Red Hot Chili Peppers | 让人大呼过瘾的香辣滋味

by Nadia Chung

Heat from peppers bursts with flavor and boosts your health.

辣得让人哇哇叫的辣椒还能促进你的健康。

Although there are many people that do not appreciate the painful effect chili peppers inflict on the tongue, archaeological evidence found in the Americas suggests that the plant has been cultivated since prehistoric times. This proves that it has been part of the human diet for _(1)_ 10,000 years. Chili peppers were first _(2)_ by Christopher Columbus in the West Indies in the 15th century. Soon after, they _(3)_ spread across Europe and Asia, becoming a staple ingredient in many cooking traditions.

Chili peppers are used in a _(4)_ of ways in different national cuisines. In India, chilies are used in dishes _(5)_ from fried snacks to complex curries, whereas crushed chili pepper flakes are often sprinkled on pizzas and other dishes in Italian cuisine. In Turkey and Mexico, chilies are used to make hot sauces and red pepper pastes. In North African cooking, they are used as both a _(6)_ and a table condiment. In Asian cooking, the peppers are used to make kimchi and other pickled dishes, while the leaves are sometimes cooked as greens.

The reason chili peppers are _(7)_ in taste is due to a compound called capsaicin (辣椒素), which is mostly found in the seeds. Studies show that capsaicin not only adds zest, but it also has many health benefits, including _(8)_ headaches and combating nasal congestion. Capsaicin is also _(9)_ in lowering high blood pressure and even fighting prostate cancer. In addition to capsaicin, chili peppers also _(10)_ large amounts of vitamin B and C as well as carotene, potassium, magnesium, and iron, which are all good for the body. To make the heat of the chili peppers more bearable, serve them with cooling accompaniments, such as yogurt or cucumbers. You might just learn to appreciate red hot chili peppers.

(A) spicy   (B) contain (C) quickly (D) ranging (E) effective

(F) nearly  (G) variety (H) relieving   (I) encountered (J) seasoning

虽然很多人对辣椒为舌头带来的麻辣感敬谢不敏，但在美洲发现的考古证据显示，人类在史前时代就开始种植这种植物了。这证明辣椒在近一万年前就是人类饮食的一部分。15世纪哥伦布首先在西印度群岛发现辣椒。不久后，它们迅速传遍全欧亚，成为许多传统料理手法的主要食材。

　　辣椒在不同国家的料理上有各式的用法。在印度，从炸物到复杂的咖哩料理都使用到辣椒，而在意大利料理中，则会在披萨和其他菜肴上撒上压碎的辣椒末。在土耳其和墨西哥，辣椒则做成辣油或红椒酱。北非的料理中，辣椒是作为烹煮或上桌后的调味料之用。在亚洲的料理中，辣椒则用来制作韩国泡菜或是其他腌渍佳肴，而辣椒叶有时也作为绿色蔬菜食用。

　　辣椒之所以有辛辣的味道，是因为它含有一种名叫辣椒素的化合物，这种成分大多存在于辣椒子中。研究发现辣椒素不只能增添风味，对健康还有许多益处，像是减轻头痛和对付鼻塞。辣椒素也能有效降低血压，甚至对抗前列腺癌。除了辣椒素外，辣椒含有大量的维他命 B 和 C，以及胡萝卜素、钾、镁和铁，这些对人体都相当有益。优格及小黄瓜等能减低辣椒的辣度，和辣椒搭配一起吃可以让人较能承受味觉上的刺激。这样你或许可以学会享受辣椒的滋味。

答案：  1. (F)  2. (I)  3. (C)  4. (G)  5. (D)  
6. (J)  7. (A)  8. (H)  9. (E)  10. (B)

For Your Information

根据最新的金氏世界纪录（Guinness World Records），印度的『断魂椒』打败蝉联多年的墨西哥『魔鬼椒』，成为世界第一辣。

辣度的国际标准为司科维尔（Scoville），主要是测量辣椒素含量多寡，并依其用水稀释辣椒素的倍数设定标准，目前由零至三十万以上可分为十级。根据印度官方国防研发组织报告，断魂椒辣度达一百万一千三百零四单位，其辣度是墨西哥『魔鬼椒』的一点七倍。

美国新墨西哥大学辣椒专家鲍斯兰德曾形容，吃下墨西哥『魔鬼椒』，满嘴有如喷火，但吃下『断魂椒』之后，辣得魂魄差点跑掉。（数据源：自由电子报）