Weekly Health Quiz: Why SSRIs Are Failing to Treat Depression, the 411 on TrumpRX, and Why Sleep Matters

1 How do polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats influence serotonin activity?

• They block serotonin release, reducing anxiety and improving concentration
• They trigger serotonin release and platelet clumping, unlike saturated fats
  

  Unsaturated fats trigger serotonin release and platelet aggregation, linking modern diets to serotonin overload and mood instability. Learn more.

• They neutralize serotonin’s effects by lowering levels of excess brain stimulation
• They reduce speed of serotonin production through slowing amino acid conversion

2 Which of the following statements about human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) is false?

• HMOs are complex sugars that feed gut bacteria and strengthen a baby’s defenses
• HMOs help shape brain and immune development through the toddler years
• HMOs stop functioning after infancy and no longer support healthy gut growth
  

  HMOs remain active beyond infancy, continuing to nourish gut bacteria and support immune and brain development into toddlerhood. Learn more.

• HMOs pass undigested to the colon, promoting balanced microbial communities

3 Why does increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) improve mood and stress?

• It breaks down serotonin, restoring calm and emotional balance
  

  GABA helps metabolize serotonin, promoting calm, quality sleep, and mood stability without the side effects of standard SSRI drugs. Learn more.

• It maintains serotonin activity, heightening focus but worsening anxious tension
• It lowers dopamine signaling, dulling motivation and mental alertness levels
• It raises cortisol levels, helping energy but disrupting deep nightly rest

4 Which pharmaceutical company was first to partner with the TrumpRx program?

• Moderna, offering vaccine access at half the global retail cost for consumers
• Johnson & Johnson, pledging $50 billion for domestic medical investments
• Eli Lilly, introducing insulin programs linked to the new online marketplace
• Pfizer, committing to sell drugs at up to 50% off and invest $70 billion in U.S. sites
  

  Pfizer became TrumpRx’s first partner, pledging up to 50% discounts and $70 billion in U.S. manufacturing investments. Learn more.

5 Why is acupuncture considered a valuable option for chronic low back pain relief?

• It manages pain temporarily and virtually has no side effects and health risks
• It relies only on muscle stimulation and does not impact overall well-being
• It removes the need for opioids for immediate and long-term pain control
• It helps restore balance, reduce pain, and improve movement safely over time
  

  Acupuncture provides safe, lasting relief for chronic low back pain by reducing discomfort, easing anxiety, and improving mobility and well-being. Learn more.

6 How can eating kiwifruit help relieve chronic constipation naturally and safely?

• One kiwifruit weekly boosts digestion and replaces the need for all fiber sources
• Two kiwifruits daily for several weeks improve stool softness and regularity
  

  Eating two kiwifruits daily for two to four weeks helps soften stools and improve regularity, offering relief without the side effects of stimulant laxatives. Learn more.

• Five kiwifruits daily eliminate bloating faster than psyllium or prune intake
• Kiwifruit extract pills give faster results than eating whole fresh kiwifruits

7 Which daily habit helps lower sleep pressure by supporting healthy fat metabolism?

• Eating enough carbs, cutting seed oils, and avoiding long bouts of hard cardio
  

  Supplying clean carbs, avoiding seed oils, and reducing extreme cardio help mitochondria run efficiently and lower sleep pressure caused by fat overload. Learn more.

• Minimizing carbs to push the body into deeper fat-burning overnight
• Doing high-intensity cardio every morning to clear reactive oxygen species
• Increasing fatty acid intake from seed oils to sustain long-term energy output

8 How does everyday pesticide exposure affect sperm quality in healthy men?

• It lowers motility by increasing calcium flow and mitochondrial energy
• It raises testosterone, leading to stronger sperm and higher fertility levels
• It reduces sperm movement and viability by disrupting calcium and energy use
  

  Pesticides disrupt calcium balance, damage mitochondria, and oxidize sperm membranes, lowering both movement and viability even in healthy men. Learn more.

• It creates hormonal imbalance, reducing sperm concentration and shape quality

9 What hidden toll did researchers find in women recovering from cesarean delivery?

• Improved rest and faster recovery compared with natural childbirth methods
• Less pain but higher chances of postpartum anxiety and mild mood disorders
• Better hormonal regulation leading to lower rates of sleep deprivation later
• More pain, disrupted sleep, and higher risk of new sleep disorders postpartum
  

  Mothers who had C-sections were more likely to suffer pain, poor sleep, and new sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea. Learn more.

10 How does vitamin A’s active form, retinoic acid, help your brain function better?

• It supports new brain cell growth and maintain memory pathways
  

  Retinoic acid supports neurogenesis, memory, and learning by maintaining brain signaling as people get older. Learn more.

• It raises serotonin to improve energy levels and reduce anxiety in older adults
• It boosts dopamine to balance mood and increase motivation over the long term
• It raises cortisol to sharpen focus and lower the amount of sleep you need

11 How does arsenic exposure increase the risk of developing fatty liver disease (FLD)?

• It weakens mitochondria and hampers the liver’s ability to process toxins
• It drives oxidative stress, damages mitochondria, and promotes fat buildup
  

  Arsenic harms the liver by increasing oxidative stress, impairing mitochondria, and activating fat-storing pathways that drive fatty liver disease. Learn more.

