The Reading / Listening - Intermittent Fasting - Level 6

The Internet abounds with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, much has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour gap without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves metabolism and assists in cellular repair. However, a new long-term study has cast doubt on its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people who restricted their eating to fewer than eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

The researchers analyzed data from about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken aback by his findings. He said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings encourage a cautious, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned with an individual's health status and the latest scientific evidence." The Mayo Clinic observed that fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision from your healthcare team."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Intermittent Fasting - Level 4  or  Intermittent Fasting - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0l6ye6xe12o
  • https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/intermittent-fasting-may-be-effective-for-weight-loss-cardiometabolic-health/
  • https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-is-intermittent-fasting-a-helpful-practice-or-health-risk/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. FASTING: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about fasting. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       diets / dietary advice / intermittent fasting / metabolism / doubt / cardiovascular /
       researcher / eating / surprised / health / scientific evidence / clinic / healthcare
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FASTING: Students A strongly believe fasting is healthy; Students B strongly believe it isn't. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. DIETS: What do you know about these diets? What do you think of them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

What I Know

What I Think

Intermittent fasting

 

 

Vegetarian diet

 

 

Vegan diet

 

 

Gluten-free diet

 

 

Raw-food diet

 

 

Low-carb diet

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. EATING: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "eating". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. CUISINES: Rank these with your partner. Put the best cuisines at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Italian
  • Thai
  • Mexican
  • Lebanese
  • Indian
  • French
  • Chinese
  • Japanese

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. abound a. About the heart and blood vessels.
      2. fasting b. Keeping someone or something in a small or limited space.
      3. confining c. The way the body uses food to make energy.
      4. proponents d. Be in very large numbers.
      5. metabolism e. Good or useful qualities of something.
      6. merits f. Not eating food for a period of time.
      7. cardiovascular g. People who support an idea or plan.

    Paragraph 2

      8. taken aback h. Making sure something happens.
      9. restricted i. Put (things) into correct or appropriate relative positions.
      10. cautious j. Watching and guiding someone to make sure they do things correctly.
      11. ensuring k. Put a limit on; kept under control.
      12. aligned l. Facts or information that show something is true.
      13. evidence m. Careful to avoid danger or mistakes.
      14. supervision n. Surprised in a sudden way.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The article says there is a dearth of information about diets online.     T / F
  2. A lot has been written about intermittent fasting in recent years.     T / F
  3. Supporters of intermittent fasting say it's good for the metabolism.     T / F
  4. People who do not eat for 16-hour periods are at risk of heart diseases.   T / F
  5. Data from than 20,000 adults were used in this study.     T / F
  6. The lead researcher was not at all surprised by his findings.     T / F
  7. Intermittent fasting started in the late 20th century.     T / F
  8. The Mayo Clinic suggested intermittent fasting wasn't safe.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. abounds
  2. all manner of
  3. confining
  4. doubt
  5. risk
  6. taken aback
  7. cautious
  8. approach
  9. observed
  10. supervision
  1. careful
  2. chance
  3. surprised
  4. noticed
  5. restricting
  6. is full of
  7. guidance
  8. uncertainty
  9. attitude
  10. various

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. The Internet abounds
  2. Proponents
  3. it improves
  4. a new long-term study has cast
  5. a 91 per cent
  6. he was taken
  7. encourage a cautious, personalized
  8. dietary
  9. the latest scientific
  10. supervision from
  1. metabolism
  2. evidence
  3. doubt on its merits
  4. aback by his findings
  5. of this dietary regimen
  6. recommendations
  7. with all manner of diets
  8. your healthcare team
  9. approach
  10. higher risk of dying

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
metabolism
much
faced
concluded
those
abounds
doubt
gap

The Internet (1) _________________________________ with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, (2) _________________________________ has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour (3) _________________________________ without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves (4) _________________________________ and assists in cellular repair. However, a new long-term study has cast (5) _________________________________ on its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China (6) _________________________________ that people who restricted their eating to fewer than eight hours a day (7) _________________________________ a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than (8) _________________________________ who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
likely
supervision
cautious
popular
period
ensuring
status
aback

