LESSON 6A READING AND VOCABULARY
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Word |
Meaning |
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Dairy Products |
Foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt; good source of calcium and protein. |
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Fast Food |
Quick-service meals are often high in calories, fat, and sodium; and generally less healthy. |
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Full Up |
Feeling satisfied or not hungry |
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Get Exercise |
Engaging in physical activity that you do to make your body strong and healthy. |
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Low in Sugar |
Foods or drinks that contain little added sugar; important for reducing risk of diabetes and maintaining a healthy weight. |
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Sleep Well |
Getting adequate, quality sleep; essential for physical and mental health. |
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Soft Drinks |
is a cold, non-alcoholic drink such as lemonade or fruit juice, or a fizzy drink. |
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Stay Fit |
physical exercises to keep your body healthy, often done regularly with other people |
| ‘BLUE ZONES’ AND WHAT WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THEM The suburbs of a town in San Bernardino County, California; villages in Greece and Costa Rica; a city in Okinawa, Japan; a small town in Sardinia. At first sight, these places are very different. But Dan Buettner, an American writer, and explorer, noticed that these very different places have one thing in common: people there have a good chance of living to be 100 years old or more. He called these places ‘blue zones’ and decided to spend time with the people who lived there to try to find out the secret to their long lives. The first thing Dan noticed about the inhabitants of blue zones was their healthy diet. They eat a lot of fruit and vegetables. They don’t eat much meat but get their protein from beans, lentils, or nuts. They don’t eat many dairy products, either. Their diets are low in sugar and salt. And they don’t consume a lot of fast food or soft drinks. Secondly, Dan noticed that people stop eating when they no longer feel hungry – not when they feel ‘full up’. Most importantly, in blue zones, people see food as a gift and meals as a special time. They switch off TVs or smartphones and give thanks before they eat. Then they sit, eat, talk, take their time, and enjoy their food. Another thing that Dan noticed was that people living in blue zones all seem to share certain habits in their lifestyles. They get exercise naturally by working outdoors. They stay fit by walking (not driving). And they sleep well (seven or eight hours a night, usually). Finally, Dan found that the inhabitants of blue zones in all those different places around the world have a similar way of looking at life. They are generally optimistic. Community is very important to them. Neighbours, friends, and family come together often, and people from different generations (for example grandparents and grandchildren) have a lot of contact with each other. Older people are important and respected members of the community. |
1. What are the very different places?
The suburbs of a town in San Bernardino County, California; villages in Greece and Costa Rica; a city in Okinawa, Japan; a small town in Sardinia. At first sight, these places are very different.
2. Who is Dan Buettner?
an American writer and explorer.
3. What did Dan Buettner notice?
noticed that these very different places have one thing in common: people there have a good chance of living to be 100 years old or more.
4.What did he call these places?
blue zones
5.What did he decide and why?
decided to spend time with the people who lived there to try to find out the secret to their long live.
6. What is the first thing that he noticed on the blue zone’s people?
Dan noticed about the inhabitants of blue zones was their healthy diet.
7. When did they stop eating?
when they no longer feel hungry – not when they feel ‘full up’.
8. How do they see the foods and meals?
people see food as a gift and meals as a special time.
9. What do they do before have the food or meals?
They switch off TVs or smartphones and give thanks before they eat. Then they sit, eat, talk, take their time and enjoy their food.
10.What is their lifestyle?
They switch off TVs or smartphones and give thanks before they eat. Then they sit, eat, talk, take their time and enjoy their food.
11. Dan noticed that the inhabitants of blue zones in all those different places around the world have a similar way of looking at life. Justify how?
They are generally optimistic. Community is very important to them. Neighbours, friends and family come together often, and people from different generations (for example grandparents and grandchildren) have a lot of contact with each other. Older people are important and respected members of the community.