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A Wealth of Health 吃蔬菜，好健康！

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Look around, everyone is doing it. Eating vegetables may not be the most popular way to pass the time, but it certainly will give you something in return. No matter who you are, vegetables offer a wealth of health to all who indulge.

看看周围，每个人都在这么做！吃青菜可能不是最受欢迎的事，但一定有它的好处。不管是谁，只要喜欢吃青菜的人都可以从青菜得到许多有益健康的营养素。

Asparagus  芦笋

Eating asparagus was long believed to promote love and compassion. Nowadays, this vegetable for lovers actually has science backing it up! It is known for being a good source of folic acid, an important nutrient. Women who plan to have children should eat plenty of asparagus, as the nutrients in it help prevent birth defects and heart disease. Generally speaking, asparagus is one of the most nutritionally balanced vegetables in existence, so how can you do without it?

长久以来，人们相信吃芦笋会提升爱情及同情心，而现在这个情人的蔬菜有了科学的根据。现在，大家都知道芦笋含有许多叶酸──一项重要营养素。计划生育的妇女应该要多吃芦笋，因为芦笋所含的营养素可以预防先天缺陷和心脏疾病。普遍来说，芦笋是目前营养最均衡的蔬菜之一，所以你怎么可以不吃芦笋呢？

Bok Choy  白菜

Bok Choy is a favorite cabbage in the Far East. In Korea, it is the main vegetable used to make kimchi. However, the health benefits of bok choy are far more astonishing than its popularity. Scientists have found that eating it lowers the risk of developing lung cancer. Like asparagus, it contains folic acid. It provides another nutrient called lutein, which protects the eyes, slows cancer growth, and reduces heart disease. There is also evidence that bok choy can strengthen our bones because it contains calcium and vitamin K. Whether steamed, boiled, or even sauteed, bok choy has a delicate flavor that will complement all sorts of dishes!

白菜是远东地区最受欢迎的卷心菜。在韩国，白菜是做泡菜的主要材料。但是，与欢迎程度相比，白菜的营养成分更为惊人。科学家发现吃白菜可以降低罹患肺癌的风险。跟芦笋一样，白菜含有叶酸。此外，白菜也提供了另外一种有益健康的胡萝卜素－叶黄素，叶黄素可以保护眼睛，减缓癌细胞发展，并且降低心脏疾病发生率。同时，有证据指出白菜可以增加骨骼强度，因为白菜含有钙和维他命K。不管是用蒸的、煮的还是嫩煎的，白菜都有一种细致的味道，可以为每一种菜肴增添风味。

Vocabulary

单词发音

indulge [ɪnˋdʌldʒ] v. 沉迷；放纵自己

compassion [kəmˋpæʃən] n. 怜悯; 同情

nutrient [ˋnjutrɪənt] n. 营养物，滋养物

defect [dɪˋfɛkt] n. 缺陷

astonishing [əˋstɑnɪʃɪŋ] adj. 令人惊讶的；惊人的

complement [ˋkɑmpləmənt] v. 补充; 与……相配

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单词发音

in return 回报, 交换 in repayment or reciprocation

asparagus [əˋspærəgəs] n. 芦笋

promote [prəˋmot] v. 促进

back up 支持

folic acid 叶酸

in existence 存在的; 现存的

do without 没有...也行

Bok Choy [ˈbɑkˈtʃɔɪ] n. 白菜

cabbage[ˋkæbɪdʒ] n. 甘蓝菜

kimchi [kɪmtʃhi] n. 朝鲜泡菜

health benefit 健康好处

lutein [ˋlutɪən] n. 叶黄素；黄体素

evidence [ˋɛvədəns] n. 证据

saute [soˋte] v. 嫩煎（或炒、煸）

delicate [ˋdɛləkət] adj. 鲜美的；清淡可口的

课文讲解

Mushrooms  蘑菇

Mushrooms are great flavor enhancers for all sorts of foods, and there are over 38,000 varieties of them. Don’t be fooled by their cute umbrella shape, though. Mushrooms actually kill certain bacteria and viruses in our bodies. Some mushrooms also contain plant chemicals that stimulate the immune system. The benefits of eating mushrooms include lowering blood pressure and assisting the body to fight cancer and infections. When you eat the mushrooms, it’s great for your health! No wonder mushroom hunters around the world venture into forest just to dig up this funny-looking, fantastic-tasting fungus.

