Red Meat and Depression|红肉和忧郁症

Red Meat and Depression

by Rebecca A. Fratzke

Surprising new studies show a connection between red meat and depression.

For years, we have been hearing about what we should and should not eat in order to maintain our health. Whether it is the latest fad diet or new foods to avoid, knowing what and how much we should be putting in our bodies can be downright confusing. One of the biggest controversies is over red meat, which has gotten a bad name in recent years. _(1)_ A team from the Barwon Psychiatric Research Unit at Deakin University in Australia has been looking at how the quantity of red meat in a woman's diet can affect the likelihood of her being depressed or anxious.

_(2)_ The weekly suggestion is three to four lean palm-sized pieces of beef or lamb. _(3)_ More interesting findings were made during the study; specifically the women's socioeconomic status, physical activity level, smoking, weight, and age did change the results of the study. _(4)_ The team warns those trying to follow healthy diets to pay close attention to the beef and lamb they buy. In Australia, cattle and sheep feed mostly on grass, which produces leaner meat with higher levels of nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids. _(5)_ Overall, women can try to eat red meat in moderation to keep themselves away from depression.

(A) What they found was that women who ate less than the weekly suggested amount of red meat were twice as likely to experience depression and anxiety.

(B) In other places like the US, however, cattle and sheep are kept on feedlots and are fed grain-based diets resulting in high levels of saturated fats and fewer healthy ones.

(C) However, new studies are showing that red meat plays an important role in women's mental health.

(D) Additionally, other protein sources such as pork, chicken, and fish had no effect on the women's mental health.

(E) The study also went on to show that women who ate more than this recommended amount had large increases in depression and anxiety as well.

红肉和忧郁症

惊人的新研究显示出红肉和忧郁症之间的关联。

多年来，我们一直听到为了要维持健康，我们该吃什么和不该吃什么。不论是那些最新流行的饮食或最新公布所该避免摄取的食物，要了解该吃什么及把多少的量吃进体内这些事都令人感到十分困惑。其中最大的争议之一就是针对红肉，红肉在近年来声名狼籍。然而，新的研究显示红肉对女性的心理健康扮演重要的角色。来自澳洲迪肯大学巴望精神病学的一组研究团队一直以来都在研究女性饮食中红肉的摄取量会如何影响她们忧郁或是焦虑的可能性。

他们发现，每周食用红肉数量低于建议量的女性发生忧郁症或焦虑症的可能性是食用建议量女性的两倍。每周建议食用量是 3 至 4 片手掌大小的瘦牛肉或羊肉。该研究接着也显示，食用超过建议量的女性发生忧郁症和焦虑症的可能性也会大幅增加。该研究过程中还有更多有趣的调查结果，特别是女性社会经济地位、身体活动程度、抽烟、体重和年纪都会改变研究结果。另外，其他蛋白质来源像是猪肉、鸡肉和鱼肉对女性的心理健康则没有影响。

该团队提出警告，那些想要遵循健康饮食的人要密切注意他们所买的牛肉和羊肉。在澳洲，牛羊大都是在草地上喂养，如此会生产出含有较多营养物及 omega-3 脂肪酸的瘦肉。然而，在其他像是美国等地，牛羊被养在饲养场内，且被喂食谷物为主的食物，因而产生较多饱和脂肪及较少的健康脂肪。总的来说，女性可以试着适量摄取红肉来远离忧郁症。

答案：  1.  C   2.  A   3.  E   4.  D   5.  B