Don't Forget the Sun's Good Points

by Brian Foden

Why does everyone think that the sun is bad?

In many ways, the sun has gotten a bad rap. It's common to hear about the risks of skin cancer associated _(1)_ exposure to the sun. To be sure, the dangers of ultraviolet radiation are quite valid. However, with all the bad news regarding the sun, we _(2)_ forget its health advantages.

One of the sun's most significant benefits is that it provides us with natural

vitamin D. Through a process known as photosynthesis, sunlight is transformed into vitamin D in our skin. Vitamin D has many nourishing _(3)_, including boosting the immune system through the promotion of white blood cells. Another known positive aspect of vitamin D is that it _(4)_ in the maintenance of teeth and bones through the improved absorption of calcium. In addition, vitamin D has been linked to better blood circulation and digestion. Some researchers even believe it can reduce the risk of getting certain cancers.

_(5)_ providing benefits to one's physical health, the sun also has an impact on a person's mental health. The lack of sunlight is known to result in a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is characterized by depression. The _(6)_ for SAD is increased exposure to light.

What should people do? Should they risk _(7)_ cancer from too much time in the sun? Or should they take a chance at developing a vitamin D deficiency by getting too little sun? The answer is to enjoy a moderate amount of sunlight while avoiding overexposure and burning.

1.  (A) with    (B) to  (C) for (D) at

2.  (A) intend to   (B) decline to  (C) tend to (D) apt to

3.  (A) activities  (B) metaphors   (C) properties  (D) complaints

4.  (A) consists    (B) insists (C) persists    (D) assists

5.  (A) Apart from  (B) Except that (C) In case of  (D) Due to

6.  (A) influence   (B) treatment   (C) direction   (D) attention

7.  (A) to get  (B) getting (C) got (D) at getting

不要忘了阳光的好处

为什么大家都认为阳光不好呢？

阳光在许多方面一直受到各方责难。我们常听到曝晒在阳光下与得到皮肤癌风险有所关连。可以肯定的是，紫外线的危害是相当有根据的。然而，由于所见所闻都是关于阳光的负面报导，使我们往往忘了阳光对健康的好处。

阳光最显著的好处之一就是提供我们天然的维生素 D。透过众所皆知的光合作用过程，阳光被转化成我们皮肤内的维生素 D。维生素 D 具有许多滋养的特性，包含增加白血球细胞以增进免疫系统。维生素 D另一项为人所知的优点就是透过增进对钙质的吸收，因而有助于牙齿及骨骼的保养。除此之外，维生素 D 已被证实与改善血液循环及消化有关。有些研究人员甚至相信维生素 D 能降低得到某些癌症的风险。

阳光除了提供人身体健康的益处外，对人的心理健康也有很大的影响。缺乏阳光会导致一种称为季节性情绪失调的疾病，忧郁症为其特征。季节性情绪失调的治疗方式就是增加在光线下的曝晒。

大家该怎么做呢？是否该冒着在阳光下太久而得到癌症的风险？还是大家该冒着不怎么晒太阳而罹患维生素 D 不足的风险？答案就在于享受适度的阳光同时避免过度曝晒及晒伤。

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

   6.  B   7.  B

季节性情绪失调（Seasonal Affective Disorder 简称SAD）又称冬季忧郁症，属于感情及情绪失调。患者在 1 年当中大部分时间都有良好的健康状态，只有在冬季或夏季会出现忧郁症状。根据维基百科（Wikipedia），地理位置在北纬 30 度以北或南纬 30 度以南的地区民众，SAD 的症状特别明显。

研究 SAD已有 35 年经验的奥勒冈健康科学大学精神病学教授鲁伊表示，冬季忧郁症患者每逢冬天睡眠时间就会增加，但睡得愈久却变得愈没精神，早晨爬不起来，变得爱吃大量的碳水化合物，体重也因此而节节高升。要如何有效改善 SAD 问题呢？鲁伊建议，如果没有办法接触到真正的阳光，明亮的光线是不错的替代方式。患者可以在每天早晨起床后的 5 分钟，接触明亮的灯光，将可协助改善症状。（数据源：蕃薯藤新闻）