VegNews Nutrition Quiz

If you’re feeling lost in the nutritional jungle, there’s no better guide than physician/nutrition expert Dr. Michael Greger. Not only do his years of experience give him the cred to shed light on a notoriously tangled topic, but he also carries a stand-up comic gene that’ll have you laughing yourself silly while brushing up on your nutrition know-how. In his “Latest in Clinical Nutrition” paper, he condensed all of the English-language nutrition studies published in 2008 (7,326 of them, to be exact), taking information that could be considered dry and bringing it to life in an informative and thought-provoking manner. Did we mention that the good doctor also happens to be a 20-year vegan?

While in San Francisco recently, Greger delivered his informative lecture in his trademark quiz-show format. In honor of his unique pedagogical technique, we bring you a brand-new VegNews Nutrition Quiz. Put your thinking cap on and see just how much you know about nutrition facts and fictions.

Q: True or False: A handful of nuts a day is beneficial to your health.
A: Drum roll, please … The correct answer is … True! According to the most recent nutrition data, a daily handful of nuts like almonds, walnuts, peanuts, cashews, and pecans can cut your risk of heart attack in half. So get cracking!

Q: Which is better for you—coffee or tea?
A: While two cups of filtered coffee a day is beneficial to your overall health, tea is the winner here, thanks to its antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer qualities. And while we’re talking tea, not all cups are created equal. Green tea is the healthiest of the bunch, so keep that in mind next time you’re brewing a pot.

Q: How many servings of fruits and vegetables should you get per day?
A: The magic number is … nine!

Q: Which food is healthier—edamame or tempeh?
A: While both are whole foods and great additions to any diet, the probiotics created in the fermentation process make tempeh come out on top here.

Q: We all know the old saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but just which type of apple is best?
A: Red Delicious apples are the most nutritious, followed by Granny Smith and Gala.

Q: Who smells better—vegans or meat eaters?
A: If you’re reading this, chances are you won’t be surprised by the answer, but a recent study showed that women gave higher ratings of attractiveness to body odor produced by men who were not eating meat.

Best of the bunch
We all know that whole foods and fresh fruits and vegetables should form the basis of any diet, but if you want to earn a gold star in nutrition, read on for Dr. Greger’s picks. The healthiest variety of your favorite food may not be what you expect.

Mushrooms
1. Porcini
2. Button
3. Morel

Nuts
1. Pecans
2. Walnuts
3. Hazelnuts

Beans
1. Black beans
2. Lentils
3. Kidney beans