2022年4月，一項新法律在英國生效，要求餐館和售賣食品的商鋪必須標注菜肴的卡路里信息。計算每餐的卡路里總數可以幫助我們更好地控制攝入的熱量，但這樣做有沒有壞處？本期節目討論計算食物卡路里的利弊。

詞匯：health 健康

Most of us want to be in peak physical condition, get in shape and be healthy. While some gym bunnies are more obsessed with looking ripped, for many of us nutrition and watching what you eat is a vital way to stay healthy. But when it comes to food, what is calorie counting, and what are the positives and negatives of it?

A law in the UK came into force in April 2022 that requires large businesses such as restaurants, takeaways, and cafes to display the calorie information of non-pre-packed food and soft drinks on their menus. It’s a strategy aimed to tackle obesity and give people a more informed choice of what goes down their gullets. According to the NHS (National Health Service), generally, the recommended daily intake of calories for male adults is 2,500 per day, while female adults should consume 2,000 to maintain their weight levels. For those of us who wish to drop a few pounds, experts advise us to consume fewer calories than the recommended daily number, eat a balanced diet, and increase our levels of physical activity. Being able to count calories and know how much we can eat is a great way to try and stay on track with our diet.

However, there are some sceptics when it comes to calorie counting. 200 calories of fresh fruit and 200 calories of junk food, for example cookies, have the same caloric value. However, there is a question of the health benefits of what you’re consuming, regardless of calories. While fresh fruit like apples contains things like vitamin C, junk food could contain an unhealthy level of sugar and fats. Likewise, fruit may fill you up and leave you not craving more food for longer than a biscuit with equal calories – meaning, overall, you eat less. Simply counting calories, while useful for weight loss, doesn’t take into account your intake of good fats, carbohydrates, and proteins – things that your body needs. So, if you’re trying to stick to a low-carb diet, just looking at numbers of calories on a menu won’t be that useful. So, always be mindful that what you’re eating is part of a healthy balanced diet.

詞匯表

peak 巔峰
in shape 身體狀況良好
gym bunny 健身迷，非常關注體形、愛健身的人
ripped 肌肉飽滿、線條分明的
nutrition 營養
watch what you eat 注意飲食
calorie 卡路里
obesity 肥胖
gullet 食道，食管
intake 攝入量
consume 吃，喝
weight level 體重水平
drop a few pounds 體重減輕幾磅
balanced diet 均衡飲食
physical activity 體育活動
junk food 垃圾食品
fill someone up 填飽（某人的）肚子
crave 想吃、喝，嘴饞
a low-carb diet 低碳水飲食

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What is the NHS’s recommended calorie intake for male adults?

2. What is the NHS’s recommended calorie intake for female adults?

3. According to experts, what should you do to lose weight?

4. What are the potential differences between 200 calories of fresh fruit and 200 calories of junk food?

5. What does calorie counting not take into account?

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. I’m really _______ chocolate. I just can’t stop thinking about it!

craving                  intake                            gullet                      ripped

2. Derek’s going on a diet to _______ before the summer.

weight level           drop a few pounds        junk food                balanced diet

3. He’s such a gym _______. He only goes there to look good, not be healthy.

donkey                  rabbit                             bunny                     owl

4. No thanks, I don’t want any cake. That main course _______.

consumed             filled me up                    looked ripped         craved

5. Sandra only eats meals cooked from fresh ingredients. She hates _______.

in shape                peak                               gym bunny             junk food

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。 

1. What is the NHS’s recommended calorie intake for male adults?
The NHS recommends 2,500 calories per day for male adults, in general.

2. What is the NHS’s recommended calorie intake for female adults?
The NHS recommends 2,000 calories per day for female adults, in general.

3. According to experts, what should you do to lose weight?
You should eat fewer calories than the recommended daily number and increase levels of physical activity.

4. What are the potential differences between 200 calories of fresh fruit and 200 calories of junk food?
Fruit contains things like vitamin C, while junk food could contain high levels of fat and sugars. Fruit may also leave you feeling full for longer.

5. What does calorie counting not take into account?
It doesn’t take into account your body’s nutritional needs.

2.  選擇意思恰當的單詞或詞組來完成下列句子。

1. I’m really craving chocolate. I just can’t stop thinking about it!

2. Derek’s going on a diet to drop a few pounds before the summer.

3. He’s such a gym bunny. He only goes there to look good, not be healthy.

4. No thanks, I don’t want any cake. That main course filled me up.

5. Sandra only eats meals cooked from fresh ingredients. She hates junk food.