VOA慢速英语2015 保留5000年仍存活的石榴
时间：2019-01-12 作者：英语课 分类：2015年VOA慢速英语(二)月
Pomegranate: Still Healthy at 5,000 Years Old 保留5000年仍存活的石榴
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
The pomegranate is one of the oldest known fruits. Pomegranates are found in ancient writings and pictured in the ancient art of many cultures and religions. The pomegranate is also a symbol of health, fertility and long life.
Experts think the pomegranate is native to northern India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Today it also grows in Southeast Asia, the western U.S., Armenia and parts of Africa, among other places.
The skin of a pomegranate is strong. It can be red, purple or orange-yellow. The inside is filled with beautiful dark red seeds that shine like rubies 1. It is not easy to get them out. But the reward is great.
Health benefits
The pomegranate grows on trees. Parts of the pomegranate tree and fruit are used to make medicine.
The pomegranate is used for many conditions. However, the U.S National Institutes of Health says there is not enough scientific evidence to rate pomegranates as effective for any of them.
Still, in traditional medicine, the pomegranate is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels 2, including high blood pressure and “hardening of the arteries 3.”
The jewel-like seeds of the pomegranate are loaded with many nutrients 4 and chemicals called antioxidants. These antioxidants remove poisons from the body.
The antioxidants found in pomegranates may help remove build-up of damage in blood vessels. So, it is a very heart-healthy fruit.
Antioxidants slow the progression of age-related sickness and may slow the growth of cancer cells. Men who have prostate cancer may benefit from a daily serving of pomegranate juice.
Pomegranates are used for weight loss and used as a treatment for sore throat. Pomegranates are also high in vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium 5, calcium 6, zinc 7 and iron.
Let’s just say pomegranates are loaded with great things for the inside of your body.
Beauty benefits
But let’s not forget the outside, too!
Pomegranates are great for the skin. They protect the skin by encouraging new skin growth, healing wounds and repairing tissue. Pomegranates protect the skin against sun damage as well. They may help skin look younger by providing moisture and elasticity 9.
Iranian women in Tehran prepare pomegranates to serve at a celebration for Yalda, the longest night of the year, December 20, 2008. (FILE PHOTO)
Iranian women in Tehran prepare pomegranates to serve at a celebration for Yalda, the longest night of the year, December 20, 2008. (FILE PHOTO)
Recipes for pomegranates
But how does one eat a pomegranate?
Pomegranates seeds are both sweet and tart 10. A thick liquid, or syrup 11, from the pomegranate tastes great with lamb, pork or chicken dishes.
Pomegranate seeds provide extra flavor to salads and other vegetable dishes. The seeds are also delicious in rice and grain dishes. And, of course pomegranates make great desserts. In the U.S., pomegranate juice is often added to sparkling drinks, drinks called smoothies and alcoholic 12 drinks.
Fresh pomegranates are only available in the United States from September to January. They can keep, or remain good to eat, in the refrigerator for about two months if kept in a plastic bag.
Words in this Story
ruby 13 - n.a deep red stone that is used in jewelry 14 : a dark red color
moisture - n. a small amount of a liquid (such as water) that makes something wet or moist
elasticity - n. the quality or state of being elastic 8
elastic - adj. able to return to an original shape or size after being stretched, squeezed, etc.
tart - adj. having a sharp or sour taste. For example, lemonade without enough sugar is tart.
- a necklace of rubies intertwined with pearls 缠着珍珠的红宝石项链
- The crown was set with precious jewels—diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝—有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。
- The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Even grafting new blood vessels in place of the diseased coronary arteries has been tried. 甚至移植新血管代替不健康的冠状动脉的方法都已经试过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- This is the place where the three main arteries of West London traffic met. 这就是伦敦西部三条主要交通干线的交汇处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
- Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Magnesium is the nutrient element in plant growth.镁是植物生长的营养要素。
- The water contains high amounts of magnesium.这水含有大量的镁。
- We need calcium to make bones.我们需要钙来壮骨。
- Calcium is found most abundantly in milk.奶含钙最丰富。
- Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc.黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
- Zinc is used to protect other metals from corrosion.锌被用来保护其他金属不受腐蚀。
- Rubber is an elastic material.橡胶是一种弹性材料。
- These regulations are elastic.这些规定是有弹性的。
- The skin eventually loses its elasticity.皮肤最终会失去弹性。
- Every sort of spring has a definite elasticity.每一种弹簧都有一定的弹性。
- She was learning how to make a fruit tart in class.她正在课上学习如何制作水果馅饼。
- She replied in her usual tart and offhand way.她开口回答了，用她平常那种尖酸刻薄的声调随口说道。
- I skimmed the foam from the boiling syrup.我撇去了煮沸糖浆上的泡沫。
- Tinned fruit usually has a lot of syrup with it.罐头水果通常都有许多糖浆。
- The alcoholic strength of brandy far exceeds that of wine.白兰地的酒精浓度远远超过葡萄酒。
- Alcoholic drinks act as a poison to a child.酒精饮料对小孩犹如毒药。
- She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。
- On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。