China has fewer very overweight people compared to many other countries worldwide. The reason behind this is the traditional Chinese diet which is known for its health benefits. Let’s explore what makes the Chinese diet so good for health.
A traditional Chinese diet is heavy on vegetables. The Chinese enjoy filling their plates with fresh and healthy vegetables, such as snow peas, broccoli, and green beans. These vegetables are good for the body and can even help in fighting cancer. Moreover, vegetables are low in calories (卡路里). That means they are one of the best choices for managing the calories you take in at a meal.
Unlike some other countries, Chinese meals do not usually end with a high-calorie dessert. Sometimes, at the end of a Chinese meal, a sweet soup, like red bean or tofu soup, may be served. However, these soups are usually much lower in calories compared to desserts like cakes or ice cream, even though they have some sugar.
The choice of drinks also plays a role in weight control. In many other countries, sugary cola drinks and energy drinks are popular. However, in China, people have been drinking tea for more than 3,000 years, and they usually enjoy it all day long. Drinking tea can help burn extra (多余的) calories and can also provide protection against certain diseases.
Additionally, the Chinese don’t eat as much fast food as people in some other countries. This results in a lower intake of fat. In countries like America, the serving sizes in restaurants are usually larger than usual. This leads to people eating far more calories than they need. In China, however, people usually eat smaller-sized dishes, which are often shared with others.
All these points add up to the traditional Chinese diet being a healthy one. Lots of fresh vegetables, fewer desserts, a love for tea, and smaller-sized dishes all help people to stay slim and healthy.
【小题1】What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 3 refer to (指的是)?| A．Sweet soups. | B．Chinese meals. | C．Western meals. | D．High-calorie desserts. |
| A．Tea is popular around the world. | B．Chinese people prefer tea to energy drinks. |
| C．Americans also like drinking tea nowadays. | D．Energy drinks can help control people’s weight. |
| A．①/②③④⑤⑥ | B．①②/③④/⑤⑥ | C．①/②③④⑤/⑥ | D．①②③④⑤/⑥ |
