VOA慢速英语2016 你可以列举四类最健康最美味的调味料吗？分享到:

Can You Name Four of the Healthiest, Tastiest Spices? 你可以列举四类最健康最美味的调味料吗？分享到:

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

VOA英语学习健康及生活方式报道。

Here in the United States, there is a saying: “Diversity is the spice of life.”

美国有句话是“多样化是生活的调味剂”。

This means that having a nice, healthy mix of people,thoughts, and experiences can make your life more interesting and, well, spicy¹.

意思是生活中融入一些和蔼健康的人、思想和经验能够让生活更加有趣更加有味儿。

Spices do the same with our meals.Every country uses spices to make cooking distinct.

对我们的食物来说，调味料的作用亦是如此。每个国家都通过调味料让烹饪变得各不相同。

Centuries ago, some spices were quite valuable.They were used as currency throughout the world.These days, most spices are reasonably priced and easy to find in stores.But they are still extremely valuable when it comes to keeping us healthy.

几个世纪之前，一些调味料相当宝贵。它们被用作货币在世界各地流通。但现在，大部分调味料的价格都比较合理，能够在商店里买到。但这些调味料对于维持我们的身体健康来说仍然非常重要。

As with many traditional or natural cures, there is little scientific evidence to prove that spices have healing qualities.The U.S. National Institutes of Health says it is possible that spices have health benefits.But there is not enough strong evidence to confirm such claims.

根据一些传统疗法和自然疗法，没有科学证据表明调味料还具备愈合的特性。美国国立卫生研究所表示调味料很可能有益于健康。但还没有充分的证据证明这些说法。

However, it does not hurt anything to add a few spices to your diet.So, here are four of the healthiest and tastiest spices.

但是在饮食中加点调味料不会有什么坏处。以下是四种最健康最美味的调味料。

1. Ginger²

1. 生姜

From India to Japan to China, ginger is popular in many food dishes.

从印度到日本再到中国，很多道菜中都会有生姜。

Ginger has a hot, fragrant³ flavor.You can add ground ginger to many dishes, baked products and smoothies or other thick drinks.You can grate fresh ginger root, adding the small pieces to your favorite dishes.Candied ginger is a popular treat in many countries.

生姜，味辛辣芳香。很多菜、烘烤食品、冰沙或者其他浓饮中都可添加姜末。可将新鲜的生姜根研磨，添加至最爱的菜中。很多国家中，香甜姜糖在待客时也是非常受欢迎的。

Besides tasting great, ginger helps the body in many ways.Researchers have studied the anti-inflammatory qualities of ginger.An anti-inflammatory reduces swelling⁴ – the enlargement of a body part, often resulting from a build-up of fluid.So, ginger may help reduce pain in muscles and joints⁶ after you exercise.

除了美味之外，生姜在很多方面对人体都是有益的。研究人员已经对生姜的抗炎特性进行了研究。抗炎特性能够消除肿胀，即身体某部位变大，通常是因为体液的积压。因此，生姜可以缓解进行体育锻炼后肌肉和关节处的肿痛。

Thai researchers found that healthy, middle-aged⁷ women who took a ginger supplement every day for two months improved their mental ability.These women had a greater attention span and scored higher on memory tests than women who took a harmless substance or placebo⁸.

泰国研究人员发现，健康的中年妇女连续两个月每天都进食生姜后，能够提升其智力。这些妇女的注意广度较广，有关记忆的测试得分也较高。这一结果是与那些进食无害的物质或者安慰剂的妇女相比较产生的。

Ginger is a well-known cure for nausea⁹, motion sickness and pregnancy-related health disorders¹⁰.There is some evidence that ginger might help cure joint⁵ and muscle pain.And drinking tea with ginger root can reduce sore throat pain.

生姜能够有效治疗恶心、晕动病以及与怀孕相关的各种健康问题。有证据表明生姜能够治愈关节和肌肉伤痛。饮姜茶能够缓解咽喉疼痛。

2. Turmeric

2. 姜黄

Turmeric is the main spice in curry¹¹ and a relative of ginger.

