英语听力文摘 English Digest 640 致命的花生

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　　Peanuts are one of the world’s most nutritious¹ foods.

　　Peanuts contain pound for pound more protein, vitamins, and minerals than beef liver and more fat than heavy cream. For approximately .5% of Americans, however, peanuts are not so beneficial; in fact, they’re potentially deadly.

　　Yummy But Deadly

　　Between 1 and 2% of American adults suffer from food allergies². A food allergy³ occurs when particular proteins in certain foods trigger an immune system response, resulting in various symptoms. Many foods can cause allergic⁴ reactions ranging from mild to severe, but peanuts trigger notoriously fierce allergic responses.

　　People allergic to peanuts can experience hives, dizziness, a rapid heartbeat, and in the worst cases, death. Although only a small percentage of people have peanut allergies, they account for 50% of all food related deaths.

　　Usefulness

　　It may seem implausible that so much harm can result from such a seemingly innocent, useful food. However, it’s the peanut’s usefulness that makes it so dangerous. Peanuts and peanut products are used in a wide variety of packaged foods, but are not always listed as an ingredient.

　　Since it’s possible for even the slightest trace of peanut protein to trigger an allergic reaction, these hidden ingredients can cause considerable harm. In some cases, even kissing a person who’s just eaten a “peanuty” food can be dangerous.

　　If you have a peanut allergy never assume that foods are made without peanuts. Call the manufacturer and find out. Also, before you move in for a kiss, make sure that he or she is peanut free.

　　花生致死

　　花生是世界上最有营养的食品之一。

　　等重量的花生中蛋白质、维他命和矿物质的平均含量高于牛肝，而其脂肪含量高于多脂奶油。但是，大约有百分之五的美国人，对他们来说，花生不仅没有好处，而且可能会致命。

　　美味但致命

　　大约百分之一到百分之二的美国成年人受到食物过敏症的困扰。当一种特定食物中的特定蛋白质刺激免疫系统作出反应并产生许多症状时，食物过敏就出现了。许多食物会导致过敏反应，轻重程度不等。但是花生能诱发非常严重的过敏反应。

　　人们对花生过敏时会产生荨麻疹，头晕，心跳加快等症状，严重时可能死亡。尽管对花生过敏的人群比例很小，但他们因过敏而死亡的人数却占所有因食物而死亡人数的一半。

　　功效

　　让人难以置信的是，如此多的危害会来自这样一种看起来很无害、有益健康的食物。不过，正是花生的这种好处让它变得很危险。花生及花生加工食品被广泛制成袋装食品，但不总是被列入成分表。

　　因为有可能很少量的花生蛋白就可以诱发过敏反应，这些成分如果不写明，可能带来严重危害。有时，甚至亲吻一名刚吃了花生食品的人也会带来危险。

　　如果您对花生过敏，千万不要想当然认为您吃的食物中不含花生的成分。最好打电话给厂家确定一下。同时，在您同爱人亲吻的时候，记得先确定他/她当时没吃过花生。

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