You are what you eat

安徽太湖中學 吳南方

健康的食物有助于我們的成長和發展，而不健康的食物可能會影響我們的注意力，對我們的身心健康構成真正的威脅。

體裁文章詞數 建議用時說明文約406 7分鐘

難詞探意

1. pose /p??z/v. 造成（威脅、問題等）

2. spike /spa?k/n. 尖狀物；猛增

3. accompany /??k?mp?ni/v. 伴隨；與……同時發生

The old saying “you are what you eat” couldn't be more accurate in an age when unhealthy food is far more accessible than healthy choices for many children. Many children are now overweight and at risk of various associated diseases. Healthy foods help children grow and develop, while unhealthy choices may impair concentration andposereal threats to physical and emotional health.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, children need a balanced breakfast in order to concentrate in school and for problem-solving skills—including test-taking. Whole grains, fruits and vegetables provide the body and brain with sustainable energy throughout the day, whereas sugar can cause aspikein blood sugar, which can impair concentration. Children are growing and learning at such a rapid rate, and it is important to help them start their day with all the nutrients they need.

Generally speaking, unprocessed foods provide micro-nutrients which your children need.Children with a healthy diet learn better, test better and have less behavioral problems. Food fuels the brain—cholesterol from healthy sources like eggs and nuts helps build brain tissue and fatty acids （脂肪酸） found in fish, walnuts and sea vegetables promote healthy brain development. Therefore,unprocessed foods are more likely to have healthy levels of vitamins and minerals when compared to processed foods.

Our culture has become increasingly dependent on eating food prepared outside the home. For many children, this means eating fast food like hamburgers and French fries regularly. According to an article inPediatrics, more than 30 percent of children investigated ate fast food at least once a day.Unhealthy foods like those found in fast food restaurants have excessive calories in the form of fat and sugar. Foods high in fat and sugar are directly linked to childhood obesity and a number of accompanying health problems.

The consequences of a poor diet, which leads to obesity in childhood, include social and emotional damage as well as physical illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obese children are more likely to have poor self-esteem and suffer from psychological problems,which can continue into adulthood. Children who are significantly overweight can develop diseases like type 2 diabetes and other disorders. Obese children are also more likely to suffer from obesity in adulthood and to develop cardiovascular （心血管的） disease, certain forms of cancer and diabetes later in life.

1. What does the underlined word “impair” mean in the first paragraph?

A. Improve. B. Damage.

C. Change. D. Attract.

2. Which of the following harms children's concentration?

A. Grain.

B. Sea vegetables.

C. Sugar.

D. Eggs.

3. What's the third paragraph mainly about?

A. The advantages of unprocessed foods.

B. The benefit of processed foods.

C. The importance of food to brain.

D. The influence of a healthy diet.

4. What can we know about obese children?

A. They tend to behave well in school.

B. Most of them have emotional problems.

C. They are similar to their peers except for their weight.

D. They have more chances to have physical and mental diseases.