长期以来，“protein（蛋白质）” 的摄入量一直被视为饮食健康的关键指标之一。然而，随着科学研究的深入和公众健康意识的提升，“fibre（纤维素）” 作为调节肠道和消化系统的重要营养物质，受到了更广泛的重视。本文简述纤维素的健康功效。

词汇：health 健康

1 Since its discovery, food businesses have encouraged high-protein diets, according to research by the University of Oregon. Whether it's bars, shakes or even marshmallows, protein has always prevailed in conversations about health and fitness. Some people think that these kinds of diets are a fad because high-protein products appear on supermarket shelves often. However, these diets have slightly stagnated within the realm of wellness.

2 And that's because there's now another food group gaining popularity – fibre. Found in foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, our enzymes can't break down fibre into nutrients to absorb like it would with other food groups. Instead, it passes through the digestive system, which helps regulate bowel movements. Multiple studies have shown that certain types of fibre can lower cholesterol, help manage blood sugar levels and improve general gut health. It can also help you feel fuller for longer as it takes more time to digest.

3 The World Health Organisation recommends that adults consume 25-35g of fibre a day. However, research by Tate & Lyle between the years of 2021 and 2022 shows that adults in many countries aren't even close to that benchmark. The National Institute of Health tells us that the fibre intake in women is less than men. Additionally, data from the World Health Organisation shows a trend that those living outside of cities, like villages and in the countryside, have lower fibre consumption in comparison to those who live in cities.

4 Studies have found that not eating enough fibre can have detrimental consequences on your health. Without it, your gut bacteria can't fight excess inflammation, provide energy, or manage your blood sugar levels or your mood. Physically, you're more likely to be constipated and to feel sluggish and tired. 

5 So, what can you do? Well, dieticians say that you should eat five to eight portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Try throwing in a handful of cooked lentils or chickpeas into curries, soups or salads. You can also eat seeds, nuts and dried fruit as your snack between meals. It might feel fashionable to talk about fibre at the moment, but science suggests that we need it to be healthy. So, be careful to follow dieticians' advice and try to eat your fruits and veggies!

测验与练习

一、将标题和段落配对。

Paragraph 1 _______
Paragraph 2 _______
Paragraph 3 _______
Paragraph 4 _______
Paragraph 5 _______

a. Are we eating enough fibre?
b. How to increase your fibre intake.
c. Is fibre seen as a fad diet?
d. What can happen if you don’t eat enough fibre?
e. What is fibre, and why is it important?
f. What was popular before fibre?

二、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. A high-protein diet is the best kind of diet you can have.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

2. Which of these is not true about fibre?
a. It can be absorbed for nutrients.
b. It helps with blood sugar levels.
c. It makes you need to go to the toilet.

3. Which of these trends is not true about fibre?
a. Children eat more than adults.
b. People in villages eat less than people in cities.
c. Women eat less than men.

4. Feeling constipated and sluggish are a result of…
a. eating too much fibre.
b. not eating enough fibre.
c. not eating enough protein.

5. What does the article suggest that we could add to our curries, soups or salads to increase fibre intake?
a. cooked lentils or chickpeas
b. raw lentils or chickpeas
c. cooked sausages and mushrooms

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

Feeling tired and 1) _______ towards the end of the day? Maybe you haven't eaten enough fibre! Fibre isn't a 2) _______ food, it's really good for your 3) _______ system. Once it's moved through your 4) _______, it can help you feel fuller and more energised for longer. It also helps with 5) _______!

cholesterol
detrimental
digestive
fad
gut
sluggish
stagnated

（答案见词汇表后）

词汇表

prevail 流行，盛行
fad 一时的流行，短暂的狂热
stagnate 停滞
realm 领域
legume 豆类植物
enzyme 酶
nutrient 营养物质
absorb 吸收
digestive 消化的
regulate 调节
bowel 肠
cholesterol 胆固醇
gut 肠道，消化道
benchmark 基准，衡量标准
intake 摄入量
trend 趋势
detrimental 有害的，不利的
inflammation 炎症
constipated 便秘的
sluggish 体乏无力的，反应迟钝的

答案

一、将标题和段落配对。

Paragraph 1 f. What was popular before fibre?
Paragraph 2 e. What is fibre and why is it important?
Paragraph 3 a. Are we eating enough fibre?
Paragraph 4 d. What can happen if you don't eat enough fibre?
Paragraph 5 b. How to increase your fibre intake.

二 、根据文章内容选出正确的选项。

1. c. Not given. It is mentioned that high-protein diets have been very popular but doesn't say that it's the best diet to have.

2. a. Found in foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes, our enzymes can't break fibre down into nutrients to absorb.

3. a. Data also tells us that the fibre intake in women is less than men. Additionally, data shows a trend that those living in places of low urbanisation, like villages and in the countryside, have low fibre consumption in comparison to those who live in area of high urbanisation, like cities.

4. b. Not eating enough fibre can have detrimental consequences on your health. Without it, your gut bacteria can't fight excess inflammation, provide energy, or manage your blood sugar levels or your mood. Physically, you're more likely to be constipated and to feel sluggish and tired.

5. a. Try throwing in a handful of cooked lentils or chickpeas into curries, soups or salads.

三、用下列单词完成对本文的总结。

Feeling tired and sluggish towards the end of the day? Maybe you haven't eaten enough fibre! Fibre isn't a fad food, it's really good for your digestive system. Once it's moved through your gut, it can help you feel fuller and more energised for longer. It also helps with cholesterol!