3 . Doing housework can improve memory, increase your ability to concentrate, and give you strength to protect you from falls.

That’s the hot topic from the BMJ Open, which recently published the findings of a study in which researchers from Singapore explored the relationship between housework and health.     1     However, this was one of the first studies to test the relationship between housework and cognitive (认知的) function.

To test out their theory, researchers enlisted 249 adults between the ages of 21 and 64. First, all the participants completed questionnaires asking how much housework they did, and how often they did it.     2     The cognitive test measured how quickly individuals could recall a memory and how long their attention lasted. The physical function test mainly involved their strength to avoid falls.

The team found that the more housework they did, the better the adults scored on both cognitive and physical tests.     3     And, light housework was linked to a 12 percent higher score on memory recall. In addition, housework reduced sit-to-stand time and improved the strength of older adults.

    4     For one thing, cleaning house—much as you might find it a boring thing—is more mentally inspiring than watching TV. If you’re painting the walls a different color, for example, you’re training your motor skills, coordination(协调), concentration, and memory.     5    

So, what’s the takeaway? Stop putting off that big house project! Accomplish three things—mental activity, physical activity, and housework—for the price of one.

You can be happy even when you’re suffering from illness, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the aspects of your health     1     are in your control. Exercise and sleep are particularly important when it comes     2     happiness.

Making exercise a regular habit isn’t just good for the body. It also has a     3     (power) effect on mental well-being. People who exercise regularly are happier across the board. Plus, they’re also less stressed, anxious, and     4     (depress).

It doesn’t really matter     5     kind of exercise you do, so long as you do it regularly. For the best results, aim for an hour of exercise at least five days a week. If you find something you enjoy, you’ll be more likely     6     (stick) to it. So don’t think you’re limited to     7     (go) to the gym. Find something that suits your lifestyle and preferences. If you’re having trouble thinking of activities you enjoy, think back to when you     8     (be) a kid. What sports or games did you like to play?

Also, getting quality sleep every night directly     9     (affect) your happiness, and emotional stability during the day. When you re lacking sleep, you’re much easier to stress. It’s harder to be productive, think creatively, and make wise     10     (decide). The average person needs at least 7.5 - 9 hours each night.

7 . The Ebola virus is an infectious disease that for years had almost no treatments, and it kill s about half the people it infects. Now a new study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases shows that a promising vaccine (疫苗), named rVSV△G-ZEBOV-GP, doesn’t just help to reduce infections, it also can cut those death numbers in half.

The vaccine is a single-dose (单剂) muscular one that causes cells to produce one of the virus’s proteins. “Later, if the person is exposed to Ebola,”explains Rebecca Coulborn, a scientist with Epicentre, the medical research arm of Doctors Without Borders, “their immune system will recognize the viral protein. This recognition allows the immune system to be prepared to attack the virus and protect the person from Ebola virus disease.”

Researchers showed rVSV△G-ZEBOV-GP was effective at reducing the risk of infection, but no one knew how capable it was of preventing death in someone who was vaccinated after becoming infected during an epidemic (流行病). To figure it out, Coulborn and her colleagues focused their efforts on the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, which occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo between 2018 and 2020.

“Every single Ebola health facility across the entire Ebola epidemic had a standardized list of all admissions,” says Coulborn. This list included 2,279 confirmed Ebola patients, and it recorded whether or not each person had been vaccinated before they got sick—and if so, when they’d received the vaccine.

Coulborn found the death rate was 56% among the unvaccinated. But for those who’d received the vaccine, that rate was cut in half. This was true no matter when someone got vaccinated before the appearance of symptoms. Additionally, those who’d been vaccinated had less virus circulating in their bodies than those who hadn’t. So the vaccine played an important role.

Rebecca Coulborn says she feels buoyed by the results—since they offer clear evidence that people who’re at risk of contracting Ebola should be vaccinated early. It’s an opportunity to cut chains of transmission (传播) and prevent an outbreak before it gains speed.

9 . YOLO, the highest-grossing movie of this year’s Spring Festival holiday has _________ a weight loss craziness among the Chinese _________. Though Jia said the story was intended to _________ self-care, her surprising physical transformation — she halved her weight in about a year, has stirred a discussion on slimming and encouraged viewers to hit the _________ or change their diets.

However doctors warn that such a rapid loss of weight is not healthy, and has _________ risks. It is possible to lose 50 kilograms in a little over a year, which _________ losing less than 5 kilograms per month, said Chen Qiuxia, a famous _________. But it is vital to undergo this process under the _________ support of professional nutritionists. Chen said for health and safety _________, a weight loss of 50 kilograms should take at least 6 months. If one aims to lose this much weight in a shorter period, the body might __________.

The key to staying fit is __________ a healthy lifestyle and understanding that weight loss is a long, gradual journey. To lose weight in a healthy way, you need to set a long-term goal that __________ several reachable short-term goals. It would be better to work out a schedule and __________ it, rather than blindly trying extreme workload to lose weight.

Regarding __________, the most important thing is to find a type of exercise that is safe and easy to continue in the long run, and it is important to __________ cardio (有氧运动) with resistance training.

10 . Best Running Apps of 2024

Whether you’re new to running or a seasoned marathoner, finding the best running app to help you set goals, record metrics(指标), and track your progress is key to sticking with a training programme. Here are the best running apps to help you hit your running.

Runkeeper

Runkeeper allows you to set goals and watch your progress to stay motivated. If you’re into biking or fitness walking, you can track those activities as well. For runners training for races, Runkeeper has tailored training programmes, complete with helpful reminders to keep you on track.

MapMyRun

MapMyRun is a running app that has stood the test of time. It first served as a way to measure running routes, but the latest version offers runners many more cool and helpful features. You can use it to track your runs, find running routes locally or in new cities, and get feedback on your statistics so you can improve your performance.

Strava

If you love the social and competitive aspects of running, Strava is the app for you. You can compare your times with other members of the Strava community or with your own group of friends to boost your motivation. It also has a safety feature called Beacon which allows you to share your real-time location with up to three people while you’re running.

C25K 5K Trainer

C25K features the popular walk/run method of training for 5K distances designed for entry-level runners wanting to ease into running or train for races. With pre-designed training plans, C25K guides you through three workouts a week and keeps track of your progress and routes.