Good news for chocaholics


Chocolate 'may help keep people slim'


People who eat chocolate regularly tend to be thinner, new research suggests.

The findings come from a study of nearly 1,000 US people that looked at diet, calorie intake and body mass index (BMI) - a measure of obesity.

It found those who ate chocolate a few times a week were, on average, slimmer than those who ate it occasionally.



Source: BBC News



Vocabulary:

to tend to -

findings (n) -

calorie intake -

loaded with -

weight loss -

rather than -

to boost -

to lower -

by chance -

a link -

proof (n) -

to mop up -

harmful (adj) -

to damage -

to feed (fed,fed) -

a trial -

a chocolate bar -

there's no harm in stg -

a treat -

likely to -





Grammar Point:
Even though chocolate is loaded with calories, it contains ingredients that may favour weight loss.

Despite boosting calorie intake, regular chocolate consumption was related to lower BMI in the study.


Even though and despite are both linkers that are used to contrast two ideas.



Even though + clause (subject + verb)

Despite + noun / pronoun / verb





Despite being loaded with calories, chocolate contains ingredients that may favour weight loss.

Despite the fact that it is loaded with calories, chocolate contains ingredients that may favour weight loss.


Even though it boosts calorie intake, regular chocolate consumption was related to lower BMI in the study.


Other linkers of contrast:




















Watch and read this report on the same story. Source: newsy.com


Comments

lucia said…
I have read and watched this report. It's interesting but the problem is that I don't like chocolate.
could you tell me what is the mean of "backing up the claim ...
I also have watched the links about the linking words.

tank you,

Lucía.
lucia said…
Hi,
I have been also reading the article and working whith the vocabulary.

It's very interesting and curious.
bye
Graham said…
How strange! Someone who doesn't like chocolate.


Could you tell me what "backing up the claim" means?
I have also watched the links about the linking words.

A claim is stg that sb says is true or a fact (it's a noun and a verb).

eg UK scientists claim to have found a cure.

If you back up a claim, you support it and also say that it is true.

eg Now Spanish scientists back up that claim.
lucia said…
thank you,
Lcuía.
Anonymous said…
Hi!

Chocolate is very important for me LOL I think it helps me to get happy and to be more positive.

Personally, I need to eat it once a week. I prefer milk chocolate, because the taste of dark chocolate is too hard for me.

And to the reference of the end of the text, I know that is better to eat vegetables but.. I HATE THEM!

Bye, Majda :-)
Graham said…
Majda,

I don't have a particularly sweet tooth but I love white chocolate too.

I'll eat dark chocolate especially when I feel I need a boost.


And as for what they say at the end of the text, I know that it is better to eat vegetables but.. I HATE THEM!


Do you like onions? Do you know what an Onion Johnny is?
Anonymous said…
Hi!

Yes I like onions, I always cook with onions because I think it's a good way to eat vegetables with a good taste lol

But I don't understand what Onion Johnny is...Is not something about French eh?? lol

Majda
Graham said…
Hi Majda!

I think the whole of France smells of onion. I bet you even have onion-flavoured chocolate. lol

Google "onion johnny"!
Anonymous said…
What a shaaame!! I've just read an article about this Onion Johnny on Wiki: Onion Johnny is the nickname given to the Breton farmers and agricultural labourers who sell distinctive pink onions door-to-door in Great Britain.

But we have more than onion in France eh! The best bread is in France :-p
Graham said…
Hi Majda!

I loved the breakfasts in France. The bread, croissants, coffee, butter, milk... so much better than in Spain.
Anonymous said…
Hi Graham, I'm Rocío

I have read this text.
I love chocolate(all kind of them) and the text says is good for me so i'm going to eat it more frequently!
Graham said…
Rocio,

Everything in moderation is good for us but now and again we can go a bit crazy.

I love and the text says it is good for me so ...


I am especially fond of white chocolate. I always look for the white chocolates in a box.

It's strange because I don't have such a sweet tooth.


See you tomorrow.