medication, poor dental hygiene, or possibly an infection. If you suffer from bad breath, talk to your doctor. He or she can help determine what is causing your halitosis.

Source: British Medical Journal

If you answered ‘B’, you’re right! Almost two percent of the U.S. workforce experiences disability due to back pain. The direct cause of the back pain can be difficult to uncover – it can be related to discs, joints, muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the back. If you experience back pain, consult with a health care professional to determine the cause.

Source: Cleveland Clinic

If you answered ‘A’, you’re right!

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 list, pizza is among the top 10 sources of calories in the U.S. diet. The federal dietary guidelines recommend we get our calories from vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat milk and milk products. Very few people follow the guidelines and instead our main source of calories comes from refined grains, sugar, and fat.

Source: Harvard Medical School’s HealthBeat

If you answered ‘A’, you’re right! A University of Rochester study showed that people who smoked cigarettes reported far more pain than those who quit smoking or had never smoked before. The study found that in addition to all the other benefits gained from quitting smoking, people who stopped smoking before or during treatment for their back pain also showed significant improvement in the reduction of pain. Another good reason to quit!

Source: Univeristy of Rochester Medical Center

If you answered ‘B’, you’re right! Americans consume more than 22 teaspoons of sugar a day. That’s an extra 335 empty calories! The American Heart Association recommends women limit their daily intake of added sugar to 6 teaspoons and men to 9 teaspoons.

Source: Cleveland Clinic

If you answered ‘C’, you’re right! Certain types of foods can help preempt fatigue. Whole grains like wheat, brown rice, and oats supply reserves your body can draw on throughout the day. Foods like candy and potatoes give you a quick burst of energy but that boost fades quickly. So to keep your energy up and steady, limit refined sugar and starches to the occasional treat.

Source:  Harvard Medical School

If you answered ‘A’, you’re right! A Mayo Clinic study shows that combining mentally stimulating activities, such as using a computer, with moderate exercise decreases your odds of having memory loss more than computer use or exercise alone. The study highlighted that the two combined ‘protect’ the brain function in people older than 70 years old.p>

Source:  Mayo Clinic

If you answered ‘A’, you’re right! The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies six months or older get a flu vaccine. The flu is caused by a virus and usually occurs from October through May. It can cause fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, muscle aches, and fatigue. Some people can get much sicker and can develop symptoms such as high fever or pneumonia. Talk to your child’s pediatrician and make sure their vaccines are up to date.

Source:  AAP’s Healthychildren.org

If you answered ‘B’, you’re right!  Macadamia nuts have 204 calories and 21.5 grams of fat per ounce.  Other common nuts like cashews and walnuts range from 161 to 201 calories per ounce.  While nuts are high in fat and calories, they are rich in numerous substances like protein and omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial to your health.  In moderation they pack a powerful nutritional punch.

Source:  John Hopkins Health Alerts

If you answered ‘C’, you’re right! Your tonsils can become inflamed or infected when they fight to ward off bacteria and viruses that enter your mouth. This happens most commonly when you have a cold virus, or a bacterial infection.

Source:  Mayo Clinic

If you answered ‘C’, you’re right!  Over time, lack of sleep can hinder your body’s ability to regulate stress hormones which can lead to high blood pressure.  Health experts say sleeping seven to eight hours a night may help play a role in prevention and treatment of high blood pressure.  So be sure to get those zzz’s!

Source:  Mayo Clinic

If you answered ‘C’, you’re right!  A recent study by the CDC found that 18.8 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with diabetes and 7 million are undiagnosed.  Diabetes is a major cause of heart disease and stroke.

Source:  CDC

If you answered ‘C’, you’re right!  The liver is the only organ in the body which can regenerate itself from only a small remnant.  If the remaining liver is not diseased, the liver can regrow to an adequate size even if only 15 to 20% is left behind.

Source:  Liver Cancer Treatment

If you answered ‘B’, you’re right!  The human heart beats an average of 60 to 100 times per minute, pumping approximately 50 liters of blood through the body every day.

Source:  kidshealth.org

If you answered ‘B’, you’re right!  Americans get about one-third of their calories from restaurant meals.  That rising rate has been linked to rising obesity rates.

Source:  UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

If you answered ‘B’, you’re right!  Hard-boiled eggs are safe to eat for one week after they’ve been boiled.  When you boil an egg, the water washes away the shell’s protective coating and allows bacteria to enter.  Uncooked eggs last longer since they keep their protective coating.

Source:  UC Berkeley Wellness Letter

If you answered ‘B’, you’re right!  It’s cold and flu season, and a time when we can be vulnerable to other infectious diseases.  In a 2009 study, people who slept an average of less than seven hours per night were three times as likely to get sick as those who averaged eight hours or more.

