Part 1. Vocabulary
fervent \ ˈfər-vənt\ adj
-
exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling
Fervent
prayer is given by the people to ask for protection.
accelerated \ ik-ˈse-lə-ˌrā-təd, ak- \ adj
-
occurring or developing at a faster rate than usual
I will be taking an accelerated course in
English
plump \ ˈpləmp\ adj.
-
having a fully rounded shape.
His aunt
pinched his plump cheeks.
chronic \ ˈkrä-nik\ adj
-
continuing or occurring again and again for a long time
He suffers
from chronic arthritis.
inflammation \ ˌin-flə-ˈmā-shən\
-a response
to cellular injury that is marked by redness, heat, and pain
The drug is
used to reduce inflammation.
Part 2. Comprehension
Questions
1. Why do people want to stay young?
2. What are the ways to stop our bodies
from aging fast?
3. How can consumption of sugar affect
our bodies?
4. Why do we have to reduce stress?
5. How can sleep affect aging?
Part 3. Article Reading
A body that stays young forever was a concept that fodder countless novels and films, not to mention the fervent hopes of many of us. And although freezing your physical condition in the place is still the stuff of science fiction, there are easy, science-backed lifestyle choices you can make that can forestall the effects of aging.
1. Stop Drinking Soda
There's no such thing as the soda
fountain of youth. Turns out, it's just the opposite. A study at the University
of California—San Francisco found that people who consumed more sugar-sweetened
drinks, such as soda, had shorter telomeres, the part of our cells that hold
DNA. Telomeres get shorter as they age; when they get too short, they die.
"Regular consumption of sugar-sweetened sodas might influence metabolic
disease development through accelerated cell aging" wrote the study's
authors.
2. Cut Back on Sugar
Sugar's effect on weight gain
doesn't prevent many of us from indulging a sweet tooth. But if we told you it
can make you look older, too, would you still crave it? Our skin is supported
by two compounds, collagen, and elastin, which keep it looking plump and
youthful. According to a study published in the journal Clinical Dermatology,
when high levels of sugar are consumed, it binds to amino acids in collagen and
elastin, damaging them and blocking the body's efforts at repair.
3. Reduce Stress
When you're cutting back on
sugar, aim to cut out stress as well. Harvard Medical School reports that
chronic stress can also shorten telomeres. Not only is telomere shortening the
literal process of aging, but people with shorter telomeres are at risk of
serious diseases including heart disease and cancer.
4. Drink Only in Moderation
Alcohol dehydrates the body and
causes inflammation—two shortcuts to looking older. A 2019 study of more than
3,200 women found that those who drank more than eight drinks a week had more
"upper facial lines, under-eye puffiness, oral commissures, midface volume
loss, and blood vessels" than women who drank moderately or not at all.
5. Get Enough Sleep
According to a study published in
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, women who said they frequently got
quality sleep had 30% better "skin-barrier recovery" and
"significantly lower intrinsic skin aging" than women who reported
poor sleep, To stay youthful, don't skimp on your shut-eye—experts recommend
seven to nine hours of quality sleep every night. [ By Michael Martin]