Answer to Question 1
Answer: The federal governments Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that no more than 10 percent of total caloric intake be made up of saturated fat, which generally comes from meat and dairy products and is solid at room temperature. No dietary limits are placed on healthy, unsaturated fats, found in most types of vegetable oil. Research indicates that saturated fat, especially from meat, plays a role in the age-related rise in cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and colon cancer. In contrast, consuming unsaturated fat, especially in the form of linoleic acidwhich is plentiful in corn, soybean, and safflower oils and in nuts and seedsis linked to reduced cardiovascular disease mortality. When we consume excessive saturated fat, some is converted to cholesterol, which accumulates as plaque on the arterial walls in atherosclerosis. Although atherosclerosis is determined by multiple biological and environmental factors, saturated fat consumption (along with other societal conditions) is an important contributor to the high rate of heart disease in the U.S. black population. A vital goal of public health strategies aimed at improving nutrition and reducing the risk of chronic diseases is inducing people to replace saturated fat with unsaturated fat and with complex carbohydrates (whole grains, fruits, and vegetables), which are beneficial to cardiovascular health and protective against colon cancer. Furthermore, regular exercise can reduce the harmful influence of saturated fat because it creates chemical byproducts that help eliminate cholesterol from the body.
Answer to Question 2
Answer: Over the past decade, the Internet has become an increasingly popular way to initiate relationships. Among a sample of 2,200 Americans, 11 percent said they had used online dating sites or mobile dating apps. One-fourth of these had met their spouse or a long-term partner in this way, making the Internet the second most common route to meeting a partner, just behind meeting through friends. Furthermore, nearly 30 percent of participants knew someone who had formed an enduring relationship through Internet dating. Knowing someone who has successfully met a partner online strongly predicts single adults willingness to engage in Internet dating. Young people between 25 and 34 are the most avid users of dating sites and apps; 20 percent report having used them. Nevertheless, online dating services sometimes undermine, rather than enhance, the chances of forming a successful relationship. Relying on Internet profiles and online communication omits aspects of direct social interaction that are vital for assessing ones compatibility with a potential partner. Especially when online communication persists for a long time (six weeks or more), people form idealized impressions that often lead to disappointment at face-to-face meetings. Furthermore, having a large pool of potential partners from which to choose can promote a persistent shopping mentality, which reduces online daters willingness to make a commitment. Finally, the techniques that matching sites claim to use to pair partnerssophisticat ed analyses of information daters providehave not demonstrated any greater success than conventional off-line means of introducing people.