Source:  Harvard Medical School

If you guessed ‘C’, you’re right!  People who snacked using their non-dominant hand reduced their total intake by about 30% compared with those using their dominant hand.  How’s that for a diet tip!!!

Source:  Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

If you guessed ‘B’, you’re right!  Most Americans don’t get anywhere near the 25 to 30 grams of fiber recommended per day.  Getting more fiber in your diet plays a role in the treatment of conditions such as gastrointestinal disease, constipation, hemorrhoids, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes.

Source:  University of Maryland Medical Center

If you guessed ‘B’, you’re right!  Gum disease is quite common: 30 to 50% of adults in the U.S. have a mild to moderate form of gum disease.  It occurs when bacteria accumulate between the gums and the teeth.  Over time, the bacteria damage the gums and the underlying bone that supports the teeth.

Source:  Johns Hopkins Medicine

If you guessed ‘C’, you’re right! Rub your hands vigorously for at least 20 seconds. Remember to scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers, and under your fingernails.

Source: Mayo Clinic

If you guessed ‘C’, you’re right!  Now that kids are headed back to school, don’t forget to keep exercising.  The USDA recently released a new food pyramid with practical advice on eating a healthy, balanced diet, and the recommendation that kids get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day.

 Source:  USDA & HHS

If you guessed ‘A’, you’re right! Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that nearly 80,000 Americans are injured by a lawn mower each year. The Amputee Coalition urges people to pay more attention to lawn mower safety. Needless limb-loss accidents can be prevented by taking simple common-sense precautions, such as never allowing children to play on a lawn mower, even if it is turned off.

Source: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health & Amputee Coalition

If you guessed ‘A’, you’re right! Studies have shown that if you put people on nut-filled diets, it will have favorable effects on cholesterol levels and blood pressure readings. A Harvard-based Nurses’ Health Study showed that having one serving of nuts a day is associated with a 30% lower risk of heart disease compared with having one serving of red meat a day.

Source: Johns Hopkins Health Alert

If you guessed ‘B,’ you're right! The most effective foods to combat the symptoms of gastritis and ulcers are those that either fight the infection or reduce the acidity in your stomach. A chemical in broccoli sprouts known as sulforaphane has an antibacterial effect on stomach infection and inflammation.

Source: Johns Hopkins Health Alert

If you guessed ‘C,’ you're right! Since 1970, we’ve added 600 calories to our daily diets. The main culprit? Grain-based desserts such as cookies and cakes.

Source: 2010 U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report

If you guessed ‘A,’ you're right!  It’s not surprising that certain foods, such as garlic and onions, contribute to objectionable breath odor…  but did you know it can also affect the air you exhale?  Once the food is absorbed into the bloodstream, it is transferred to the lungs, where it is expelled.  Brushing, flossing, and mouthwash will only mask the odor temporarily.  Odors continue until the body eliminates the food.

Source: American Dental Association

If you guessed 206, you're right!  The adult human body has 206 bones!  They give your body structure, let you move in many ways, protect your internal organs, and more.  So treat them right by eating foods rich in calcium and taking part in load-bearing exercise such as walking and weight-training

Source: KidsHealth.org

If you guessed ‘B’, you’re right!  The American Academy of Pediatrics says that all people 6 months of age and older should get the flu vaccine.  Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe influenza and their close contacts, including healthcare personnel and close contacts of children younger than 6 months.

Source: AAP

If you guessed ‘A’, you're right!  A 2008 study found that Austin, Texas is the place to be for retirees.  Austin scored highest in an analysis of happiness, emotional, and physical health.  At least 1,000 people across the country were interviewed daily for an entire year.

Source: Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index

If you guessed ‘B’, you're right!  In America, the average life expectancy for a man is 81 years and 84 years for a woman…  and it's climbing!

Source:  Johns Hopkins

If you guessed ‘A,’ you're right!  A recent study found that spray bottles are involved in a majority of household cleaning product-related injuries.  Just pointing and spraying can be a dangerous temptation for toddlers.  Spray bottles do not feature the same child-safety packaging that other bottles and containers do, and kids can easily ingest the chemicals and/or spray them in their faces.

SOURCE:  Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio

If you answered ‘C’, you’re right!  Type O negative blood is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type – especially in emergency situations.  But every blood type is needed and accepted for donation.

Source: American Red Cross

If you guessed ‘B’, you're right!  A 2007 study conducted in the United States found that both men and women who consumed a Mediterranean diet lowered their risk of death from both heart disease and cancer.  The Mediterranean diet includes lots of fruits and vegetables, healthy fats such as nuts and olive oil, and limited amounts of red meat.

SOURCE: Mayo Clinic 

If you guessed ‘B’, you’re right!  Water is your body’s principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight.  Every system in your body depends on water.  It flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells, and provides a moist environment for ear, nose, and throat tissues.

