你听说过禁食这种节食法吗？什么是间歇性禁食？研究表明，这种节食法有助于控制血糖，且有可能降低患糖尿病的风险。它有哪些利弊？听本文围绕这些问题展开讨论，学习与节食有关的词汇。

词汇：dieting 节食

Most of us would agree that being healthy is important. We are inundated with articles in health magazines talking about the latest fad diets, or adverts that offer potential miracle cures for obesity that are often too good to be true. One of the latest crazes is fasting, often referred to as intermittent fasting. But what is it? And how can it help us to lose weight?

我们大多数人都会同意健康很重要。我们被健康杂志上谈论最新流行饮食的文章淹没了，或者是提供潜在的神奇治疗肥胖的广告，这些广告往往好得令人难以置信。最近的一种流行是禁食，通常被称为间歇性禁食。但它是什么呢?它如何帮助我们减肥呢?

Fasting refers to a period of abstinence from consuming food. The idea of intermittent fasting is to reduce calories over a certain number of days or hours rather than a sustained period. It has been linked to longevity and generally improved health. It also helps those interested in keeping off the weight or dropping a few pounds. There are also different ways to fast. For example, in the 5:2 diet, you eat normally on five days of a week and reduce your calorie intake on the other two. Then there's a restricted-hours diet that sees people only eating during a limited part of the day, for example, over eight hours. But is it for everyone? Well, before we get to that, let's look at some of the possible benefits.

禁食是指禁食一段时间。间歇性禁食的想法是在一定的天数或小时内减少卡路里，而不是持续一段时间。它与长寿和普遍改善健康有关。它也有助于那些有兴趣保持体重或减掉几磅的人。也有不同的方法来快速。例如，在5:2饮食法中，你一周有五天正常进食，另外两天减少卡路里摄入量。还有一种是限时饮食法，即人们只在一天中有限的时间内进食，例如超过8小时。但它适合所有人吗?好吧，在我们开始之前，让我们看看一些可能的好处。

A study published on the National Library of Medicine website suggests that intermittent fasting may help with the control of blood sugar and potentially lower the risk of diabetes. However, more research on this is needed. Other studies have claimed that some form of intermittent fasting may help to prevent some diseases, aid with metabolism, slow the ageing process, support brain function, and help to shed weight.

发表在美国国家医学图书馆网站上的一项研究表明，间歇性禁食可能有助于控制血糖，并可能降低患糖尿病的风险。然而，这方面还需要更多的研究。其他研究声称，某种形式的间歇性禁食可能有助于预防某些疾病，有助于新陈代谢，减缓衰老过程，支持大脑功能，并有助于减肥。

And what about the downsides? Well, this diet is not for everyone. Fasting might not suit those who are underweight or with a long-term medical condition. Fasting may cause some people to experience symptoms such as headaches or make them prone to overeating after a reduced calorie intake day. As with many diets, it's always wise to speak to your doctor or weight loss professional before changing your eating habits. And, at the end of the day, it could just come down to what lifestyle choice suits you.

那么缺点是什么呢?不是每个人都适合这种饮食。禁食可能不适合那些体重不足或有长期医疗状况的人。禁食可能会导致一些人出现头痛等症状，或者在一天热量摄入减少后容易暴饮暴食。和许多饮食习惯一样，在改变饮食习惯之前，咨询你的医生或减肥专家总是明智的。归根结底，这可能取决于你选择了什么样的生活方式。

词汇表

inundate 使应接不暇
fad 一时的风尚
miracle cure 灵丹妙药
obesity 肥胖
too good to be true 好得令人难以置信，好到不像真的
craze 风靡一时的事物
intermittent fasting 间歇性禁食
abstinence 节制
consume 吃，喝
longevity 长寿
keep off the weight 保持体重
drop a few pounds 减重
intake 摄入量
blood sugar 血糖
metabolism 新陈代谢
ageing process 衰老的过程
brain function 大脑功能
shed weight 减重
underweight 过瘦的，体重不足的
prone to 有…倾向的，易于
overeat 过量饮食，吃得过饱

测验与练习

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。

1. What is intermittent fasting?

2. What is the 5:2 diet?

3. What are the potential benefits of intermittent fasting?

4. What symptoms may people experience when fasting?

5. According to the article, what is wise to do before changing your eating habits?

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. How many calories do you _______ per day?

underweight                   longevity                   prone                    consume

2. I'm really _______ to catching colds. I get them all the time!

consume                        craze                        prone                    drop a few pounds

3. Don't _______ or you'll get a stomach ache. Eat sensibly.

intake                             overeat                     obesity                  longevity  

4. It turns out the price in that advert was _______. When I got there, it was much more expensive.

too good to be true         craze                        fad                        underweight   

5. I'm being _______ with emails this morning! I need a break.

craze                              inundated                 intake                    keep off the weight

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. What is intermittent fasting?
The idea of intermittent fasting is to reduce calories over a certain number of days or hours rather than a sustained period.

2. What is the 5:2 diet?
The 5:2 diet involves eating normally on five days of a week and having a reduced calorie intake on the other two.

3. What are the potential benefits of intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting may help with the control of blood sugar, prevent some diseases, boost metabolism, slow the ageing process, support brain function, and help people to lose weight.

4. What symptoms may people experience when fasting?
Some people may experience symptoms such as headaches or they may become prone to overeating after a reduced calorie intake day.

5. According to the article, what is wise to do before changing your eating habits?
Speak to your doctor or weight loss professional first before starting any diet.

2. 选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. How many calories do you consume per day?

2. I'm really prone to catching colds. I get them all the time!

3. Don't overeat or you'll get a stomach ache. Eat sensibly. 

4. It turns out the price in that advert was too good to be true. When I got there, it was much more expensive.

5. I'm being inundated with emails this morning! I need a break.

文章来源BBC，侵权删。