THE ANSWERS

1 From the mid 19th century, a handful of doctors offered women chloroform to relieve pain during childbirth, but most thought it would slow the delivery. Victoria insisted on using it for the birth of her eighth child and pronounced it “delightful beyond measure”. Score a point if you answered B. 2 Sprouts contain fibre called raffinose, which can produce ‘rotten egg’ gases as it’s broken down in the gut – particularly if you don’t usually eat much of it. Studies show that increasing fibre intakes for two weeks improves gut bacteria and reduces flatulence.

Eating fibre reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes and bowel cancer, but our average intake is 18g a day — well short of the recommended 30g — and sparkling water introduces carbon dioxide to your system, so it increases the odds of belches. So score 1 for A but deduct 1 for B or C. 3 Sarah Gilbert, co-developer of the Oxford/Astra-Zeneca Covid-19 vaccine, is correct (C: 1pt). Florence Nightingale, who pioneered infection control in hospitals, and Marie Curie whose discoveries led to radiology and X-rays, both had a huge impact, but long before Barbie. 4 The most recent statistics show that 53.3 per cent of UK consumers have bought at least one home workout product. C: 1pt. 5 On March 16, a first vaccination was given to 433,320 people, taking the total to 25,273,266. B: 1pt. 6 The UK Coronavirus Dashboard shows 514 people died within 28 days of a positive Covid test that day. E: 1pt. 7 19 per cent of women and 38 per cent of men aged 55 to 64 regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. C: 1pt. 8 Fresh juice has more vitamin C, but most people get more than they need from their diet. But oranges are a source of hesperidin, which lowers cholesterol and blood pressure, and helps combat obesity. Because this antiinflammatory flavonoid is found in the pith and skin, commercially squeezed juices contain three times more bioavailable hesperidin. Add a point for A, deduct one for C. 9 If there are no instructions on the packaging, the NHS recommends allowing 10 to 12 hours per kilogram if your fridge is set to 4C (39F) — so five days. C: 1pt. 10 Researchers from Nottingham University, who tasted and tested a 46-year-old Christmas pudding found during a house clearance, said it was a little dry but “tasted amazing”.

Laboratory tests confirmed it was also free from harmful bacteria. Sugar and alcohol are both preservatives and Professor Christine Dodd said steaming for five hours would kill any bacteria. For commercially produced puddings, the ‘best-by’ date is a recommendation, but ‘use-by’ means it should not be eaten after that date. A: 1pt. 11 Any shot of sugar fends off the drowsiness that can follow a large meal. But a traditional Christmas pudding is high in fibre and this leads to a slower, more sustained lift in blood sugar. The dried fruit also makes it a good source of energy-boosting iron — raisins have 2.59mg of iron per 100g, almost as much as a steak (3.53mg). A: 1pt. 12 Mercury poisoning causes hallucinations and mood swings, and was so widely used in hat making it inspired the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland — but there isn’t any in mercury glass. However, tinsel was made from lead until the 60s, when it was phased out because of the risk of lead poisoning. Add 1pt for C, deduct one for A. 13 There are claims that mistletoe combats cancer, but an expert Cochrane Review concluded the evidence is “weak”. However, Cochrane experts say there is “moderate-quality evidence” that frankincense — also known as Boswellia — helps osteoarthritis. In a 120-day doubleblind placebo-controlled trial, it reduced levels of inflammatory C-reactive protein and osteoarthritis patients reported significant improvements in pain and stiffness. Leave holly berries for the birds — they’re poisonous to people and other pets. Add a point for B, but deduct one for any other answer. 14 A mince pie contains around 210 calories, and the average woman weighs 11st 6lb, so it will take just under 25 minutes of aerobics. D: 1pt 15 The average man weighs 13st 5lb, and people who are larger burn more calories, so deduct a point if you said A. Men also burn calories more quickly because they have a higher ratio of muscle to fat — so it will take him only 20 minutes. Score 1pt if you answered D. Calculate the calories you burn at bupa.co.uk/health-information/toolscalculators/calories-calculator