The researchers analyzed data from about 20,000 adults over a six-year (9) _________________________________. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken (10) _________________________________ by his findings. He said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more (11) _________________________________ to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings encourage a (12) _________________________________, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, (13) _________________________________ they are aligned with an individual's health (14) _________________________________ and the latest scientific evidence." The Mayo Clinic observed that fasting has been (15) _________________________________ for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with (16) _________________________________ from your healthcare team."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The Internet abounds with all ______
     a.  manner of diet
     b.  manners of diets
     c.  manner off diets
     d.  manner of diets
2)  This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving ______
     a.  a 16-hour gap
     b.  a 16-hour gaps
     c.  a 16-hour gapped
     d.  a 16-hour gasp
3)  it improves metabolism and assists ______
     a.  at cellular repair
     b.  in cellular repair
     c.  in cellular repaired
     d.  in cellular prepare
4)  However, a new long-term study has cast doubt ______
     a.  on this merits
     b.  onus merits
     c.  on it's merits
     d.  on its merits
5)  faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying ______
     a.  frame cardiovascular diseases
     b.  from cardio-muscular diseases
     c.  from cardiovascular diseases
     d.  from cardiovascular diseased

6)  Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he ______
     a.  was taken back
     b.  was taken aback
     c.  was taken a back
     d.  was taken backing
7)  people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more ______
     a.  likely to dye
     b.  likely to dead
     c.  likely to death
     d.  likely to die
8)  encourage a cautious, personalized approach ______
     a.  two dietary recommendations
     b.  too dietary recommendations
     c.  to dietary recommendation
     d.  to dietary recommendations
9)  they are aligned with an individual's health status and the ______
     a.  latest scientific evidence
     b.  latest scientific evidential
     c.  late test scientific evidence
     d.  late test scientifically evidence
10)  It advised that intermittent fasting can be ______
     a.  safer at supervision
     b.  safer of supervision
     c.  safer with supervision
     d.  safer on supervision

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The Internet (1) _______________________________________________ manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, much has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This (2) _______________________________________________ eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour gap without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it (3) _______________________________________________ assists in cellular repair. However, a new long-term study has (4) _______________________________________________ its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people (5) _______________________________________________ eating to fewer than eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent (6) _______________________________________________ dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

The researchers (7) _______________________________________________ about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was (8) _______________________________________________ his findings. He said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were (9) _______________________________________________ die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings (10) _______________________________________________, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned with an individual's health status and the (11) _______________________________________________." The Mayo Clinic observed that fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be (12) _______________________________________________ from your healthcare team."

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the internet abound in?
  2. What do proponents of intermittent fasting say it improves?
  3. What do proponents of intermittent fasting say it repairs?
  4. What has cast doubt on the merits of intermittent fasting?
  5. How much greater risk of heart disease might intermittent fasters face?
  6. How long did researchers spend on the study?
  7. What were the lead researcher's feelings towards his research findings?
  8. What kind of approach did the researcher recommend towards fasting?
  9. For how long have people been fasting intermittently?
  10. Who did the Mayo Clinic say people should get supervision from?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What does the internet abound in?
a) advice about how to repair cells
b) advice about metabolism
c) a range of recipes
d) all manner of diets and dietary advice
2) What do proponents of intermittent fasting say it improves?
a) intelligence
b) metabolism
c) longevity
d) cooking skills
3) What do proponents of intermittent fasting say it repairs?
a) hair loss
b) cholesterol build-up
c) cells
d) memory loss
4) What has cast doubt on the merits of intermittent fasting?
a) a new long-term study
b) intermittent fasters
c) expert chefs
d) a journalist

5) How much greater risk of heart disease might intermittent fasters face?
a) 89%
b) 90%
c) 91%
d) 92%

6) How long did researchers spend on the study?
a) five years
b) six years
c) seven years
d) eight years
7) What were the lead researcher's feelings towards his research findings?
a) confusion
b) horror
c) happiness
d) surprise
8) What kind of approach did the researcher recommend towards fasting?
a) a cautious approach
b) a gung-ho approach
c) a planned approach
d) a healthy approach
9) For how long have people been fasting intermittently?
a) just under 1,500 years
b) exactly 1,500 years
c) over 1,500 years
d) around 1,500 years

10) Who did the Mayo Clinic say people should get supervision from?
a) clinics
b) a healthcare team
c) a chef
d) a nutritionist

Role play

Role  A – Italian
You think Chinese cuisine is the best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cuisine isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): Thai, Mexican or Lebanese.

