(Hint: It’s Not Steak Dinners)
WORD FORMATION
Change the word in CAPITALS to fill in the blanks.
(…) Most people living in the Blue Zones enjoy physical activity incorporated naturally into their daily lives (like gardening or walking); a sense of purpose (like caring for grandchildren or civic volunteering); low stress levels and a slower pace of life; strong family and community connections; and a diet characterized by moderate caloric intake, mostly from plant sources.
That these people are living long and happy lives should not be surprising. For a while now we’ve known, generally, the lifestyle factors that contribute to 1. …….. [HEALTHIER], shorter lives: sedentary jobs and transportation; increased screen time; reduced active recreation; a diet of 2. …….. [HIGH] processed, calorically dense and 3. ……… [NUTRITION] deficient foods and growing portion sizes; social 4. ……… [ISOLATE]; chronic stress; income 5. ………. [EQUAL] and social 6. ………. [IMMOBILE] – basically all features of a modern, consumer society. For decades, public health professionals and advocates have pointed to these things as appropriate targets for policies and actions meant to improve health and well being. (…)
“One of the things I really like about the Blue Zones is that it looks at health holistically, not just 7. ……… [NUTRITIONAL] –it’s the way these people are socially connected, the way physical 8. ……… [ACTIVE] is incorporated into their daily lives, and how their environment contributes to their health, not just their 9. ……… [NUTRITION] choices.” (…)
One thing folks in the Blue Zones have going for them is that they’re not as 10. ………… [OBSESSION] as we are with what they eat and how they live. It just sort of happens. Maybe we should look into setting up our lives in a similar way. (…)
In order to read the whole article, visit: https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/food-matters/blue-zones-what-the-longest-lived-people-eat-hint-it-8217-s-not-steak-dinners/
Key: 1. unhealthier; 2. highly; 3. nutritionally; 4. isolation; 5. inequality; 6. immobility; 7. nutrition; 8. activity; 9. nutritional; 10. obsessed
Glossary
- eponymous – named after a person (or sometimes a place)
- to delineate – to describe, outline, or define something clearly and precisely
- sedentary – involving little or no physical activity; spending much time sitting
- hawking (low-quality food) – actively selling or promoting something, often aggressively or with little regard for quality
- apoplectic – extremely angry or furious (sometimes also meaning overcome with strong emotion)
- knee-jerk anger – an immediate, automatic, and often unthinking angry reaction
- denigration – the act of unfairly criticizing, belittling, or speaking badly about someone or something
- to stoke – to encourage, intensify, or fuel something (often emotions, fears, or debates)
- to decry – to publicly criticize or strongly disapprove of something
- arable (land) – suitable for growing crops; capable of being farmed
Practice makes perfect
Read the article and choose the best answer A-C to the questions below:
1. What additional benefit of fitness does the article emphasize beyond feeling and looking better?
A. Improved athletic performance
B. Increased longevity
C. Faster weight loss
2. According to the Journals of Gerontology study, higher handgrip strength is associated with:
A. A 10% increase in muscle mass
B. A 25% increase in life expectancy
C. Up to a 10% lower risk of disease and mortality
3. What “catch” does the author mention about the strength study?
A. The study only included older adults
B. The results applied only to women
C. Genetics played a significant role in muscle strength
4. How does the author view genetics in relation to strength?
A. Genetics are a predisposition, not a final outcome
B. Genetics completely determine outcomes
C. Genetics have no impact on muscle strength
5. Which activity is said to provide the greatest increase in life hours per hour exercised?
A. Jumping rope
B. Brisk walking
C. Weightlifting
6. What lifestyle concern motivates the author to exercise besides longevity?
A. Joint pain
B. Dementia
C. Obesity
7. What are myokines?
A. Hormones released by fat tissue
B. Enzymes that break down muscle fibers
C. Chemicals released by muscles that provide health benefits
8. What did the BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine study find about heavy resistance training in older adults?
A. It increased injury rates significantly
B. It prevented loss of muscle strength and size
C. It was no more effective than light training
9. What does the author mean by “health span”?
A. The period of life spent free from illness
B. The number of years spent exercising
C. The time between workouts
10. What is the main message of the article?
A. Genetics matter more than exercise
B. Cardio exercise is better than strength training
C. Strength training can improve longevity and quality of life
Key: 1B; 2C; 3C; 4A; 5A; 6B; 7C; 8B; 9A; 10C
Discuss
- What do the Blue Zones have in common, and which factors seem most important for longevity: diet, physical activity, social connection, or environment? Why?
- Why do you think the author emphasizes “health span” rather than just life span?
- The Blue Zones diet is largely plant-based. Does the article argue that people must stop eating meat entirely?
- How do the Blue Zones incorporate physical activity differently from modern gym-based exercise? Which approach seems more realistic for most people?
- What features of modern life do both articles suggest are harmful to long-term health?
- Which Blue Zones habits would be hardest to adopt in modern society? Which would be easiest?
- Which ideas from the Blue Zones article challenge your current eating habits the most?
- After reading both articles, would you be more likely to change your diet or your exercise routine? Why?
Watch and Revise!
Unlocking Longevity
Secrets from the Blue Zones
https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/6ABdttae84E87oK
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