美國英語聽力80篇4 Lesson64
Passage 64 Apple Fights Cancer
You probably know a famous saying about the importance of eating apples
It is,"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
Now,a new American study shows eating apples may help fight cancer,too.
Research scientists at Cornell University in Ithaca,New York
say a combination of chemicals found in apples is important for good health.
The study shows that the combination of chemicals play an important part
in anti-cancer and anti-oxidant activity.
An anti-oxidant is one of many chemicals that reduce or prevent oxidation
This prevents damage to cells and tissues caused by atoms
or molecules in the body called free radicals.
The scientists say the chemicals are in both the skin and the flesh of apples
Results of the study were reported in the publication Nature.
The New York Apple Research Development Program
and New York Apple Association paid for the study.
The Cornell researchers studied the chemicals,or extracts,
taken from the skin and flesh of red apples graown in New York State.
They studied the effectiveness of the apple extract in fighting cancer
and preventing cell damage.
The researchers treated colon cancer cells
with fifty milligrams of apple extract.
Extracts from the apple skin reduced the growth of cancer cells by 43%.
Extracts from the fruit's flesh reduced the growth of cancer cells by 29%.
The researchers also treated human liver cancer cells with apple extract.
Extracts from the apple skin reduced the growth of those cells by 57%.
Extract from the fleshy part of the apple reduced the cancer cells by 40%.
Lead researcher Rui Hai Liu said scientists have known
that apples are good for human health.
Mister Liu says some scientists are interested in testing single vitamins
or other substances to see if they alone fight disease.
He says his study shows no single substance works alone to reduce cancer
Instead,he says the combination of chemicals in apples is effective.
Mister Liu says eating fruits and vegetables is better
than taking extra vitamin pills.
He says people can get enough anti-oxidants from food
without worrying about any possible harmful effects.