姜黄是咖喱中经常用到的调味料，是与生姜相关的一种调料。

As a traditional medicine, many cultures use turmeric to fight depression, liver disease and skin disorders.This information comes from the U.S. National Institutes for Health.

姜黄是一种传统医药，很多国家都采用姜黄治疗抑郁症、肝病以及各种皮肤病。这些信息来自美国国立卫生研究院。

There is no hard-and-fast proof that spices fight disease.But the NIH says there is research showing that turmeric has helped patients with arthritis¹² and indigestion, or heartburn.

但还没有确凿的证据证明该调料能够抵御疾病。但美国国立卫生研究院表示有调查表明姜黄对患有关节炎、消化不良以及胃灼热的患者都有帮助。

Some Indian researchers claim that a chemical in turmeric called curcumin can slow or stop the growth of tumor¹³ cells.They say it can also suppress enzymes¹⁴ that activate¹⁵ cancer-causing agents.

一些印度的研究人员表明姜黄中有一种叫姜黄素的化学物质能够降低或者终止肿瘤细胞的生长。他们表示姜黄素能够抑制激活致癌因子的酶的活性。

3. Cumin

3. 孜然

One tablespoon of cumin seeds can supply 22 percent of your daily requirement for iron.Iron helps keep your energy levels high and strengthens the body’s natural defenses against disease.

每天一勺孜然籽能够提供人类所需铁元素的22%。铁有助于保持较高的能量级，有助于增强机体天然的对疾病的抵抗力。

According to early research, cumin may also improve your brainpower.In an animal study, cumin extract was shown to improve performance on memory tests.

早先的研究表明，孜然能够促进大脑智能。一项动物实验表明孜然提取物有助于提高在记忆测试中的表现。

Cumin may help people with diabetes¹⁶ by keeping their blood sugar level in check.It may also have powerful germ-fighting qualities.

孜然能够保持血液中血糖的水平，因此对糖尿病患者有利。此外，孜然还有强大的抗病菌特性。

4. Cinnamon

4. 肉桂

Cinnamon is a common spice.It adds a warm, sweet taste to both sweet and savory¹⁷ dishes.

肉桂是常见的调料。能够为甜食或者口味重的菜增加一种温暖香甜的味道。

There are two main kinds of cinnamon.Ceylon cinnamon is considered by many to be true cinnamon.And it can be very pricey.Cassia cinnamon or Chinese cinnamon generally costs less than Ceylon cinnamon.This is the kind that we put on top of coffee or hot chocolate.Cinnamon is also found in many baked goods here in the United States.

主要有两种肉桂。很多人认为锡兰肉桂是真正的肉桂。但其价格高昂。卡西亚肉桂或者中国肉桂的价钱比锡兰肉桂低。我们在咖啡或者热巧克力中加的就是这种肉桂。美国很多烘焙的食物中也会添加肉桂。

According to the National Institutes of Health,cinnamon has been used as a spice and traditional herbal medicine for centuries.

据美国国立卫生研究院表示，几个世纪以来，肉桂一直被用作是调料和传统草药。

The NIH website says there is research to suggest that cinnamon, like cumin,may lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.Cinnamon may also reduce cholesterol¹⁸ levels, help to reduce inflammation and kill germs that cause disease.

国立卫生研究所的官网上表示有研究表明，肉桂可能与孜然一样，能够降低二型糖尿病患者的血糖水平。肉桂还能够降低胆固醇水平，有助于缓解炎症，并能够杀死病菌。

These are only four of the many spices used around the world to flavor our food and possibly keep us healthy.

