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Fat: Friend or Foe? 脂肪是敌是友？

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繁體中文譯本

In recent years, the war against fat had hit an all-time high. It seems that everywhere you look, there is something promoting the elimination of fat. Fitness magazines and television shows give tips on how we can improve our diets and shed those last few pounds. When that doesn’t work, many people have even tried taking the fat off their body through liposuction. Each year, Americans vacuum away approximately two million pounds of fat in an attempt to obtain the perfect body. But have we ever stopped to ask if fat is really so bad?

近年来，抗脂大战已达到空前的高峰。在你目光所及之处，似乎都有促进减脂的事物。健康杂志和电视节目会教我们一些秘诀，以改善饮食与减去多余体重。当这些都不管用时，许多人甚至尝试抽脂手术。为了获得完美的身体，美国人每年大约吸掉两百万磅的脂肪。但我们是否曾停下来问问，脂肪真的这么糟吗？

The main role of fat cells in our body is to absorb the extra calories that we consume by overeating. Without fat cells, this energy would be stored in our liver, which already has enough to do. An overworked liver would eventually lead to liver failure and possibly even death!

体内脂肪细胞的主要功能，是吸收饮食过量时所吃下的多余卡路里。如果没有脂肪细胞，这些能量会储存在肝脏，而肝脏要做的事情已经够多了。肝脏过劳最终会导致肝衰竭，甚至死亡！

Although too much fat can increase our chances of getting sick, an appropriate amount of fat is essential to our diets. In our early years, fat plays an important role in our growth and development. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University recommend that one-third of a child’s diet should consist of healthy fats. Certain healthy fats, such as Omega-3, which is found in tuna, salmon and shrimp, even reduce the risks of getting heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

虽然过多脂肪会提高致病的机会，但适量的脂肪在饮食中是必要的。在孩提时期，脂肪在成长和发育上扮演重要的角色。宾州大学的研究人员建议，儿童的饮食中应有三分之一是有益健康的脂肪。某些有益健康的脂肪，像是在鲔鱼、鲑鱼和虾子中可找到的Omega-3甚至可降低罹患心脏病、阿兹海默症及癌症的风险。

Vocabulary

单词发音

elimination [ɪ͵lɪməˋneʃən] n. 消除﹐根除

shed pounds 减轻体重

approximately [əˋprɑksəmɪtlɪ] adv. 大概；近乎

essential [ɪˋsɛnʃəl] adj. 必要的，不可缺的

recommend [͵rɛkəˋmɛnd] n. 推荐; 建议

More Information

单词发音

all-time [ˋɔl͵taɪm] adj. 空前的，创纪录的

tip [tɪp] n. 提示 a helpful hint, warning, or other piece of information

liposuction [ˋlɪpo͵sʌkʃən] n. 抽脂肪; 脂肪抽吸法

vacuum [ˋvækjʊəm] v.【口】用真空吸尘器吸掉

overworked [͵ovɚˋwɚkt] adj. 工作过度的

tuna [ˋtunə] n.【鱼】鲔，金鎗鱼

Alzheimer’s disease 阿兹海默症（为德国医生阿洛斯˙阿兹海默所发现，俗称老年痴呆症，是一种造成记忆逐渐丧失的脑部疾病，这种疾病导致心智功能严重丧失以致影响到日常生活）

课文朗读

课文讲解

Fat may also have played a key role in the advancement of humanity as a whole. Evolutionary biologists point toward our distant cousin, the chimpanzee, for comparison. On average, human’s body fat levels are more than double those of chimpanzees. These fat supplies can be converted into glucose, providing us with extra brain power. Without our additional storage of fat, humans might not ever have developed the intelligence necessary to advance civilization.

脂肪可能在全人类的进步上扮演关键角色。演化生物学家以我们的远亲黑猩猩作为比较。平均而言，人的体脂肪是黑猩猩的两倍多。这些脂肪可转换成葡萄糖，提供我们额外的脑力。若无额外储存的脂肪，人类可能无法发展出文明进步所需的智慧。

Fat tissues are also doing their part in the fight against obesity by sending their own reminders that enough is enough. As humans become overweight, fat tissues release inflammatory hormones in an attempt to prevent the body from storing any more fat. Although this process is dangerous in the long run, it gives us an early warning that we need to change our eating habits and shape up.

脂肪组织会发送适可而止的提示，来帮忙对抗肥胖。当人们过重时，脂肪组织会释放出发炎激素，以阻止身体储存更多脂肪。虽然此过程最终是危险的，但也及早警告我们，必须改变饮食习惯，回归正轨。

So the next time you look in the mirror, have a little compassion. Those extra few pounds that keep you from wearing last year’s swimsuit are there for a reason. You can exercise them away, but don’t blame the fat. It has an important job to do and according to science, it is doing it quite well!

所以下次你照镜子时，多一点怜悯心吧！那些让你无法穿上去年泳衣的多余体重，有存在的原因。你可以作运动减肥，但不要怪脂肪。脂肪有重要的工作要做，而且根据科学研究，它做得很好！

−by Jamie Blackler

Vocabulary

单词发音

convert [kənˋvɝt] v. 转变，变换[（+to/into）]

storage [ˋstorɪdʒ] n. 储存; 贮藏

intelligence [ɪnˋtɛlədʒəns] n. 智能；智慧

overweight [ˋovɚ͵wet] adj. 超重的

compassion [kəmˋpæʃən] n. 怜悯; 同情

More Information

单词发音

humanity [hjuˋmænətɪ] n.（总称）人；人类

chimpanzee [͵tʃɪmpænˋzi] n.【动】黑猩猩

on average 平均, 通常

glucose [ˋglukos] n.【生化】葡萄糖

reminder [rɪˋmaɪndɚ] n. 提醒物

inflammatory [ɪnˋflæmə͵torɪ] adj.〔疾病﹑环境等〕引发炎症的

shape up 变得表现良好  to improve so as to meet a standard

Reading Questions

1.   When our bodies store energy as fat, what part of the body is being protected?

A.  The brain.

B.  The stomach.

C.  The heart.

D.  The liver.

2.   Which of the following statements about fat is NOT true?

A.  Many people diet to get rid of fat.

B.  Children should eat as much fat as possible.

C.  Some people undergo surgery to remove fat.

D.  The fat found in tuna and salmon has health benefits.

3.   What does the comparison between chimpanzees and humans imply?

A.  With less body fat, chimpanzees are stronger than humans.

B.  There is no relationship between body fat and intellect.

C.  Body fat may be important for evolving higher intelligence.

D.  Chimpanzees are smarter about losing weight than humans.

4.   Which of the following statement can be inferred from the article?

A.  Being slim might actually be deadly.

B.  Everyone should gain some weight.

C.  A little bit of fat is a healthy thing.

D.  If your clothes don’t fit, lose weight.

Answer