A Bit of Chocolate Equals No Strokes for the Brain|一点巧克力让大脑不中风

A Bit of Chocolate Equals No Strokes for the Brain

by Leigh Goldberg

The consumption of chocolate may prevent people from getting strokes.

　　This rich, sweet confection has been linked to healthier hearts, weight loss, diabetes prevention, sun protection, improved vision, and even increased intelligence. Now, a new study has shown that eating chocolate may actually protect people _(1)_ having strokes.

　　Chocolate is made from cocoa, which contains flavonoids (类黄酮素) that prevent heart disease through their natural anti-oxidant, anti-clotting, and anti-inflammatory _(2)_. Basically, flavonoids can _(3)_ the accumulation of bad cholesterol while improving the flow of blood. This, _(4)_, leads to a considerable decrease in the risk of strokes in both men and women.

　　Dr. Susanna Larsson of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden and her team found that women between the ages of 49 and 83 who consumed more than 45 grams of chocolate a week showed a 20 percent reduction in risk. For men aged 49 to 75 who ate more than 63 grams per week, there was a 17 percent decrease. Interestingly, the people in the study consumed milk chocolate, which contains less cocoa but more milk and sugar _(5)_ dark chocolate. So, it goes without saying that eating dark chocolate would further decrease the risk of strokes in consumers.

　　However, this doesn't give people free rein to eat _(6)_ amounts of chocolate, no matter what type, since the sweet is still high in sugar, calories, and saturated fat. Just like everything else in life, _(7)_ is the key. A moderate amount of chocolate will go a long way.

1.   (A) upon    (B) from    (C) through     (D) at

2.   (A) scratches  (B) treaties      (C) properties  (D) thrills

3.   (A) suppress   (B) pacify  (C) encourage (D) conceive

4.   (A) on the spot      (B) around the corner  (C) at random  (D) in turn

5.   (A) as well as  (B) from    (C) than     (D) as

6.   (A) permanent (B) tentative    (C) massive    (D) parallel

7.   (A) moderation      (B) compassion    (C) temptation (D) commission

一点巧克力让大脑不中风

食用巧克力也许能让人们免于中风。

　　这种既浓又甜的糖果已被证实与健康的心脏、减肥、预防糖尿病、防晒、改善视力甚至于智力增加有关。现在一项新的研究显示，吃巧克力可能的确可以保护人们免于中风。

　　巧克力是由可可粉所制成，其中含有类黄酮素，透过它们天然的抗氧化、抗凝结及消炎特性来预防心脏疾病。基本上，类黄酮素能够抑制有害胆固醇的累积，同时也可以促进血液的流动。因此这会导致男性与女性大幅降低中风的危险性。

　　瑞典斯德哥尔摩卡罗林斯卡学院的苏珊娜．拉森博士及其团队发现，年龄介于 49 至 83 岁的女性，每周吃超过 45 公克的巧克力可减少百分之二十中风的危险性。至于年龄介于 49 至 75 岁的男性，每周吃超过 63 公克的巧克力则中风的风险会降低百分之十七。有意思的是，在这份研究中，吃的是牛奶巧克力，相较于黑巧克力，牛奶巧克力内含较少的可可粉但含有更多的牛奶及糖。所以不用说，吃黑巧克力则更能让食用者降低他们中风的危险性。

　　然而，这并不是叫人们无节制地吃下大量的巧克力，因为不论是哪一种巧克力，只要是甜食就仍然含有高糖、高热量及高饱和脂肪。就如生活中所有东西一样，适量才是关键。适量的巧克力对你会大有帮助。

答案： 1.   B   2.   C   3.   A   4.   D   5.   C

      6.   C   7.   A