High-protein diet 'as bad for health as smoking ( 2 versions)

We sometimes need two versions of the same test. Do you? Just in case, here you are.

Test 1

Research finds that people who eat diets rich in animal protein carry similar cancer risk to those who smoke 20 cigarettes each day.

           

            Eating too much animal protein could be as dangerous as smoking for middle-aged people, a scientific study has found. Research which tracked thousands of adults for nearly 20 years found that people who eat a diet rich in animal protein are four times more likely to die of cancer than someone with a low protein diet.

           

            The US study found that people with a high protein diet were 74 per cent more likely to die of any cause within the study period than their low-protein counterparts. They were also several times more likely to die of diabetes. But this trend appeared to reverse for those aged over 65, researchers found.          

           

            Previous studies have shown a link between cancer and red meat, but it is the first time research has measured the risk of death caused by regularly eating too much protein. Yet, Prof Tim Key, a Cancer Research UK epidemiologist, said: “Further research is needed to establish whether there is any link between eating a high protein diet and an increased risk of middle aged people dying from cancer.”

           

            Nutritional advice has traditionally focused on reducing on fat, sugar and salt. The World Health Organisation will announce a consultation today suggesting that guidelines on sugar consumption should be lowered, but there have few warnings about excess protein. High-protein food plans, such as the Atkins Diet, have become popular in recent years because of their dramatic weight-loss results. The new research from the University of Southern California suggests that such dieters may harm themselves in the long run.

            “We provide convincing evidence that a high-protein diet – particularly if the proteins are derived from animals – is nearly as bad as smoking for your health,” said Dr Valter Longo.“The research shows that a low-protein diet in middle age is useful for preventing cancer and overall mortality,” said Dr Eileen Crimmins, a co-author of the study. 

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Eating too much animal protein affects everybody as badly as smoking.

b. The higher possibilities of dying from a disease caused by too much protein had never been proven.

c. Not everybody agress with this study.

d. The WHO is about to warn about high protien diets.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. How was this study carried out?

b. Why are high protein diets popular and dangerous at the same time?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. to follow (par.2)                      b. tendency (par.3)                    c. to reduce (par.5)

d. indication (par. 5)                   e. general (par.6)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Previous studies have shown a link between cancer and red meat. Yet, further research is needed.

            Although...

b. It is said that eating too much animal protein is as dangerous as smoking for middle-aged people.

            Eating too much...

c. “We provide convincing evidence that a high-protein diet is nearly as bad as smoking for your health,” said Dr Valter Longo.

            Dr Valter Longo said...

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

“Fad diets have become very popular” Do you agree? Why?

Test 2

Research which tracked thousands of adults for nearly 20 years found that people who eat a diet rich in animal protein are four times more likely to die of cancer than someone with a low protein diet. The risk is nearly as high as the danger of developing cancer by smoking 20 cigarettes each day.

Previous studies have shown a link between cancer and red meat, but it is the first time research has measured the risk of death caused by regularly eating too much protein.

Nutritional advice has traditionally focused on cutting down on fat, sugar and salt. The World Health Organisation will announce a consultation today suggesting that guidelines on sugar consumption should be lowered, but there have few warnings about excess protein.

The researchers define a “high-protein” diet as deriving at least 20 per cent of daily calories from protein. They recommend consuming about 0.8g (0.03oz) of protein per kilogram of body weight every day in middle age.

“The research shows that a low-protein diet in middle age is useful for preventing cancer and overall mortality,” said Dr Eileen Crimmins, a co-author of the study. “However, we also propose that at older ages, it may be important to avoid a low-protein diet to allow the maintenance of healthy weight and protection from frailty.”

Dr Gunter Kuhnle, a food nutrition scientist at the University of Reading, said: “While this study raises some interesting perspectives on links between protein intake and mortality… It is wrong, and potentially even dangerous, to compare the effects of smoking with the effect of meat and cheese.” He claimed that sending out such statements “can damage the effectiveness of important public health messages”, adding: “The smoker thinks: 'why bother quitting smoking if my cheese and ham sandwich is just as bad for me?’ ”

British experts agreed that cutting down on red meat had been proven to lower the risk of cancer but said a balanced diet was still the best option.

Question 1 (2 points) Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and write down which part of the text justifies your answer.

a. Eating too much protein is as unhealthy as smoking.

b. The world Health Organisation had never given any advice about the protein intaking.

c. If a quarter of a diet is based on protein, it can be considered a high-protein one.

d. People over 65 should eat more protein than younger people.

Question 2 (2 points) Answer the following questions in your own words.

a. Should you get a different diet when you get older?

b. Is it wrong to puplish headlines like ”High-protein diet ‘ as bad for health as smoking”? Why?

Question 3 (1.5 points) Find words or phrases in the text that correspond in meaning to the words and definitions given.

a. Follow (paragraph 1)                                                       

b. Reduce, lower (paragraph 3)                                                          

c. Propose, suggest (paragraph 6)

d. Consumption, what you eat (paragraph 6)                                                       

e. Give up (paragraph 6)

Question 4 (1.5 points) Complete the following sentences without changing the meaning.

a. Previous studies have shown a link between cancer and red meat.

    A link…

b. Dr Eileen said: “ This research shows that a low-protein diet can be useful for preventing cancer”

    Dr Eileen said (that)…

c. Cutting down on red-meat has been proven to lower the risks of cancer.

    It…

Question 5 (3 points) Write a short essay (120-150 words) on the following topic:

Smoking should be considered an illegal drug. Do you agree?