Role  B – Thai
You think Thai cuisine is the best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cuisine isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): Chinese, Mexican or Lebanese.

Role  C – Mexican
You think Mexican cuisine is the best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cuisine isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): Thai, Chinese or Lebanese.

Role  D – Lebanese
You think Lebanese cuisine is the best. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their cuisine isn't as good. Also, tell the others which is the least tasty of these (and why): Thai, Mexican or Chinese.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'diet'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'fasting'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • Internet
    • recent
    • improves
    • merits
    • concluded
    • 12
    • 20,000
    • taken
    • surprised
    • added
    • status
    • safer

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Intermittent Fasting

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'diet'?
    3. What diets have you tried?
    4. What are the dangers of diets?
    5. What do you think of fasting?
    6. Is it easy for you to go without food for 16 hours?
    7. What dietary advice would you give to people?
    8. Which is best for health, a diet or exercise?
    9. What do you know about cardiovascular diseases?
    10. What advice do you have for someone wanting to lose weight?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'fasting'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How healthy is the food you eat every day?
    5. What changes would you like to make to your diet?
    6. What do you think of the expression 'You are what you eat'?
    7. Do you ever worry about what you eat?
    8. How much do you know about nutrition?
    9. Why has fasting been popular for 1,500 years?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The Internet (1) ____ with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, (2) ____ has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, (3) ____ a 16-hour gap without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves (4) ____ and assists in cellular repair. However, a new long-term study has cast doubt (5) ____ its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people who restricted their eating to fewer than eight hours a day (6) ____ a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

    The researchers analyzed (7) ____ from about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken (8) ____ by his findings. He said: "We were surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more (9) ____ to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings encourage a cautious, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned (10) ____ an individual's health status and the latest scientific evidence." The Mayo Clinic (11) ____ that fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision (12) ____ your healthcare team."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    (a)     astounds     (b)     abounds     (c)     aground     (d)     bounds    
    (a)     many     (b)     much     (c)     some     (d)     any    
    (a)     left     (b)     leave     (c)     leaves     (d)     leaving    
    (a)     embolism     (b)     metabolism     (c)     symbolism     (d)     cannibalism    
    (a)     of     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     to    
    (a)     headed     (b)     skulled     (c)     faced     (d)     backed    
    (a)     dative     (b)     datum     (c)     data     (d)     datable    
    (a)     back     (b)     backing     (c)     aback     (d)     backing    
    (a)     likes     (b)     liking     (c)     likelihood     (d)     likely    
    (a)     with     (b)     up     (c)     of     (d)     as    
    (a)     observed     (b)     watched     (c)     looked     (d)     viewed    
    (a)     up     (b)     down     (c)     from     (d)     along

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. The Internet bnsouda with all manner of diets
    2. This is cngnniofi daily eating
    3. pnotospenr of this
    4. it improves smiltmoeba
    5. assists in elrlcula repair
    6. people who ttiederrcs their eating

    Paragraph 2

    1. he was taken aabck
    2. a caiusotu, personalized approach
    3. dityrea recommendations
    4. ingalde with an individual's health status
    5. the latest scientific icenvede
    6. safer with nssorpieviu

