Eating foods high in trans-fats(fats present in
artificial form in industrially-produced cakes and fast food...) and saturated
(飽和的) fats increases the risk of depression,
according to a Spanish study, confirming previous studies that linked “junk
food” with the disease. Researchers also showed that some products, such as
olive oil, can fight against the risk of mental illness.
Authors of the wide-reaching study, from the
universities of Navarra and Las Palmas, followed and analyzed the diet and
lifestyle of over l2,000 volunteers over six years. When the study began, none
of the participants had been diagnosed with depression; by the end, 657 of them
were new sufferers.
“Participants with an increased consumption of
trans-fats presented up to a 48 percent increase in the risk of depression when
they were compared to participants who did not consume these fats,” the head
study author said. “The more trans-fats were consumed, the greater harmful
effect they produced in the volunteers.”
The research team found, at the same time, that after
assessing the effect of polyunsaturated fats made up of larger amounts of fish
and vegetable oils and olive oil, these products are associated with a lower
risk of suffering depression.
The report, published in the online journal PLOS ONE,
noted the research was performed on a European population that enjoys a
relatively low intake of trans-fats—making up only 0.4 percent of the total
energy taken in by the volunteers. “Despite this, we observed an increase in the
risk of suffering depression of nearly 50 percent,” said researcher Miguel
Martinez. “On this basis we think it of great importance to take this effect
into account in countries like the United States, where the percentage of
energy derived from these fats is around 2.5 percent.”
The report pointed out that the current number of
depression sufferers in the world is around l50 million people, and has
increased in recent years. This rise is attributable, according to the authors,
“to great changes in the sources of fats consumed in Western diets, where we
have replaced certain types of beneficial fats in nuts, vegetable oils and fish
with the saturated and trans-fats found in meats, butter and other products
such as mass-produced cakes and fast food.”
1.What's the best title of the text?
A.Junk Food and
Depression B.Depression
Prevention
C.Types of Fats
and Depression D.Depression
Research
2.Which of the following increases the risk of
suffering depression?
A.Fish. B.Vegetable
oil. C.Olive oil. D.Butter.
3.The study tells us that .
A.2.5%
Americans suffer mental illness
B.l2,000
volunteers in Navarra took part
C.a(chǎn) minority of
participants became new sufferers
D.l50 million
Europeans enjoy a healthier lifestyle
4.The underlined word “derived” in Paragraph 5 is
closest in meaning to .
A.obtained B.chosen C.separated D.preserved
5.More and more Westerners are suffering depression
because .
A.they have
less time for exercise
B.they eat more
nuts, vegetable oils and fish
C.the sources
of fats in their diets have changed
D.less meat,
butter, and cakes are included in their diets