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As Canadians increasingly focus on diets that contribute to longer, healthier lives, it is essential to understand which foods and eating habits can help achieve this goal. Leslie Beck, a registered dietitian and regular columnist for the Globe and Mail, has extensively covered the topic of healthy aging. This includes nutritional strategies that enhance brain, heart, and gut health, as well as foods and nutrients that help maintain muscle strength and boost immunity.
Are you knowledgeable about the foods and dietary patterns that can help you meet your nutrition-related health objectives? Take our quiz to test your understanding:
1 Research indicates that regularly consuming one of these beverages is linked to a lower risk of dementia. Which one is it?
a. Herbal Tea
b. Pure fruit juice
c. Organic coconut water
d. Coffee
d. A study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health revealed that drinking two to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily (not decaf) is associated with an 18% reduction in dementia risk.
2 Which diet is most predominantly associated with a reduced risk of cognitive decline?
a. Mediterranean Diet
b. Planetary Health Diet Index
c. DASH Diet
d. Alternative Healthy Eating Index
c. The DASH Diet promotes heart-healthy eating with a focus on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins.
3 Which stage of life is considered critical for dietary influence on later cognitive health?
a. Childhood
b. Early Adulthood (20-34 years)
c. Midlife (45-54 years)
d. Late Adulthood (65+ years)
c. Research published in JAMA Neurology suggests that strong adherence to the DASH diet during midlife correlates with a markedly lower likelihood of perceived cognitive decline later in life.
4 What should you incorporate into your breakfast to enhance digestion and boost energy levels?
a. Probiotics
b. Green vegetables
c. Fibre
d. Green Tea
c. Eating sticky fibre sources like oats, psyllium-enriched cereals, apples, avocados, berries, citrus fruits, and chia seeds can enhance satiety and regulate blood sugar. Learn more here.
5 Which food group is effective in lowering high LDL cholesterol levels in the bloodstream?
a. Vegetables
b. Full-fat dairy products
c. Baked goods
d. Nuts and seeds
d. The Portfolio diet, which includes 45 grams of nuts and seeds daily, is often recommended by global health organizations for reducing LDL cholesterol and decreasing the risk of heart disease.
6 Which food contains the least amount of antioxidants?
a. White sourdough bread
b. Artichokes
c. Parsnips
d. Oats
a. Refined foods like white bread contain significantly fewer antioxidants compared to whole plant-based foods, which help neutralize harmful free radicals.
7 According to a Consumer Reports investigation, which type of protein powder generally contains the highest levels of lead?
a. Plant-based protein
b. Whey protein
c. Beef-based protein
d. Egg protein
a. Plants can absorb airborne lead, which may end up in protein powders. The report indicates that occasional use of these products poses minimal risk, but regular consumption could lead to health concerns.
How did you do?
Answer all of the questions to see your results.
