喝茶有益健康
Drinking Tea Is Healthy
刘立军 供稿
TRANSCRIPT
The world is full of tea drinkers. For many, they simply enjoy the taste. But new research suggests tea might help those who drink it live longer than those who do not. Tea is known to contain helpful substances known to reduce inflammation. Past studies in China and Japan, where green tea is popular, have suggested several health benefits.
Now, scientists say black tea may show similar benefits. Scientists from the United States National Cancer Institute carried out the study. They examined years of data gathered about the tea drinking behavior of almost 500,000 adults in Britain for as many as 14 years. Black tea is the most common kind of tea in Britain. The researchers adjusted for risks that individuals may have related to health, living conditions, diet and lifestyle choices, as well as age, race and gender. The study found that high tea intake - two or more cups a day - was linked to a moderate benefit: a nine to 13 percent lower risk of death from any cause than non-tea drinkers. The research was published in Annals of Internal Medicine. The scientists say the lowered risk of death held true for study subjects with heart disease. However, researchers said there was no clear finding in connection with deaths from cancer. Researchers were not sure why. But, it is possible there were too few confirmed cancer deaths to measure, said Maki Inoue-Choi, who led the study. All kinds of tea - green, black, oolong, and white - are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using different methods.
Tea contains various elements, including polyphenols. Experts at the U.S. National Institutes of Health say polyphenols are thought to be responsible for the health benefits that have traditionally been linked to tea, especially green tea. Green tea is reported to improve mental ability, ease digestive problems and head pain, and help people with weight loss. Green tea has also been studied for possible protective effects against heart disease and cancer. The study of British tea drinkers was based on observing people’s behaviors and health. This kind of methodology cannot prove cause and effect. “Observational studies like this always raise the question: Is there something else about tea drinkers that makes them healthier?” said Marion Nestle. She is a professor of food studies at New York University. The study does not offer enough evidence to advise people to change their tea behaviors, said Inoue-Choi. “If you drink one cup a day already, I think that is good," she said. “And please enjoy your cup of tea.”
I’m Caty Weaver.
VOCABULARY
1. inflammation n. a condition in which a part of the body becomes red, sore and swollen because of infection or injury 发炎;炎症
2. moderate adj. that is neither very good, large, hot, etc. nor very bad, small, cold, etc. 适度的;中等的。例如:students of moderate ability能力一般的学生
3. camellia n. a bush with shiny leaves and white, red or pink flowers that look like roses and are also called camellias 山茶;山茶花
4. polyphenols n. 多酚
QUESTIONS
Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements.
1. New research suggests tea might help those who drink it live longer than those who do not.
2. Tea is known to contain helpful substances known to reduce inflammation.
3. Past studies in China and India have suggested several health benefits.
4. Scientists from the United States National Cancer Institute examined years of data gathered about the tea drinking behavior of almost 500,000 adults in China for as many as 14 years.
5. Green tea is the most common kind of tea in Britain.
6. All kinds of tea are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using similar methods.
7. Tea contains various elements, including polyphenols.
8. White tea is reported to help people with weight loss.
9. Green tea has also been studied for possible protective effects against heart disease and cancer.
10. The study of Japanese tea drinkers was based on observing people’s behaviors and health.
KEY
Read the statements. Then listen to the news and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F). Then correct the false statements.
(T) 1. New research suggests tea might help those who drink it live longer than those who do not.
(T) 2. Tea is known to contain helpful substances known to reduce inflammation.
(F) 3. Past studies in China and India have suggested several health benefits. (正确表达)Past studies in China and Japan have suggested several health benefits.
(F) 4. Scientists from the United States National Cancer Institute examined years of data gathered about the tea drinking behavior of almost 500,000 adults in China for as many as 14 years.(正确表达)Scientists from the United States National Cancer Institute examined years of data gathered about the tea drinking behavior of almost 500,000 adults in Britain for as many as 14 years.
(F) 5. Green tea is the most common kind of tea in Britain. (正确表达)Black tea is the most common kind of tea in Britain.
(F) 6. All kinds of tea are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using similar methods.(正确表达)All kinds of tea are produced from the Camellia sinensis plant using different methods.
(T) 7. Tea contains various elements, including polyphenols.
(F) 8. White tea is reported to help people with weight loss.(正确表达)Green tea is reported to help people with weight loss.
(T) 9. Green tea has also been studied for possible protective effects against heart disease and cancer.
(F) 10. The study of Japanese tea drinkers was based on observing people’s behaviors and health.(正确表达)The study of British tea drinkers was based on observing people’s behaviors and health.
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