纪录片《熟食造就了人类吗》 第36期：烹饪改变了食物结构

The cell walls surrounding the granules break down

颗粒周围的细胞壁被分解

as the tough structure of the vegetable dissolves into a mush,

蔬菜里稳定的细胞结构被打碎

releasing the energy-rich starch¹ molecules².

从而释放出高能淀粉微粒

The human ability to cook gives us a massive advantage over all other animals.

人类烹饪食物的能力使我们优于其他动物

Cooking is a pre-digestion process.

烹饪是一个预消化的过程

It changes the structure of the food.

它能改变食物结构

It loosens the cells, it softens³ them,

使细胞松散开来 让它们软化

it allows them to be broken up in the mouth much more easily

并使它们更易于在口腔中分解

so that they can then be digested later on.

进而促进消化

This easy access to calories has had a fundamental effect

朗汉教授认为 正是这种获取卡路里的

in changing the course of human evolution, according to Professor Wrangham.

便捷通道 彻底地影响着人类的进化

The discovery of cooking gave our ancestors enormously more energy.

烹饪技术的发明使我们的祖先 能获取更多能量

We don't know yet how much.

我们还不清楚具体有多少

Maybe 50% more, maybe more than that.

可能是50%以上 可能更多

1 starch   

n.淀粉；vt.给...上浆

参考例句：

• Corn starch is used as a thickener in stews.玉米淀粉在炖煮菜肴中被用作增稠剂。
• I think there's too much starch in their diet.我看是他们的饮食里淀粉太多了。

2 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

3 softens   

（使）变软( soften的第三人称单数 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰

参考例句：

• Iron softens with heat. 铁受热就软化。
• Moonlight softens our faults; all shabbiness dissolves into shadow. 月光淡化了我们的各种缺点，所有的卑微都化解为依稀朦胧的阴影。 来自名作英译部分