Reading for Fun 好文趣事

文章一：Popcorn

Myth: Similar to many snacks, popcorn has no nutritional value and is unhealthy. 

Truth: If the seasoning is simple, popcorn is actually a relatively healthy snack. 

Three reasons make popcorn a healthy snack: it’s rich in dietary fiber, resistant starch, and antioxidants.

Popcorn is high in dietary fiber and polyphenol antioxidants. It’s also high in resistant starch which is different from the general starch, as it cannot be absorbed by the intestines. Once consumed, resistant starch will become the food of intestinal bacteria. So the gut microbiota will be turned into a combination of microorganisms with more beneficial flora (i.e. “good” bacteria). And good intestinal bacteria can further reduce the chance of diabetes and other diseases.

People have been enjoying popcorn for thousands of years. It is the modern food processing technologies that have made it less nutritious. In order to create rich flavors, people add excessive sugar and seasonings on top of it, causing a large increase in its calories; and in order to extend the popcorn’s shelf life, people add preservatives and other additives into it, thus rendering it unhealthy.

Therefore, when consuming packaged popcorn of rich flavors, we should pay attention to the serving size, because this type of popcorn very likely has unnecessary additives.

“The popcorn freshly made in movie theaters is actually relatively good and simple,” said Dr. Zhang Shiheng at the Lianching Clinic. He also recommended making our own popcorn at home.

1. 根據本文，何者敘述錯誤？

（1）抗性澱粉有益腸道健康。
（2）爆米花在現代才開始被人食用。
（3）爆米花加入過多的糖或防腐劑後，變得不健康。
（4）電影院現場爆的爆米花相對健康。

2. 根據本文，爆米花的營養價值有哪些？ 3. 你也愛吃爆米花嗎？讀完今天的文章後，是否對爆米花改觀？

解答：
1. （2）

2. Popcorn is rich in dietary fiber, resistant starch, and antioxidants.
（爆米花含豐富的膳食纖維、抗性澱粉和抗氧化物質。）   

（文章來源：英文大紀元時報）

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

diabetic patients are allowed to eat white rice, but they need to pay attention to the order in which they eat their foods。（123RF）

文章二：White Rice

Myth: White rice is not high in nutritional value, and if diabetics eat refined rice, their blood sugar level will rise quickly.

Truth: White rice contains many nutrients, is an all-natural food, and can make the blood sugar rise steadily after a meal.

White rice contains iron, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, the B vitamins, and other nutrients. And at the same time, it is a natural whole food, and can make the blood sugar rise steadily after the meal.

From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, white rice can nourish the spleen and stomach. Dr. Shizhan Yan, a physician at Cheng’en Chinese Medicine Clinic and a dual practitioner of Chinese and Western medicine, pointed out that diabetic patients have serious spleen and kidney deficiencies, and white rice can play a role in nourishing the spleen. Some patients are afraid to eat rice, and as a result, their spleen and stomach become increasingly deficient.

Dr. Hanwen Liu of the metabolic department of Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital, said that diabetic patients are allowed to eat white rice, but they need to pay attention to the order in which they eat their foods. They should first eat vegetables, beans, eggs and fish, and finally rice. They should also pay attention to the portion size. In this way, they can control their postprandial blood sugar.

1. 根據本文，下列何者有誤？

（1）白米飯是純天然的全食物。
（2）白米飯能滋養脾與胃。
（3）糖尿病患者應避免吃白米飯。
（4）糖尿病患者在用餐時，應先攝取蔬菜蛋魚類，最後再吃白飯。

2. 根據本文，吃完白米飯後，血糖會急劇升高嗎？ 3. 你愛吃白米飯嗎？閱讀本文後，有因此對白米飯改觀嗎？理由是？

解答：
1. （3）
2. No, white rice can make the blood sugar rise steadily after a meal.
（不會，白米飯會使餐後血糖穩定上升。）

   （文章來源：英文大紀元時報）◇