    Put the text back together

    (    )   1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision from your healthcare team."
    (    )   about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour
    (    )   approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned with an individual's health status and the latest
    (    )   from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours.
    (    )   gap without any food. Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves metabolism and assists in cellular
    (    )   likely to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings encourage a cautious, personalized
    (    )   repair. However, a new long-term study has cast doubt on its merits. Researchers at the
    (    )   researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken aback by his findings. He said: "We were surprised
    (    )   scientific evidence." The Mayo Clinic observed that fasting has been popular for over
    (    )   Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people who restricted
    (  1  ) The Internet abounds with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, much has been written
    (    )   The researchers analyzed data from about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead
    (    )   their eating to fewer than eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying
    (    )   to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eating schedule were more

    Put the words in the right order

    1. The   abounds   Internet   manner   with   all   of   diets   .
    2. This   8-hour   to   confining   an   window   eating   is   .
    3. Proponents   metabolism   improves   it   this   say   of   .
    4. A   merits   doubt   study   cast   on   long-term   its   .
    5. A   diseases   risk   dying   cardiovascular   from   higher   of   .
    6. He   findings   his   was   aback   by   taken   .
    7. Our  personalized  findings  cautious,  a  approach  studys  encourage  .
    8. They   individual's   aligned   are   status   health   with   an   .
    9. Fasting   been   for   years   over   has   popular   1,500   .
    10. Intermittent   safer   be   with   supervision   fasting   can   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The Internet abets / abounds with all manner of diets and dietary advice. In recent years, much has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting. This is refining / confining daily eating to an 8-hour window, leaving a 16-hour gap / crevice without any food. Opponents / Proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves metabolism and assists in cellular disrepair / repair. However, a new long-term study has caste / cast doubt on its merits. Researchers at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in China concluded that people whom / who restricted their eating as / to fewer than eight hours a day faced / headed a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those / them who ate over 12 to 16 hours.

    The researchers analyzed datum / data from about 20,000 adults over a six-year period. Lead researcher Dr Victor Wenze Zhong said he was taken aback / back by his findings. He said: "We were surprising / surprised to find that people who followed an eight-hour, time-restricted eaten / eating schedule were more likely / likelihood to die from cardiovascular disease." He added: "Our study's findings discourage / encourage a cautious, personalized approach to dietary recommendations, ensuring they are aligned up / with an individual's health status and the latest scientific evidence / evidential." The Mayo Clinic observed that / what fasting has been popular for over 1,500 years. It advised that "Intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision from your healthcare / healthy team."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    Th_  _nt_rn_t  _b__nds  w_th  _ll  m_nn_r  _f  d__ts  _nd  d__t_ry  _dv_c_.  _n  r_c_nt  y__rs,  m_ch  h_s  b__n  wr_tt_n  _b__t  th_  b_n_f_ts  _f  _nt_rm_tt_nt  f_st_ng.  Th_s  _s  c_nf_n_ng  d__ly  __t_ng  t_  _n  8-h__r  w_nd_w,  l__v_ng  _  16-h__r  g_p  w_th__t  _ny  f__d.  Pr_p_n_nts  _f  th_s  d__t_ry  r_g_m_n  s_y  _t  _mpr_v_s  m_t_b_l_sm  _nd  _ss_sts  _n  c_ll_l_r  r_p__r.  H_w_v_r,  _  n_w  l_ng-t_rm  st_dy  h_s  c_st  d__bt  _n  _ts  m_r_ts.  R_s__rch_rs  _t  th_  Sh_ngh__  J___  T_ng  _n_v_rs_ty  Sch__l  _f  M_d_c_n_  _n  Ch_n_  c_ncl_d_d  th_t  p__pl_  wh_  r_str_ct_d  th__r  __t_ng  t_  f_w_r  th_n  __ght  h__rs  _  d_y  f_c_d  _  91  p_r  c_nt  h_gh_r  r_sk  _f  dy_ng  fr_m  c_rd__v_sc_l_r  d_s__s_s  th_n  th_s_  wh_  _t_  _v_r  12  t_  16  h__rs.