蘑菇可以提升各种食物的风味。它的种类超过三万八千多种。不过，不要被蘑菇可爱的伞状外型骗了。蘑菇真的可以消灭我们体内特定的细菌及病毒。有些蘑菇含有植物化学成分，可以刺激免疫系统。食用蘑菇的好处包括降低血压和帮助身体对抗癌症及感染。多食用蘑菇可以促进健康。难怪，全世界采摘蘑菇的人会深入森林，就是为了要找到这些外型可爱、风味绝佳的菌类植物。

Chili Peppers  辣椒

Many people, such as the Thais and the Mexicans, use plenty of chili peppers in their cooking. Chili peppers can really heat things up, but that doesn’t just mean in your mouth. These fiery peppers contain an active ingredient called capsaicin, which gets the blood moving. It contributes to blood circulation, which in turn accelerates the delivery of nutrients throughout our bodies. The improved blood flow also prevents blood clots that can lead to heart attacks or strokes, and it even helps relieve headaches. So, feel free to spice things up – it’s good for you!

很多民族，比如泰国人和墨西哥人，在烹饪过程中会添加大量的辣椒。辣椒真的可以加温，而且不仅是提高你的嘴巴温度而已。这些增温的辣椒含有一种称为辣红素的活跃成分。辣红素可以让血液流动更快，促进血液循环，而血液快速循环可以让营养素更快到达身体的各个部分。血液快速循环也可以预防血管阻塞，血管阻塞会造成心脏病和中风。同时，辣红素也有助于减缓头痛。所以，你可以随性地在食物中加入辣椒──这对你的身体有好处。

When told to eat vegetables, children ask the age-old question, “Do I have to?” If you want to live a long, healthy life, it would be a good idea to say “Yes!”

当小孩被告知要吃蔬菜的时候，他们总会问着那个古老的问题：「我一定要吃吗？」如果你想要长寿、健康的话，「是」是个不错的答案。

−by Martin Walker

Vocabulary

单词发音

stimulate [ˋstɪmjə͵let] v. 刺激

venture [ˋvɛntʃɚ] v. 冒险；冒……之险

dig up 从地里挖掘出

accelerate [ækˋsɛlə͵ret] v. 加快；增长；增加

spice up 增添趣味  make more interesting or flavorful

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单词发音

variety [vəˋraɪətɪ] n. 种类

chemical [ˋkɛmɪk!] n. 化学物质

assist [əˋsɪst] v. 帮助

fantastic [fænˋtæstɪk] adj. 【口】极好的

heat up 给…加热; 加剧  to become acute or intense

fiery [ˋfaɪərɪ] adj. 火一般的；燃烧般的

capsaicin [kæp'seɪsɪn] n. 辣椒素

clot [klɑt] n.（血等的）凝块

feel free【口】(用以表示准许) 请随意, 请便

Reading Questions

1.  What does the title “A Wealth of Health” mean?

A.  That vegetables provide a great number of health benefits.

B.  That vegetables are still relatively rare.

C.  That there are many healthy vegetables.

D.  That vegetables are very expensive.

2.  What does the author mean when he says that bok choy will complement all sorts of dishes?

A.  It will look good next to many different types of food.

B.  Its taste will go well with many different foods.

C.  Cooking bok choy will result in many dirty dishes.

D.  Bok choy will say nice things about the food served with it.

3.  What is the purpose of this article?

A.  To compare different vegetables.

B.  To show how chili peppers are much better than other vegetables.

C.  To inform people how healthy vegetables are for their bodies.

D.  To persuade people to eat less vegetables.

4.  Which would be a good title for this article?

A.  More Mushrooms, Please!

B.  Vegetables: Helping People Live Healthy Lives.

C.  Live Longer with Chili Peppers

D.  Spicing Things Up with Chili Peppers

Answer