Source: Mayo Clinic

If you guessed ‘A’, you’re right.  It is possible to confuse other sorts of headaches with migraines.  Migraines can cause nasal congestion and a runny nose, so they’re sometimes mistaken for sinus headaches…  and the regular headache that most of us have experienced can have some of the features of a migraine, such as unilateral pain and nausea. 

Source: Harvard Medical School

If you answered ‘B’, you’re right.  Lactose intolerance occurs when your body cannot digest lactose, which is a sugar in milk.  Lactose intolerance is easy to manage.  Most people who have difficulty digesting lactose can eat some dairy and other lactose-containing foods in their meals and snacks.  Eating yogurt or buttermilk with active cultures will help your body digest the lactose.

Source: American Dietetic Association

If you guessed ‘A’, you’re right!  Steady pain in the right upper abdomen that increases rapidly and lasts from 30 minutes to several hours can be gallstones.  As gallstones move into the bile ducts and create blockage, pressure increases in the gallbladder and one or more symptoms may occur suddenly.

Source: NIDDK, NIH

The answer is "B." Tall people tend to get colder faster than shorter people because they have a larger surface area, which means more heat loss.  If you’re out in the cold, you can help generate body heat by stomping your feet or swinging your arms.  Don’t forget to wear a hat and gloves to protect your extremities.

Source: Harvard Health Letter, January 2010

If you guessed 'A', you're right. If you eat 100 more food calories a day than you burn, you'll gain about one pound in a month. That's about 10 pounds in a year. The bottom line is that to lose weight, it's important to reduce calories and increase physical activity. By the way, how's that New Year's Resolution going?

Source: American Dietetic Association

The answer is "C." For many of us, taking an afternoon nap is a great way to refresh when we're feeling sleepy. Many studies have reported that a nap as brief as 20 minutes can improve alertness, psychomotor performance, and mood. To get the benefit of a good snooze without being caught napping, don't sleep too long. A 20- to 40-minute nap may refresh your day without keeping you up at night.

Source: Harvard Men's Health Watch

The answer is "B." Foodborne illness is a very real health problem in the United States. Annually, out of a whopping 76 million cases, 325,000 people are hospitalized for it. Always remember to practice sanitary and hygienic dining habits.

Source: USDA

The answer is "B." If you're looking for a new pair of boots this winter, make sure they have traction and a rubber sole. Both will help prevent falls. Look for a shoe that has a wider toe box, or foot extension, which gives toes more wiggle room. Also, a lower, wider heel will relieve pressure and pain on the ball of the foot.

Source: American Podiatric Medical Association

The answer is "B." Caffeine takes an average of 3 to 4 hours to be eliminated from your body. Drinking caffeine right before bedtime can keep you awake longer than you intended.

Source: American Dietetic Association

The answer is "A." Celiac disease is caused by an intolerance to gluten, a protein in wheat, barley and rye. An autoimmune reaction damages the small intestine and can cause severe diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, weight loss, anemia, unexplained infertility, loss of teeth, and even premature or severe osteoporosis. Treatment is mainly a lifelong adherence to a diet free of gluten.

Source: HealthDay

The answer is "B." According to a study from the Henry Ford Health System in Michigan, nearly one third of smokers said knowing that smoking was bad for their pets' health would motivate them to kick the habit. Studies have shown a link between second-hand smoke and respiratory diseases as well as certain cancers.

Source: Henry Ford Health System

The answer is "B." Normal body temperature is considered to be 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. In reality, there is a lot of individual variation in the "normal" temperature. It tends to be higher in the afternoon and early evening and is typically lower in the middle of the night. Most doctors don't consider you to have a fever until your temperature reaches 100.4 degrees.

Source: National Institutes of Health

The answer is "A." A medium-sized artichoke has 10.3 grams of fiber. Fiber, along with adequate fluid intake, moves quickly and relatively easily through your digestive tract and helps it function properly. A high-fiber diet may also help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Source: Mayo Clinic

The answer is "B." According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should get at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. That could include things like brisk walking, ballroom dancing, or gardening for an average of thirty minutes a day, five days a week.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The answer is "C." Bananas are one of America's most popular fruits, with the population consuming over 25 billion a year. Bananas are a great source of potassium, vitamin C, digestible carbohydrates, and fiber.

Source: American Dietetic Association

The answer is "A." In the feet, redness, inflammation, numbness, and swelling can be just a few of the early warning signs of diabetes.

Source: American Podiatric Medical Association

The answer is "C." Most babies begin to recognize their mother's voice at two weeks of age. Hearing their mother's voice in the womb also helps in the recognition process. Babies may recognize their father's voice by the end of the first month.

Source: The Children's Hospital Guide to Your Child's Health and Development