随身英语

How seeds make up our diet 种子类食品在日常饮食中的重要性

自古以来，人们就开始食用用植物种子做成的食品，这些食品也常见于现代人的日常饮食中。比如芝麻籽、奇亚籽。种子类食品中富含纤维和不饱和脂肪，对人体有益。本期“随身英语”介绍各种各样用植物种子做成的食品，以及它们对健康的好处。

词汇：diet and health 饮食与健康

Think of a caveman, and maybe you imagine someone tearing at the flesh of an animal they've just hunted. But this picture may be false – analysis of prehistoric remains suggests that Stone Age people were skilled in processing and cooking different kinds of seeds, even experimenting with different flavours. Seeds are still an important part of our diets, so maybe food choices haven't changed as much as we think.

In botanical terms, seeds are what new plants grow from. Strictly speaking, edible seeds include nuts, pulses and grains, and are a significant source of protein and calories worldwide. Between them, rice and bread are staple foods in most of the world. Many cuisines use beans, whether cooked in stews or curries, or mashed into pastes, like hummus from the Middle East. This definition of seeds also includes coffee beans and the cocoa beans used to make chocolate.  

Added to these are culinary seeds. These are what we more often think of as seeds – we often buy them unprocessed and use them whole in cooking, whether as a seasoning, as part of a salad or as a topping for bread. This includes chia seeds, sesame seeds and flaxseed.

There are clear health benefits to including these seeds in our diet. They are high in dietary fibre, which is good for digestion and helps fight illnesses such as diabetes and bowel cancer. They are also a good source of unsaturated fat. Experts believe that using this to replace saturated fats, such as those from meat and dairy products, can lower cholesterol and help keep our heart healthy. The minerals contained in many culinary seeds, such as zinc, copper, and folate, can be beneficial for the immune system.

However, it's not all good news. Seeds can cause an allergic reaction, especially sesame seeds. Sesame is one of the top ten causes of food allergies in the UK. Different types of seeds can share allergy-causing proteins, and other seeds that can cause allergies include sunflower seeds and poppy seeds.

词汇表

flavour 口味，味道
diet （日常）饮食
botanical 植物学的
edible 可食用的
nut 坚果
pulse 豆类
grain 谷物
protein 蛋白质
calorie 热量，卡路里
staple food 主食
bean 豆类，豆子，豆科植物
mash 将（食物）捣成泥状
culinary seed 烹饪用的籽类食物
topping （食物上的）配料
chia seed 奇亚籽
sesame seed 芝麻籽
flaxseed 亚麻籽
dietary fibre 膳食纤维
unsaturated fat 不饱和脂肪
cholesterol 胆固醇
folate 叶酸
allergic 对…过敏的

测验与练习

1.  阅读课文并回答问题。

1. According to the article, what did Stone Age people experiment with?

2. In botany, how are seeds defined?

3. True or False? Seeds don't contain protein.

4. What technique is used to make hummus?

5. What benefits of unsaturated fat are mentioned in the article?

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. You need to make sure that plants are _______ before eating them – some are dangerous!

botanical                        edible                              mashed                      culinary

2. Reducing the amount of _______ in our bloodstream protects us from heart problems.

fibre                               toppings                           beans                        cholesterol

3. Pineapple is my favourite pizza _______.

fibre                               protein                              grain                          topping

4. Potatoes taste best when they are _______.

pulses                            mashed                            protein                       diet

5. Obesity can be caused by consuming too many _______.

protein                           calories                             diet                            grain

答案

1. 阅读课文并回答问题。 

1. According to the article, what did Stone Age people experiment with?

The article says that Stone Age people experimented with different flavours.

2. In botany, how are seeds defined?

In botanical terms, seeds are what new plants grow from.

3. True or False? Seeds don't contain protein.

False. Edible seeds include nuts, pulses and grains are a significant source of protein.

4. What technique is used to make hummus?

Beans are mashed into a paste to make hummus.

5. What benefits of unsaturated fat are mentioned in the article?

Unsaturated fat can help lower cholesterol and improve heart health, if it is used to replace saturated fat.

2.  选择意思恰当的单词或词组来完成下列句子。

1. You need to make sure that plants are edible before eating them – some are dangerous!

2. Reducing the amount of cholesterol in our bloodstream protects us from heart problems.

3. Pineapple is my favourite pizza topping.

4. Potatoes taste best when they are mashed.

5. Obesity can be caused by consuming too many calories.