    Th_  r_s__rch_rs  _n_lyz_d  d_t_  fr_m  _b__t  20,000  _d_lts  _v_r  _  s_x-y__r  p_r__d.  L__d  r_s__rch_r  Dr  V_ct_r  W_nz_  Zh_ng  s__d  h_  w_s  t_k_n  _b_ck  by  h_s  f_nd_ngs.  H_  s__d:  "W_  w_r_  s_rpr_s_d  t_  f_nd  th_t  p__pl_  wh_  f_ll_w_d  _n  __ght-h__r,  t_m_-r_str_ct_d  __t_ng  sch_d_l_  w_r_  m_r_  l_k_ly  t_  d__  fr_m  c_rd__v_sc_l_r  d_s__s_."  H_  _dd_d:  "__r  st_dy's  f_nd_ngs  _nc__r_g_  _  c__t___s,  p_rs_n_l_z_d  _ppr__ch  t_  d__t_ry  r_c_mm_nd_t__ns,  _ns_r_ng  th_y  _r_  _l_gn_d  w_th  _n  _nd_v_d__l's  h__lth  st_t_s  _nd  th_  l_t_st  sc__nt_f_c  _v_d_nc_."  Th_  M_y_  Cl_n_c  _bs_rv_d  th_t  f_st_ng  h_s  b__n  p_p_l_r  f_r  _v_r  1,500  y__rs.  _t  _dv_s_d  th_t  "_nt_rm_tt_nt  f_st_ng  c_n  b_  s_f_r  w_th  s_p_rv_s__n  fr_m  y__r  h__lthc_r_  t__m."

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the internet abounds with all manner of diets and dietary advice in recent years much has been written about the benefits of intermittent fasting this is confining daily eating to an 8hour window leaving a 16hour gap without any food proponents of this dietary regimen say it improves metabolism and assists in cellular repair however a new longterm study has cast doubt on its merits researchers at the shanghai jiao tong university school of medicine in china concluded that people who restricted their eating to fewer than eight hours a day faced a 91 per cent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular diseases than those who ate over 12 to 16 hours

    the researchers analyzed data from about 20000 adults over a sixyear period lead researcher dr victor wenze zhong said he was taken aback by his findings he said we were surprised to find that people who followed an eighthour timerestricted eating schedule were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease he added our studys findings encourage a cautious personalized approach to dietary recommendations ensuring they are aligned with an individuals health status and the latest scientific evidence the mayo clinic observed that fasting has been popular for over 1500 years it advised that intermittent fasting can be safer with supervision from your healthcare team

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheInternetaboundswithallmannerofdietsanddietaryadvice.Inrece
    ntyears,muchhasbeenwrittenaboutthebenefitsofintermittentfastin
    g.Thisisconfiningdailyeatingtoan8-hourwindow,leavinga16-hourg
    apwithoutanyfood.Proponentsofthisdietaryregimensayitimprovesm
    etabolismandassistsincellularrepair.However,anewlong-termstud
    yhascastdoubtonitsmerits.ResearchersattheShanghaiJiaoTongUniv
    ersitySchoolofMedicineinChinaconcludedthatpeoplewhorestrictedth
    eireatingtofewerthaneighthoursadayfaceda91percenthigherriskofd
    yingfromcardiovasculardiseasesthanthosewhoateover12to16hours
    .Theresearchersanalyzeddatafromabout20,000adultsoverasix-yea
    rperiod.LeadresearcherDrVictorWenzeZhongsaidhewastakenaback
    byhisfindings.Hesaid:"Weweresurprisedtofindthatpeoplewhofollow
    edaneight-hour,time-restrictedeatingscheduleweremorelikelytodie
    fromcardiovasculardisease."Headded:"Ourstudy'sfindingsencoura
    geacautious,personalizedapproachtodietaryrecommendations,ens
    uringtheyarealignedwithanindividual'shealthstatusandthelatestscie
    ntificevidence."TheMayoClinicobservedthatfastinghasbeenpopularf
    orover1,500years.Itadvisedthat"Intermittentfastingcanbesaferwit
    hsupervisionfromyourhealthcareteam."

    Free writing

    Write about intermittent fasting for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Fasting is good for us. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. DIETS: Make a poster about diets. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. FASTING: Write a magazine article about fasting. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on fasting. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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