AGRICULTURE REPORT - Watermelon Studies

AGRICULTURE REPORT
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July 23, 2002: Watermelon Studies

By George Grow

This is the VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT.

Watermelon is popular in the United¹ States. Many people enjoy eating it on a hot, summer day. Watermelon has
a hard outer skin and a soft area on the inside. About ninety-three percent of the fruit is water. Most watermelons
have many seeds. However, some are grown to have no seeds.

American scientists are studying how watermelon influences human health. They
are finding² that it has vitamins³, minerals and other chemicals important for good
health.

Watermelon contains the vitamins A, B-six, C and thiamin. It also contains
potassium. Watermelon also is one of the few foods that contain large amounts of
lycopene (LIE-ko-peen). Lycopene is a red chemical found in some plants. It also is
present in tomatoes, red and pink grapefruit and guava.

Many studies have shown that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of
heart disease⁴ and cancer. Scientists have found that lycopene in the diet reduces the risk of some cancers.
Lycopene in fat tissue⁵ has been linked with a reduced risk of heart attack.

Until recently, most lycopene studies have involved tomatoes. However, scientists with the Agricultural⁶ Research
Service are studying lycopene levels in watermelon. They want to learn how well the human body breaks down
and uses lycopene.

Agricultural Research Service scientists in Oklahoma grew and studied thirteen kinds of watermelon. They
measured the amounts of lycopene in the melons. The scientists found that the watermelons without seeds
generally had more lycopene. Tests also showed that watermelon had as much or more lycopene as uncooked
tomatoes.

Two years ago, Agricultural Research scientists in Maryland organized a nineteen-week study to identify the
health effects of lycopene. For the study, twenty-three adults ate a controlled diet and drank watermelon juice
during three treatment periods. Later, the people received either watermelon or tomato juice. The study found that
both liquids increased lycopene levels in the blood.

In the United States, there is interest in selling watermelon juice. A company in California⁷ is making an all
-
natural version⁸ of the product. It is selling watermelon juice in California and Oregon.

This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by George Grow.

 

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1 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

2 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

3 vitamins   

n.维生素（ vitamin的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• essential proteins and vitamins 必不可少的蛋白质和维生素
• the vitamins that are vital for health 保持健康必不可少的维生素

4 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

5 tissue   

n.组织；薄纱，薄纸，手巾纸

参考例句：

• As we age we lose muscle tissue.肌肉组织会随着我们日趋衰老而萎缩。
• Athletes have hardly any fatty tissue.运动员几乎没有什么脂肪组织。

6 agricultural   

adj.农业的；农艺的

参考例句：

• He was trained for gardening at the Agricultural College.他在农业大学学园艺。
• France once was an agricultural country.法国曾是个农业国。

7 California   

n.加利福尼亚(美国)

参考例句：

• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。
• We were driving on a California freeway.我们正沿着加利福尼亚的一条快车道驾车行驶。

8 version   

n.版本；型号；叙述，说法

参考例句：

• His version of the events is pure supposition.他对这件事的说法纯属猜测。
• What is your version of this matter?你对这件事情的看法 怎么样？