节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2012-05-12
难易度:High
关键字:deficiency, calcium, asthma, supplement, fortify, steroid, autism
Welcome back, everybody.
We all need vitamin D, but we don't need a lot of it - around 10 micrograms each
day, which is equivalent to a few grains of sand.
So how do we get this vitamin D into our bodies?
We'll find out in this next portion of the lesson.
We'll pick up the reading on line 14.
The Benefits of Vitamin D.
Recent studies show that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to asthma, cancer,
depression, heart disease, weight gain and perhaps autism.
How to get it.
Exposing the skin, without sunscreen, to direct sunlight for 10 to 15 minutes
several times a week can encourage the body to produce its own vitamin D.
Fearing skin cancer, though, many people avoid the sun and take D supplements or
eat foods high in vitamin D, such as salmon and eggs.
Others choose food items that have been fortified with vitamin D, such as milk,
juice and certain cereals.
However you choose to get this vitamin, don't forget it.
It may be your most important vitamin of the day.
So vitamin D, we know, comes from the sun,
and that vitamin D deficiency is a growing problem because people are not going
outside as much because they're afraid of the harmful effects of the sun.
But we learned right before the break that you need vitamin D to help your body
absorb calcium, which is a very important part of your body.
Right. It's necessary for your teeth and for your bones.
But we also learned that there are many other areas in your body that vitamin D
helps as well.
That's right. We said "it aids health." That means it helps your health be
better.
Well, recent studies show that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to asthma,
cancer, depression, heart disease, weight gain and perhaps autism.
Wow! OK. So let's look at each of these a little bit.
So if you don't have enough vitamin D, you remember that is what deficiency
means,
then you might... you might get these kinds of conditions.
The first one, asthma, has to do with breathing. Right, Kaylah?
That's right.
"Asthma" is a medical condition would make... which makes you hard to breathe.
It makes you... the passages in your airways, your throat and all the different
little tubes in your lungs get really tight.
Now a lot of people do suffer from asthma.
You can also suffer from asthma when you're just running.
And it makes you really hard to breathe, and you cough a lot.
It's really uncomfortable.
It's uncomfortable.
It's difficult to deal with.
And it can be dangerous, so.
This is definitely not a good thing.
It can also lead to cancer - also a terrible, terrible disease that can be
life-threatening.
So you need to be out of the sun enough that you don't get skin cancer,
but you still need to be in the sun enough so you can help prevent cancer by
having enough vitamin D.
Well, depression is another problem.
That's extreme sadness.
That's a medical condition.
And sunlight helps with that.
Right. And it can lead to heart disease, and even weight gain, interestingly
enough, and perhaps autism.
That's right.
Now autism is another medical condition.
Um, can you explain what that means?
Absolutely, yeah.
"Autism" is when a person has a disease, a mental disorder that causes them to
not be able to interact socially properly.
So really, Kaylah, they are a normal person on the inside, they just have
difficulty talking with people and expressing their feelings.
That's right. They have social issues.
It's a little harder to communicate.
And it's actually a very frustrating disease or syndrom to have.
So maybe getting out in the sun can help with that.
Exactly. So these are all serious problems that could happen to you if you don't
get enough vitamin D.
Well, how do you get it?
How do you get your vitamin D?
Well, exposing the skin, without sunscreen, to direct sunlight for 10 to 15
minutes several times a week can encourage the body to produce its own vitamin
D.
OK. So actually the sun here is good, it's OK.
It's very healthy.
That's right.
You definitely need to get out in the sun, not for too long, only 10 to 15
minutes, but do it a couple of times.
Fearing skin cancer, though, many people avoid the sun and take D supplements or
eat foods high in vitamin D, such as salmon and eggs.
All right. Now this is a good thing.
You can take these "supplements." That means to add something extra to something
else.
So you're getting vitamin D from different kinds of foods, as we've said before,
or sometimes even maybe vitamin pills.
That's right.
If you're afraid of the sun, if you don't want to be out, you can take
supplements.
But it's OK to be in the sun.
Don't be afraid of it.
It's not going to ruin you in 10 minutes.
Right. It won't make you too dark in 10 minutes.
