VOA慢速英語(yǔ): 五千年來(lái)，石榴仍是健康的食物

Pomegranate: Still Healthy at 5,000 Years Old

This file photo taken Sept. 3, 3009 shows sliced pomegranate. The ruby red fruit, which resembles a large apple but only its seeds are edible, is in season in September. (AP Photo/Larry Crowe)

五千年來(lái)，石榴仍然是健康食物
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
這里是美國(guó)知音英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)的健康生活報(bào)道。
The pomegranate is one of the oldest known fruits. Pomegranates are found in ancient writings and pictured in the ancient art of many cultures and religions. The pomegranate is also a symbol of health, fertility and long life.
石榴是人們所知的年代最久遠(yuǎn)的水果之一。古代的很多文化和宗教藝術(shù)中都有關(guān)于石榴的文字記載和圖畫(huà)記載。石榴是健康、富庶和長(zhǎng)壽的象征。
Experts think the pomegranate is native to northern India, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Today it also grows in Southeast Asia, the western U.S., Armenia and parts of Africa, among other places.
專家認(rèn)為石榴的原產(chǎn)地是在印度北部、巴基斯坦、伊朗和阿富汗。今天，石榴在東南亞、美國(guó)西部、阿美尼亞、非洲部分地區(qū)以及其它一些地區(qū)生長(zhǎng)。
The skin of a pomegranate is strong. It can be red, purple or orange-yellow. The inside is filled with beautiful dark red seeds that shine like rubies. It is not easy to get them out. But the reward is great.
石榴皮各色各樣，紛繁不同，有紅色、紫色或者橘黃色。石榴里面的果實(shí)是深紅色的種子，就像紅寶石一樣閃閃發(fā)亮。把這些果實(shí)取出來(lái)不太容易，但是石榴很有營(yíng)養(yǎng)。
Health benefits
健康好處
The pomegranate grows on trees. Parts of the pomegranate tree and fruit are used to make medicine.
石榴長(zhǎng)在樹(shù)上，一些石榴樹(shù)和水果能夠用來(lái)制藥。
The pomegranate is used for many conditions. However, the U.S National Institutes of Health says there is not enough scientific evidence to rate pomegranates as effective for any of them.
很多情況下可以使用石榴。但是美國(guó)國(guó)家衛(wèi)生局表示沒(méi)有足夠的科學(xué)證據(jù)來(lái)評(píng)估石榴對(duì)所有情況都有效用。
Still, in traditional medicine, the pomegranate is used for conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including high blood pressure and "hardening of the arteries."
但是，在傳統(tǒng)的醫(yī)藥學(xué)中，石榴用在心血管病方面：包括高血壓和動(dòng)脈硬化。
The jewel-like seeds of the pomegranate are loaded with many nutrients and chemicals called antioxidants. These antioxidants remove poisons from the body.
如寶石般的石榴籽富含營(yíng)養(yǎng)和抗氧化的化學(xué)物質(zhì)。這些抗氧化物質(zhì)能夠排除人體內(nèi)的毒素。
The antioxidants found in pomegranates may help remove build-up of damage in blood vessels. So, it is a very heart-healthy fruit.
石榴中發(fā)現(xiàn)的抗氧化劑也許能夠消除血管中堆積的有害物質(zhì)。所以，石榴是對(duì)心臟健康十分有益的水果。
Antioxidants slow the progression of age-related sickness and may slow the growth of cancer cells. Men who have prostate cancer may benefit from a daily serving of pomegranate juice.
抗氧化成分能夠減緩衰老引起的病癥，也許海貨減緩癌細(xì)胞的生長(zhǎng)?；加星傲邢侔┌Y的人也許會(huì)從每天喝一杯石榴汁中受益。
Pomegranates are used for weight loss and used as a treatment for sore throat. Pomegranates are also high in vitamin K, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, zinc and iron.
吃石榴有助于減肥，還能夠用來(lái)治療嗓子痛。同時(shí)，石榴還富含維他命K、磷、鎂、鈣、鋅和鐵。
Let's just say pomegranates are loaded with great things for the inside of your body.
石榴含有你體內(nèi)所需的很多微量元素。
Beauty benefits
美容功效
But let's not forget the outside, too!
不要忘記石榴的外用功效。
Pomegranates are great for the skin. They protect the skin by encouraging new skin growth, healing wounds and repairing tissue. Pomegranates protect the skin against sun damage as well. They may help skin look younger by providing moisture and elasticity.
石榴對(duì)皮膚很好。石榴能夠促進(jìn)皮膚新陳代謝、愈合傷口和修復(fù)組織。石榴能夠保護(hù)皮膚防止太陽(yáng)損傷。同時(shí)還能夠讓皮膚水潤(rùn)、有彈性，看起來(lái)更加光澤。
Recipes for pomegranates
石榴的食譜
But how does one eat a pomegranate?
但是應(yīng)該怎樣吃石榴呢？
Pomegranates seeds are both sweet and tart. A thick liquid, or syrup, from the pomegranate tastes great with lamb, pork or chicken dishes.
石榴籽酸甜，濃稠的石榴汁搭配羊肉、豬肉或者雞肉味道非常不錯(cuò)。
Pomegranate seeds provide extra flavor to salads and other vegetable dishes. The seeds are also delicious in rice and grain dishes. And, of course pomegranates make great desserts. In the U.S., pomegranate juice is often added to sparkling drinks, drinks called smoothies and alcoholic drinks.
石榴籽還能夠給沙拉和其它的菜肴提味。石榴與米飯和谷物類飯相搭配時(shí)味道也非常不錯(cuò)。當(dāng)然，石榴也可以用來(lái)做美味的甜品。在美國(guó)，石榴汁通常會(huì)加入氣泡飲料中，這種飲料叫做冰沙或者酒精飲料。
Fresh pomegranates are only available in the United States from September to January. They can keep, or remain good to eat, in the refrigerator for about two months if kept in a plastic bag.
在美國(guó)，從九月到次年一月才有新鮮的石榴供應(yīng)。如果裝在塑料袋子放在冰箱里，石榴就可以保持新鮮兩個(gè)月。
I'm Anna Matteo.
我是安娜·馬特奧。
Are pomegranates popular where you live? Share recipes or other health and beauty benefits in our comments section!
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Words in this Story
ruby - n.a deep red stone that is used in jewelry : a dark red color
moisture - n. a small amount of a liquid (such as water) that makes something wet or moist
elasticity - n. the quality or state of being elastic
elastic - adj. able to return to an original shape or size after being stretched, squeezed, etc.
tart - adj. having a sharp or sour taste. For example, lemonade without enough sugar is tart.