• It blocks alcohol metabolism but improves glucose regulation and detox speed
• It decreases healthy liver fat levels that boost metabolism and energy supply

12 What is the safest first step to relieve vaginal or vulvar itching at home?

• Stop using fragranced soaps and switch to products that are pH-friendly
  

  Fragranced products and harsh soaps worsen irritation. Using pH-balanced, fragrance-free care helps the skin barrier heal naturally. Learn more.

• Begin strong antibiotic treatment and use daily antifungal medicated cleansers
• Apply scented oils and talcum powder to reduce heat and irritation immediately
• Wear tight synthetic underwear to prevent moisture from worsening symptoms

13 How does dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) help relieve discomfort and support tissue repair around the eyes?

• By numbing the nerves responsible for chronic pain and eye pressure
• By tightening nearby muscles to stabilize vision and prevent strain
• By blocking histamine release and reducing immune cell activity
• By healing surrounding skin tissue and helping reduce eye strain
  

  DMSO reduces eye strain, moisturizes tissue, and repairs damage from burns, blepharitis, or styes by improving muscle relaxation and local healing. Learn more.

14 What pattern of hair cortisol levels in chronically ill children signals the best adaptation?

• Consistently high cortisol readings that reflect ongoing stress and anxiety
• Consistently low cortisol readings that indicate total system burnout or fatigue
• High-to-low cortisol readings that show recovery and growing resilience
  

  A high-to-low cortisol pattern shows stress adaptation and resilience, marking progress compared with children showing constant high or low levels. Learn more.

• Random fluctuating cortisol levels with no connection to health conditions

15 How does eating unprocessed red meat as part of a balanced diet affect brain and gut health?

• It blocks nutrient absorption and raises oxidative stress, especially with high-protein meals
• It provides nutrients that enhance energy, mental clarity, and gut diversity
  

  Moderate red meat intake in a whole-food diet boosts nutrients such as B12, choline, and zinc, improving microbiome health. Learn more.

• It slows metabolism but strengthens connective tissues and muscle recovery
• It increases nutrient absorption when combined with antioxidant-rich vegetables

16 Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) was tested for anxiety relief, but which of the following was not a reported side effect in the trial?

• Temporary visual changes such as mild illusions or light distortions in vision
• Short-term nausea and headaches that faded before the end of supervision
• Euphoric or uplifted mood lasting briefly after the monitored dosing session
• Persistent memory loss and confusion continuing weeks after treatment
  

  Participants commonly experienced mild nausea and headaches. No lasting confusion or memory loss occurred. Learn more.

17 How does exercise help people overcome compulsive internet or screen addiction?

• It strengthens brain control systems and restores balanced dopamine release
  

  Exercise improves self-control and dopamine balance, helping your brain replace compulsive scrolling with healthier motivation and focus. Learn more.

• It distracts from screen use by exhausting physical energy and reducing focus
• It lowers dopamine activity to make digital habits less emotionally rewarding
• It increases cortisol levels to replace digital stimulation with stress relief

18 What long-term benefit does quitting smoking offer for brain health in older adults?

• It accelerates mental aging but improves physical stamina and lung function
• It strengthens memory only when combined with intensive cognitive therapy
• It stops inflammation but provides no benefit to long-term mental sharpness
• It slows memory decline and delays cognitive aging by about three years
  

  Quitting smoking improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and delays memory decline by roughly three years, even in later adulthood. Learn more.

19 Why didn’t humans evolve their own antibiotics like bacteria and fungi did?

• Humans lacked specific immune genes to fight ancient microbes as effectively as other species
• Rapid mutations would destabilize DNA, so humans evolved adaptive immunity instead
  

  High mutation rates would damage human DNA, so evolution favored an adaptive immune system that learns and remembers threats over time. Learn more.

• Microbes evolved faster defense mechanisms through mutations and survival-driven evolution
• Antibiotics were unnecessary since humans developed strong internal defenses against viral infections

20 How common are strokes in the U.S., and why is rapid treatment crucial for recovery?

• About 500,000 occur yearly, and most resolve without long-term effects
• Roughly one million happen yearly, with treatment rarely changing outcomes
• Nearly 795,000 occur yearly, and early care within three hours prevents brain damage
  

  An estimated 795,000 strokes occur each year in the U.S., and treating ischemic cases within three hours prevents severe brain damage. Learn more.

• Around 200,000 occur yearly, with equal recovery rates regardless of timing

21 What common mistake slows recovery after a hernia surgery?

• Exercising or walking too soon instead of allowing the body to heal via rest
  

  Exercising too soon diverts energy from healing, increasing the risk of reopening or stressing the surgical repair. Learn more.

• Not taking pain medication as directed and mismanaging discomfort during healing
• Using magnesium glycinate or malate for gentle relief and bowel regularity
• Eating a high-fiber diet immediately to restore digestion after anesthesia