It's actually really healthy for you.
Well, others... there's other kinds of food you can choose.
Some people have food items that have been fortified with vitamin D, such as
milk, juice and certain cereals.
OK. Now if something is "fortified," that means that something is added to make
it stronger.
It is strengthened and protected.
So here, if it's fortified with a vitamin, that means there is more vitamin D in
it, added to it.
That's right. They put extra vitamin D to make it stronger.
So you don't have to eat just salmon and eggs.
There's other ways to get it as well.
But however you choose to get this vitamin, don't forget it.
It's important.
Right. You need this vitamin.
And right now, we need to go visit Liz with Grammar on the Go.
Hello, friends.
I hope you're doing well today.
My name is Liz.
And it's time for Grammar on the Go.
We're learning about the different benefits of vitamin D, and how it's good to
be in the sun.
We read: However you choose to get this vitamin, don't forget it.
That is our Grammar Tip sentence.
Notice how the sentence begins with the word, "however." Normally we use
"however" to mean "but." For example:
We can't go to the movies now; however, if we get our work done, we can go
tomorrow.
But looking at today's sentence, "however" has a different meaning.
Here it means "in whatever way." So another way to say this sentence is:
No matter what way you choose to get this vitamin, don't forget it.
Nothing wrong with saying it this way. But if you want to be not so wordy,
you can simply use the word "however." So whenever you want to talk about how
something can be done in whatever way,
consider using the word "however" to be more direct.
For example, instead of saying "At this restaurant, you can make your own pizza
in whatever way you like," you can say:
At this restaurant, you can make your own pizza however you like.
Or rather than saying "Since Marcus is the boss, he can do things in whatever
way he wants," you can say:
Since Marcus is the boss, he can do things however he wants.
So give it a try.
Next time when you want to talk about how something can be done in whatever way,
try using "however" instead.
And that's all the time we have for today.
This is Liz with Grammar on the Go signing off.
Bye-bye.
Thank you, Liz.
Well, friends, I hope you get your vitamin D.
It could be one of the most important vitamins of your day.
You want this.
It helps your body grow.
It is definitely good for you.
All right.
So maybe don't be too afraid of the sun.
Make sure to get your vitamin D supplements or foods that are fortified with it.
Now let's go visit Ken in the Chat Room.
(Music).
Hey, Ken. Are those vitamins?
Oh. Hi, Bryan.
Yeah. My doctor said I needed to eat a diet that was high on vitamin C.
Ken, I bet he said high "in" vitamin C.
I think I remember the doctor's words.
What's the difference?
Being high "on" something means you are under the influence of that thing.
When a person is high on drugs, they have been influenced by the drugs, and
their thinking has been affected.
Oh. That's not good.
So what about high "in" something?
If a food is high in a particular vitamin, it has a lot of that vitamin in it.
It sounds like your doctor wanted you to eat a diet high in vitamin C.
Right. So here is my vitamin C.
Well, you could take those vitamins, but I bet your doctor also want you to try
some foods that are high in vitamin C, like citrus fruits.
Maybe you're right.
Can I say that milk is high in calcium?
Yes. That's a good example of the phrase, Ken.
Getting back to the phrase "high on," you can also use the phrase "high on
someone." That means you have good feelings about a person.
Hmm, high on someone.
What if I say the library staff is high on Bryan?
Well, that would work.
And I definitely hope they are high on me.
Again, that would mean they like me and expect me to do a good job.
Could I also say the football team is very high on the new player?
Sure. That's another good example.
And it goes without saying that when it comes to English, I'm very high on you,
Ken.
Oh. Come on, Bryan. I'm just a regular student.
But thanks for the encouragement.
(Chinese).
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And that's it for today's Language Tips.
Keep up the good work, and I'll see you soon.
Don't ever let your doctor discover you're not getting enough vitamin D.
This weekend, get off your couch, pull away from your computer screen and get
some sunshine.
Also, be sure to take some time to review the vocabulary words in this
high-level lesson.
Remember, the more you review, the more you will retain.
On Monday, we have an informative and entertaining lesson about job interviews.
Be sure to join us then.
And until then, have a great day.