新奇事件簿 红肉增加癌症风险

Health authorities in Britain have advised against eating too much red meat. The British government has issued a set of red meat guidelines which caution against eating more than 500 grams a week, or 70 grams a day. This is the equivalent of two beef burgers. Scientists say that eating more than this increases the risk of getting colon¹ and bowel² cancer. The new limits are down on the 90 grams a day recommended in 1998. Researchers think people who eat a lot of meat like lamb, beef, ham and bacon have a higher risk of cancer. A 2005 European study found people who ate about 160 grams of red meat a day increased their bowel cancer risk by one third compared to people who ate little meat. People have around a one in 19 chance of developing bowel cancer in their lifetime.

英国卫生当局建议不要吃太多红肉。英国政府发布了一套红肉指导方针，警告每周食用红肉不要超过500克，每天不要超过70克，相当于两个牛肉汉堡。科学家表示，超过这个量会增加结肠癌和肠癌的风险。新的限制比1998年规定的每天90克有所下降。研究人员认为，每天吃大量羊肉，牛肉，火腿和熏肉的人患癌症的风险会升高。2005年欧盟一份研究发现，每天吃大约160克红肉的人患肠癌的风险比只吃一点肉的人高三分之一。人们一生中患肠癌的风险大约是1/19。

Experts told people the new guidelines did not mean people had to abandon red meat. The head of health information at Cancer Research U.K. said: "This doesn't mean people have to become vegetarian³, but if you're having a steak every day, that's probably not helping⁴.” Scientists are unsure as to why red meat increases the risk of colon cancer. They suspect that haem, the pigment⁵ that gives meat its colour, damages the cells in the digestive system and the lining⁶ of the colon. A World Cancer Research Fund official said: "Following simple diet and lifestyle advice can help protect against cancer. Red meat can be part of a healthy balanced diet. It is a good source of protein and vitamins and minerals…But people who eat a lot of red and processed meat should consider cutting down.”

专家告诉人们，新的指导方针并不是说人们要放弃红肉。英国癌症研究中心的卫生信息负责人表示：“这并不意味着人们要崇尚素食，但是如果你每天都吃一块牛排，或许不会有帮助。”科学家并不确定为何红肉会增加结肠癌风险。他们怀疑让红肉显示红色的血红素破坏了消化系统的细胞和结肠内膜。世界癌症研究基金一位官员表示：“遵循简单饮食和生活方式指导方针可以帮助预防癌症。红肉可以是健康均衡饮食的一部分。红肉是优质的蛋白质，维他命和矿物质来源。但是食用太多红肉和加工肉类的人应该酌情减量。”

1 colon   

n.冒号，结肠，直肠

参考例句：

• Here,too,the colon must be followed by a dash.这里也是一样，应当在冒号后加破折号。
• The colon is the locus of a large concentration of bacteria.结肠是大浓度的细菌所在地。

2 bowel   

n.肠(尤指人肠)；内部，深处

参考例句：

• Irritable bowel syndrome seems to affect more women than men.女性比男性更易患肠易激综合征。
• Have you had a bowel movement today?你今天有排便吗？

3 vegetarian   

n.素食者；adj.素食的

参考例句：

• She got used gradually to the vegetarian diet.她逐渐习惯吃素食。
• I didn't realize you were a vegetarian.我不知道你是个素食者。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 pigment   

n.天然色素，干粉颜料

参考例句：

• The Romans used natural pigments on their fabrics and walls.古罗马人在织物和墙壁上使用天然颜料。
• Who thought he might know what the skin pigment phenomenon meant.他自认为可能知道皮肤色素出现这种现象到底是怎么回事。

6 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。