Carole Carson

Trivia

What fruit will protect against the risk of stroke, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease? What fruit will boost the immune system, prevent tooth decay, aid hair growth, protect the skin against the sun, prevent bone loss, stabilize blood sugar, aid in the prevention of kidney stones and facilitate weight loss?

1. Acai Berries

2. Apples

3. Blueberries

4. Persimmons

5. Pomegranates

If you chose apples, you were correct. Apples are indeed a nutritional superfood. An average apple has only about 80 calories, yet it contains potassium, folic acid, vitamin C and 3.7 grams of fiber. Apples also contain trace amounts of B vitamins, iron, magnesium and more. The skin and the portion of apple just under the skin contain most of the nutrients. Consequently, eating unpeeled apples provides the greatest nutritional benefit; however, unpeeled apples need to be washed thoroughly to make sure they are free of toxic pesticides.

Over 300 varieties are identified by www.allaboutapples.com. So go ahead and enjoy this understated and underappreciated fruit.

Trivia Question: Are there some things only a woman can do?

Until the early ‘90s, clinical trials involving medical research excluded women because researchers theorized that hormonal fluctuations would distort the results. Drugs and treatment programs focused on the standard 154-pound male. Even animal research was limited to males. The policy was abandoned once researchers embraced the idea of sex-based biology. Today’s approach measures the biological and physiological differences between men and women found at the system, organ, tissue, cellular and sub-cellular level, which can determine the body’s response to pharmaceuticals.

According to the survey by the Society for Women’s Health Research reported in Today’s Health & Wellness August/September 2008 issue, what percent of women have participated in medical research studies and clinical trials?

1. 9 percent

2. 15 percent.

3. 18 percent

4. 21 percent

Only 9 percent of women have participated in a medical research study. More participants—males and females of all ages and ethnicities—are needed. To see how you can participate, go to ClinicalTrials.gov for information on over 60,000 clinical trials. To learn more about clinical trials for women, go to the Society for Women’s Health Research outreach program, Some Things Only a Woman Can Do.

Trivia Question

What percent of Americans' household food budget is spent on processed foods?

1. 90 percent

2. 50 percent

3. 33 percent

4. 28 percent

5. 12 percent

If you guessed 90 percent, you are right. Unfortunately, the majority of processed foods are stripped of nutrients and filled with additives. The four additives most harmful to your health are trans fats, refined grains, salt and high-fructose corn syrup. To provide your body with the valuable nutrients it needs to stay healthy and energetic, fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, reduced fat dairy products and lean sources of protein are your best choices.

"As I see it every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself."             Adelle Davis

Trivia Question

In the period between 1989 and 2005, the real price of fats fell 26.5 per cent. What is difference in the real price of fruits and vegetables for the same period?

1. Same as for fats. The price dropped 26.5 per cent.

2. No change. The real price remained unchanged.

3. The real price rose 26.5 percent.

4. The real price rose 52.8 percent.

5. The real price rose 74.6 percent.

The answer is 74.6 percent. If you’re on a limited family income, what kind of food will you have to buy to keep from going hungry even if it packs on pounds?