【英语时差8,16】吃还是锻炼？

Welcome to another Moment of Science. Once again we're going to talk about some everyday "scientific" wisdom that may or may not be true.   For example, here's a common belief about exercise. If you work out in the morning and want to lose more calories, don't eat before exercise.

Does this bit of common knowledge hold water? Sort of. When the body is depleted¹ of energy, it begins to feed off of itself, first by devouring² stored fat. So it would seem to make sense that the less energy you take in before exercise, the more fat your body burns. And this is true, to a point. But the amount of extra fat burned when you don't eat before exercise is pretty small. Plus, without eating, the body has less energy to keep going, which can lead to a shorter workout.

Finally, depending upon the intensity³ of the activity, exercising on an empty stomach can make you feel pretty famished⁴ afterwards. In fact, you might feel so depleted that after working out you end up eating more than you otherwise would. So, theoretically, not eating before exercise could actually lead to weight gain.

Having something to eat before working out, on the other hand, can be a good thing. It gives the body enough energy to sustain a decent workout and leaves you feeling less hungry afterwards. Eating a calorie-rich, lavish⁵ breakfast before exercise isn't a good idea, of course, since it will leave you sluggish⁶ and overly full. But having a little something before your morning run seems to be the way to go.   While scientists have discovered that a kid's working memory holds on average one less item than an adult's, the jury is still out on why this is the case. Is there a difference between the capacity of the adult brain and the child's brain? Or do adults have better-developed strategies for remembering?

Regardless of the correct answer, this suggests that your kids are probably not just making excuses when they tell you they forgot. To make things easier on them, try breaking lists down into small chunks⁷. But if that doesn't help, don't worry. They'll grow up eventually. And then, although they still won't do what they're told, it won't be because they don't remember.   

1 depleted   

adj. 枯竭的, 废弃的 动词deplete的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Food supplies were severely depleted. 食物供应已严重不足。
• Both teams were severely depleted by injuries. 两个队都因队员受伤而实力大减。

2 devouring   

吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光

参考例句：

• The hungry boy was devouring his dinner. 那饥饿的孩子狼吞虎咽地吃饭。
• He is devouring novel after novel. 他一味贪看小说。

3 intensity   

n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度

参考例句：

• I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue.我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
• The strike is growing in intensity.罢工日益加剧。

4 famished   

adj.饥饿的

参考例句：

• When's lunch?I'm famished!什么时候吃午饭？我饿得要死了！
• My feet are now killing me and I'm absolutely famished.我的脚现在筋疲力尽，我绝对是极饿了。

5 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

6 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

7 chunks   

厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分

参考例句：

• a tin of pineapple chunks 一罐菠萝块
• Those chunks of meat are rather large—could you chop them up a bIt'smaller? 这些肉块相当大，还能再切小一点吗？