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Eat Better, Look Better
W
ould you believe that your diet can make a big difference
in keeping a youthful appearance? It seems strange to
think that the food we take in could result in fewer wrinkles.
Wouldn’t it be better to put things on our skin rather than in our mouths?
5 Well, according to one scientific theory, our bodies start aging because of oxidation.
This is caused by certain oxygen-containing molecules in our cells, called free radicals.
Free radicals have the capability to attach to and damage parts of our cells, including our
DNA. Our bodies have the ability to repair this damage. However, as we get older, these
repair mechanisms start to break down, resulting in signs of aging, such as wrinkles. Free
10 radicals are actually produced by our bodies, but their numbers can also increase because
of the food we eat.
Besides avoiding foods that could potentially produce more free radicals, eating
foods that contain certain vitamins and micro-nutrients can also keep us looking young.
These vitamins help produce molecules called antioxidants, which actually help reduce
15 the production of free radicals. Even better, foods containing antioxidants are not rare.
Common antioxidants, like vitamins A and E, can be found in many dark-colored vegetables.
For example, carrots, seaweed, spinach, and broccoli are all excellent sources of these
helpful vitamins. Also, you can eat orange-colored fruits like apricots and peaches.
Vitamins A and E are particularly good for helping your skin remain young-looking.
20 These nutrients strengthen your skin and make it soft. However, if you really want to
momarageba, bevris miReba
stock up quickly on nutrients that benefit your skin, you should eat cow’s liver. One
small piece of cooked cow’s liver contains twice as much vitamin A as half a cup of
cooked carrots. frTxilad
More recently, green tea has also been tentatively added to the list of youth-
25 promoting substances. Research on green tea’s effects on our bodies is still in the early
stages. Scientists certainly believe that it is good for us, but they are cautious about
predicting its ability to keep us looking youthful. However, recent experiments seem to
show that green tea’s antioxidant properties can repair cell damage already sustained
as well as prevent damage in the future. In fact, green tea works even better if you apply
30 it directly to your skin as an ingredient in facial cream.
“You are what you eat.” The more we find out about how our bodies work, the more
this old proverb seems to be true. Think about that the next time you sit down at the table.
Reading Time _______ minutes _______ seconds 429 words
5 17
oxidation: the process of combining with seaweed: a plant that grows underwater
oxygen 18
apricot: a small yellow-orange fruit
6
cell: the basic unit of a living thing 21
stock up: to keep extra; to get a lot of
9
mechanism: the fundamental physical or 24
tentatively: cautiously; for now but not finally
chemical processes of an organism to a given 32
proverb: a saying that gives advice or
stimulus
14
expresses some truth
antioxidant: a substance found in vitamins
that protects body cells from oxidation damage
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Reading Comprehension
Choose the best answer.
1. What is the main idea of the reading?
a. Our bodies are aging. b. Carrots are good for us.
c. Food affects aging. d. We should use facial cream.
2. Which is probably true about people who look younger than their age?
a. They eat a lot. b. They drink green tea every day.
c. They eat food that helps their skin. d. They only eat vegetables.
3. What kinds of vegetables contain a lot of vitamin A?
a. Tasty ones b. Vegetables dark in color
c. Green ones d. All of them
4. Which of the following is true, according to the reading?
a. Drinking alcohol helps your skin. b. Facial cream with vitamin C is bad for you.
c. Cow’s liver has a lot of vitamin A. d. We age because we eat vitamins.
5. Which word is closest in meaning to the word “apply” in this reading?
a. Ask for b. Be related to
c. Spread on d. Use well
Idiomatic Expressions
Find these idioms in the reading.
take in [ to eat; to consume ]
Research shows that if you don’t take in enough vitamin D, you will
develop health problems.
stock up on [ to keep a lot of something for later use ]
I stocked up on bread today while I was shopping.
even better [ in addition to the previous good thing ]
My grandmother’s delicious apple pie tastes even better with a scoop
of vanilla ice cream.
Fill in the blank with one of the above idioms. Change its form if necessary.
1. People who ____________________ small amounts of caffeine say that they feel more awake.
2. The package will be delivered right to your door. ____________________, you can return it for
free if there is a problem!
3. Winter is coming. We need to ____________________ wood for the fire.
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