【英语时差8,16】运动的另一个原因

We've all heard many reasons to exercise, but in this Moment of Science Don tells Yael about what might be a new one to most of us.  D: (In the background, Don is breathless doing jumping jacks¹ and counting).

Y: Don--Don, we're on the air--D: (BREATHLESS) Sorry, Yael, just getting in some jumping jacks before work. I don't want to be one of the quarter million Americans who die prematurely² each year from conditions like diabetes³, heart disease, and obesity⁴.

Y: Oh brother, another segment about the benefits of exercise. What's the big deal? Isn't there medicine that takes care of these diseases?

D: Well, medication is great for stabilizing⁵ existing conditions, but it doesn't solve the underlying⁶ problems--Y: (BORED)--and everybody knows that exercising is good for you.

D: Yes, but now scientists suggest that exercise is even more than that. The theory is that humans are genetically⁷ programmed by evolution to be physically⁸ active. After all, our ancestors spent millions of years hunting and gathering⁹ and only the last few thousand years as cultivators.

Y: So cushy office jobs aren't natural?

D: Right. So today, when we think of the average person, we think of someone who doesn't exercise. And what these scientists are saying is that the biological norm is a person who is very active.

Y: I'm not sure I see your point.

D: So instead of saying that exercising decreases your risk for certain health problems, it's more correct to say that not exercising increases your risk for those problems. Your body expects you to exercise, and when you don't, your body is more likely to break down. So when you do nothing, you're actually making things worse.  

1 jacks   

n.抓子游戏；千斤顶( jack的名词复数 )；（电）插孔；[电子学]插座；放弃

参考例句：

• Hydraulic jacks under the machine produce the movement. 是机器下面的液压千斤顶造成的移动。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The front end is equipped with hydraulic jacks used for grade adjustment. 前瑞安装有液压千斤顶用来调整坡度。 来自辞典例句

2 prematurely   

adv.过早地，贸然地

参考例句：

• She was born prematurely with poorly developed lungs. 她早产，肺部未发育健全。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• His hair was prematurely white, but his busy eyebrows were still jet-black. 他的头发已经白了，不过两道浓眉还是乌黑乌黑的。 来自辞典例句

3 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

4 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

5 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

6 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

7 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

8 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

9 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。