英语听力文摘 English Digest 716 吃蔬菜的正确时间

Timing¹ Your Vegetables Right

Veggie Insect Repellent

When a vegetable is growing, it protects itself from insects by producing chemical nutrients² that make it taste bad or seem repellant to predators³. Some of these nutrients—in particular phytochemicals—have been shown to fight cancer in people. What’s more, many vegetables are able to anticipate when insects will attack, and will ramp⁴ up its defenses accordingly.

Light Exposure

Even after vegetables are harvested and they’re no longer fighting insects, these garden wonders can still be made to produce more nutrients at certain times. This is done by varying a vegetable’s light exposure to simulate the experience of night turning into day. Studies have shown that vegetables stored this way produce more phytochemicals during the light cycle.

So eating vegetables during this golden period means you’re getting more nutritional⁵ value!

It’s not yet clear how people might be able to activate⁶ these nutrition-packed properties at home. Perhaps simply storing veggies in the dark and then subjecting them to a flash of light is enough to trigger the process. Or it could be more complex. In any case, more research could help us find ways to maximize vegetables’ nutritional benefits.

 吃蔬菜的正确时间

蔬菜驱虫剂

当一种蔬菜生长时，它通过产生化学营养物质来保护自己免受昆虫的侵害，这些营养物质会使它的味道变差或看起来对捕食者很排斥。这些营养素中的一些，特别是植物化学物质，已经被证明可以抗癌。更重要的是，许多蔬菜能够预测昆虫何时会攻击，并相应地增强防御能力。

光照曝光

即使在蔬菜收获后，它们不再与昆虫搏斗，这些花园奇迹仍然可以在某些时候产生更多的养分。这是通过改变蔬菜的光照来实现的，以模拟夜晚变成白天的体验。研究表明，以这种方式储存的蔬菜在光循环期间会产生更多的植物化学物质。

所以在这个黄金时期吃蔬菜意味着你获得了更多的营养价值！

目前还不清楚人们如何在家中激活这些富含营养的特性。也许仅仅是把蔬菜放在黑暗中，然后用闪光灯照射就足以触发这个过程。或者可能更复杂。无论如何，更多的研究可以帮助我们找到最大化蔬菜营养效益的方法。

1 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

2 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 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》

3 predators   

n.食肉动物( predator的名词复数 )；奴役他人者（尤指在财务或性关系方面）

参考例句：

• birds and their earthbound predators 鸟和地面上捕食它们的动物
• The eyes of predators are highly sensitive to the slightest movement. 捕食性动物的眼睛能感觉到最细小的动静。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 ramp   

n.暴怒，斜坡，坡道；vi.作恐吓姿势，暴怒，加速；vt.加速

参考例句：

• That driver drove the car up the ramp.那司机将车开上了斜坡。
• The factory don't have that capacity to ramp up.这家工厂没有能力加速生产。

5 nutritional   

adj.营养的，滋养的

参考例句：

• A diet lacking in nutritional value will not keep a person healthy.缺乏营养价值的饮食不能维持人的健康。
• The labels on food products give a lot of information about their nutritional content.食品上的标签提供很多关于营养成分的信息。

6 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。