There are too many fat people in America, so many Americans are fighting against overweight. But the _________ thing is that the French, who consume rich food, tend to stay thin. Now a _________ by Cornell University points out _________ lifestyle and decisions about _________ may affect weight. Researchers concluded that the French tend to stop eating when they feel _________. However, Americans tend to stop when their _________ are empty or their favorite TV show is over. 

According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, a health expert, the French see eating _________ an important part of their lifestyle. They enjoy food and therefore spend a very _________ time at the table, while Americans see eating as anything to be squeezed in between the other daily activities. Mercola believes Americans _________ the ability to sense when they are actually full. So they keep eating long after the French would have stopped. In addition, he points out that Americans drive to huge supermarkets to buy canned and __________ foods for the week. The French, __________, tend to shop daily, walking to small shops and farmers’ markets where they have a choice of fresh fruit, vegetables rich in fiber, and eggs as well as high-quality meat for each meal. 

After a visit to the United States, Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don’t Get Fat, decided to __________ about the importance of knowing when to stop rather than suggesting how to avoid __________. Today she continues to stay slim and rarely goes to the gym. 

In spite of all these differences, evidence shows that recent lifestyle __________ may be affecting French eating habits. Today the rate of obesity(肥胖)—or extreme overweight—among adults is only 6%. However, as American fast food gains __________ and the young reject older traditions, the obesity rate among French children has reached 17%—and is growing.

Chinese cuisine is widely known and enjoyed all around the world. Who doesn’t ______ a favorite Chinese dish? But there is one interesting ______ concerning Chinese food which is almost unheard-of in the West, and ______ ignored by the youth of the East the ancient custom of “tonic (滋补) food”.

Tonic food is food consumed to improve one’s well-being or ______ sickness. ______, it was once the ______ for new mother to eat a sesame-oil (麻油) hotpot every day for the first month after giving ______. It was believed that this dish would ______ the muscles, reduce pain, improve circulations, stimulate sweating and ______ the body.

Some food are ______ as “hot”, such as goat meat and coriander (香菜), while others, such as Chinese cabbage and radish (小萝卜) are“cold”. One should be ______ not to eat too much “hot” or “cold” food. ______, how much “hot” or “cold” food one should eat ______ the time of the year, ______ the food is prepared and what it is prepared with, and the individual’s ______.

The custom of employing tonic food for a healthier life also ______ the catering (餐饮) industry. Some Chinese herbal medicines can often be found on many a restaurant ______. Whether you need to ______ yourself to boost your energy with a large helping of chicken soup or increase your ______ power with a serving of pig’s brain soup, you may find that this ancient Chinese custom could be ______ the tonic you are looking for.

Processed foods like chips, soda and frozen pizzas are full of salt, sugar and fat. Now scientists are trying to understand if there is something else about such foods that may be bad for humans. Scientists have already linked low-cost, ________ foods to rising obesity rates around the world. Three recent studies offer more ________ into how our increasingly industrialized food supply may be affecting our health.

What does processed food mean?

The researchers created a system that ________ foods into four groups. The system says highly processed foods are made ________ of industrialized materials and additives. Sodas, packaged cookies, instant noodles and chicken nuggets are some examples of highly processed foods. But also included are products that can ________ healthy, such as morning cereals, energy bars and some kinds of yogurt.

What’s wrong with processed foods?

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health conducted a four-week study involving 20 people. They found that people eat about 500 more calories a day when ________ mostly processed foods. That is compared with when the   ________ subjects were given less processed foods. The researchers permitted the 20 participants to eat as much or as little as they wanted. They were taken to a medical center so their health and behavior could be ________.

In another study, researchers in France found people who ate more processed foods were more likely to have heart disease. ________, a similar study in Spain linked eating more processed foods to a higher risk of death in general.

What is it about processed foods?

When given less processed foods, people in the study ________ more of a hormone that controls hunger, and less of a hormone that causes hunger. The reason for the ________ is not clear. The scientists also found that people ate processed foods more quickly.

Kevin Hall is one of the researchers who led the study. He told the AP that processed foods are usually softer and easier to chew and swallow. Hall noted the source of nutrients might ________. For example, fiber from whole fruits and vegetables may be better for making people feel ________ than fiber added to packaged foods such as energy bars and yogurt.

What should you eat?

Avoiding processed foods can be hard, ________ for people with limited time and money. Processed foods can also take many forms. In addition, companies continually ________ products to make them seem healthier. The newest studies may provide more reasons to avoid processed foods. But, they also call attention to the difficulty of coming up with ways to do that.