Eat well, look better

Know why if you eat well, you look better and boost your reading skills with this quiz that will help you pass your FCE with flying colors!

As you probably know, B2 First, formerly known as Cambridge English, is one of the Cambridge English Qualifications that proves you have the language skills to live and work independently in an English-speaking country or study on courses taught in English. Before jumping into the details of the exam and show you how to pass your FCE exam with flying colors, take this quiz on love at first sight, and get some handy advice to boost your English!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: You need to answer all the questions to be able to submit your answers, and you’ll get immediate feedback on your mistakes without having to provide any email.

Eat better, look better

Would you believe that your diet can make a big difference in keeping a youthful appearance? It seems strange to think that the food we take in could result in fewer wrinkles. Wouldn’t it be better to put things on our skin rather than in our mouths?

Well, according to one scientific theory, our bodies start aging because of oxidation. This is caused by certain oxygen-containing molecules in our cells, called free radicals. Free radicals have the capability to attach to and damage parts of our cells, including our DNA. Our bodies have the ability to repair this damage. However, as we get older, these repair mechanisms start to break down, resulting in signs of aging, such as wrinkles. Free radicals are actually produced by our bodies, but their numbers can also increase because of the food we eat.

Besides avoiding foods that could potentially produce more free radicals, eating foods that contain certain vitamins and micro-nutrients can also keep us looking young. These vitamins help produce molecules called antioxidants, which actually help reduce the production of free radicals. Even better, foods containing antioxidants are not rare. Common antioxidants, like vitamins A and E, can be found in many dark-colored vegetables.

For example, carrots, seaweed, spinach, and broccoli are all excellent sources of these helpful vitamins. Also, you can eat orange-colored fruits like apricots and peaches. Vitamins A and E are particularly good for helping your skin remain young-looking. These nutrients strengthen your skin and make it soft. However, if you really want to stock up quickly on nutrients that benefit your skin, you should eat cow’s liver. One small piece of cooked cow’s liver contains twice as much vitamin A as half a cup of cooked carrots.

More recently, green tea has also been tentatively added to the list of youth promoting substances. Research on green tea’s effects on our bodies is still in the early stages. Scientists certainly believe that it is good for us, but they are cautious about predicting its ability to keep us looking youthful. However, recent experiments seem to show that green tea’s antioxidant properties can repair cell damage already sustained as well as prevent damage in the future. In fact, green tea works even better if you apply it directly to your skin as an ingredient in facial cream.

“You are what you eat.” The more we find out about how our bodies work, the more this old proverb seems to be true. Think about that the next time you sit down at the table.

1. What is the main idea of the reading? Our bodies are aging. Carrots are good for us. Food affects aging. We should use facial cream.

2. Which is probably true about people who look younger than their age? They eat a lot. They drink green tea every day. They eat food that helps their skin. They only eat vegetables.

3. What kinds of vegetables contain a lot of vitamin A? Tasty ones Vegetables dark in color Green ones All of them

4. Which of the following is true, according to the reading? Drinking alcohol helps your skin. Facial cream with vitamin C is bad for you. Cow’s liver has a lot of vitamin A. We age because we eat vitamins.

5. Which word is closest in meaning to the word “apply” in this reading? Ask for Be related to Spread on Use well

Vocabulary: Eat well, look better

oxidation: the process of combining with oxygen

cell: the basic unit of a living thing

mechanism: the fundamental physical or chemical processes of an organism to a given stimulus

antioxidant: a substance found in vitamins that protects body cells from oxidation damage

seaweed: a plant that grows underwater

apricot: a small yellow-orange fruit

stock up: to keep extra; to get a lot of

tentatively: cautiously; for now but not finally

proverb: a saying that gives advice or expresses some truth

Idioms: Eat well, look better

take in [ to eat; to consume ]. Ex: “Research shows that if you don’t take in enough vitamin D, you will develop health problems.”

stock up on [ to keep a lot of something for later use ]. Ex: “I stocked up on bread today while I was shopping.“

even better [ in addition to the previous good thing ] Ex: “My grandmother’s delicious apple pie tastes even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.”

Grammar:

Help + (Object) + Infinitive

Help is followed by an infinitive with or without to. Sometimes, help is followed by an object + infinitive with or without to.

Ex: “These vitamins help (produce / production) molecules called antioxidants, which actually help (reduce / reduction) the production of free radicals.”

Ex: “Vitamin A and E are particularly good for helping your skin (remain / remaining) young-looking.”

Speaking:

1. Which foods have you heard have lots of antioxidants in them?

2. Do you think you have a healthy or unhealthy diet? Why?

3. What are some ways that people in your country take care of their skin?

Hope this post on the link between what we eat and our appearance helps you to reach your objective of passing your FCE Exam and enjoy yourself in the process. If you want to practice your reading skills, take the quiz on Love at First , the Magic Fun Art Quiz, or any other quiz in my website.

Likewise, go on learning about the Use of English and about Effective Words to Use instead of “very”

Likewise, check my FB page or my TeachersPayTeachers store, where you will find all sorts of pieces of advice and resources.