以上是四种全球各地常用来调节食物味道并有助于维持健康的调料。

Words in This Story

distinct – adj. noticeably different

affordable¹⁹ – adj. to be able to pay for (something)

fragrant – adj. having a pleasant and usually sweet smell

flavor – n. the quality of something that you can taste : a particular type of taste : a good or appealing taste

in check – idiomatic²⁰ expression : under control

savory – adj. having a spicy or salty quality without being sweet  

placebo – n. medicine : a pill or substance that is given to a patient like a drug but that has no physical effect on the patient

nausea – n. the feeling you have in your stomach when you think you are going to vomit²¹

hard-and-fast – adj. used to say that something (such as a rule) cannot be changed

indigestion – n. an unpleasant feeling (such as pain or a burning sensation) in your stomach or chest that is caused by difficulty in digesting food

heartburn – n. an unpleasant hot feeling in your chest caused by something that you ate

suppress – v. to restrain from a usual course or action : to inhibit²² the growth or development of

activate – v. to make active or more active

1 spicy   

adj.加香料的；辛辣的，有风味的

参考例句：

• The soup tasted mildly spicy.汤尝起来略有点辣。
• Very spicy food doesn't suit her stomach.太辣的东西她吃了胃不舒服。

2 ginger   

n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气

参考例句：

• There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
• Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。

3 fragrant   

adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的

参考例句：

• The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
• The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

4 swelling   

n.肿胀

参考例句：

• Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
• There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。

5 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

6 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

7 middle-aged   

adj.中年的

参考例句：

• I noticed two middle-aged passengers.我注意到两个中年乘客。
• The new skin balm was welcome by middle-aged women.这种新护肤香膏受到了中年妇女的欢迎。

8 placebo   

n.安慰剂；宽慰话

参考例句：

• The placebo has been found to work with a lot of different cases.人们已发现安慰剂能在很多不同的病例中发挥作用。
• The placebo effect refers to all the observable behaviors caused by placebo.安慰剂效应是指由安慰剂所引起的可观察的行为。

9 nausea   

n.作呕，恶心；极端的憎恶(或厌恶)

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕期常有恶心的现象。
• He experienced nausea after eating octopus.吃了章鱼后他感到恶心。

10 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 curry   

n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革

参考例句：

• Rice makes an excellent complement to a curry dish.有咖喱的菜配米饭最棒。
• Add a teaspoonful of curry powder.加一茶匙咖喱粉。

12 arthritis   

n.关节炎

参考例句：

• Rheumatoid arthritis has also been linked with the virus.风湿性关节炎也与这种病毒有关。
• He spent three months in the hospital with acute rheumatic arthritis.他患急性风湿性关节炎，在医院住了三个月。

13 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

14 enzymes   

n. 酶，酵素

参考例句：

• It was said that washing powders containing enzymes remove stains more efficiently. 据说加酶洗衣粉除污更有效。
• Among the enzymes which are particularly effective are pepsin, papain. 在酶当中特别有效的是胃朊酶、木瓜酶。

15 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

16 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

17 savory   

adj.风味极佳的，可口的，味香的

参考例句：

• She placed a huge dish before him of savory steaming meat.她将一大盘热气腾腾、美味可口的肉放在他面前。
• He doesn't have a very savory reputation.他的名誉不太好。

18 cholesterol   

n.（U）胆固醇

参考例句：

• There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
• They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。

19 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

20 idiomatic   

adj.成语的，符合语言习惯的

参考例句：

• In our reading we should always be alert for idiomatic expressions.我们在阅读过程中应经常注意惯用法。
• In his lecture,he bore down on the importance of idiomatic usage in a language.他在演讲中着重强调了语言中习惯用法的重要性。

21 vomit   

v.呕吐，作呕；n.呕吐物，吐出物

参考例句：

• They gave her salty water to make her vomit.他们给她喝盐水好让她吐出来。
• She was stricken by pain and began to vomit.她感到一阵疼痛，开始呕吐起来。

22 inhibit   

vt.阻止，妨碍，抑制

参考例句：

• Don't let ego and greed inhibit clear thinking and hard work.不要让自我和贪婪妨碍清晰的思维和刻苦的工作。
• They passed a law to inhibit people from parking in the street.他们通过一项法令以阻止人们在街上停车。