1 . That rapidly expanding market has been built around seltzer water − a product favored by celebrities and influencers alike. Despite its growing popularity, seltzer water has some known disadvantages and plenty of advantages that consumers might want to be aware of.

Seltzer water, also called sparking water(气泡水) or bubbly water, “is created when carbon dioxide bubbles are added to still water,” says Jamie Bering, MD, a gastroenterologist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. Indeed, it’s the injection of that carbon dioxide gas under pressure “that causes the bubbles and fizzy quality of seltzer water,” explain Jen Messer, a nutrition consultant at Jen Messer Nutrition. 

Though seltzer water is just as hydrating(补水) as regular water, it does have some advantages and disadvantages different than drinking tap water alone. Messer says that sparking water can be “more interesting, appealing and enjoyable than plain water” especially so because it often comes in “a wide variety of flavors.” 33 , “which makes seltzer water a good choice for those looking to reduce their calorie intake or avoid added sugars.” In this way, sparking water can also be a great way to transition away from soda. “Seltzer water can be used as a healthier alternative to drinking soda,” says Bering.

Lisa Young, a professor of nutrition at New York University, says that some people who drink the bubbly liquid “have also found that drinking seltzer water can also provide temporary relief from indigestion(消化不良).” 

But seltzer water has some disadvantages as well. For instance, Messer agrees that many people have reported that seltzer water can help with indigestion, but “interestingly, other individuals have found that seltzer water actually causes stomach discomfort such as bloating or gas.”

And Messer says the liquid isn’t great for anyone trying to reduce sodium(钠) in their diets. “Your favorite can of seltzer water may have 100 or 200 milligrams of sodium, which doesn’t seem like much, but it can really add up,” she says. That’s especially worth keeping in mind for people watching their blood pressure. 

Young says that because seltzer water is also acidic, “high consumption may affect the teeth over time.” In fact, not only can such acidity cause tooth decay, but people who drink a lot of seltzer water may also not be getting as much decay-preventing fluoride(氟化物) as people who drink tap water since fluoride is added to most supplies of drinking water in America.

2 . How to Grow Taller

As we all know, your height is mostly determined by your genetics. Once your growth plates (生长板) are joined together, you will stop growing taller, which usually happens between 14 and 20.     1     Of course, there are many ways you can find on the Internet to help, such as, good nutrition, a healthy lifestyle and exercise. But today, we’re just going to focus on nutrition.

Add more protein into your diet.

Protein helps your body build healthy body mass, like muscles.     2     Not only eat protein at every meal, but also include it in your snacks. For instance, you might eat yogurt at breakfast, tuna fish for lunch, chicken at dinner, and string cheese as a snack.

Eat an egg every day if you’re not allergic to them.

Kindergarten teachers have observed something typical and interesting. Young children who eat a whole egg daily may grow taller than kids who don’t. And this has been proved clinically. Eggs contain protein and vitamins that support healthy growth and they’re also quite affordable. Eat an egg for one meal every day to potentially help you get taller. But here is a tip for you.     3    

Take calcium and vitamin supplements.

    4     However, your daily meals can’t supply enough for your growth. Supplements may help you grow taller by meeting your nutritional needs. Calcium and vitamins A and D are especially important because they support strong bones. Talk to your doctor to find out if supplements are right for you. Keep in mind that vitamins won’t make you grow taller than your genetics allow.

    5    

Dairy contains protein, calcium, and vitamins to nourish your body. While milk is a great choice, yogurt and cheese are also great sources of dairy. Include 1 serving of your favorite dairy product into your daily diet.

By the 1980s, doctors, federal health experts, the food industry     1     the news media were reporting that a low-fat diet could benefit everyone, even though there was no solid evidence     2     doing so would prevent heart disease, obesity and other health     3     (issue).

As a result, said Vijaya Surampudi,     4     assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, many people and food manufacturers replaced calories from fat     5     calories from refined carbohydrates (碳水化合物) such as white flour and added sugar.

In reality, not all fats are bad.     6     certain types, such as trans fats (反式脂肪), can increase your risk for heart disease or stroke, healthy fats help reduce your risk,       7     include monounsaturated fats (单不饱和脂肪酸) (found in olive oil and certain nuts and seeds) and polyunsaturated fats (多不饱和脂肪酸) (found in sunflower oil, walnuts, fish and flaxseed). Good fats are also important for supplying energy, producing important hormones, supporting cell function and aiding in the     8     (absorb) of some nutrients.

If you see a product     9     (label) “fat free,” don’t     10     (automatic) assume it is healthy, Dr Surampudi said. Instead, prioritize products with simple ingredients and no added sugars.

Why would someone decide not to eat? We know that the body needs food     1     (function) well. However, many people fast at some time during their lives. Why is this?

Some people fast for political reasons. Mohandas Gandhi, the famous Indian leader, fasted 17 times during his life. For Gandhi, fasting was a powerful political tool. Fasting is also a     2     (spirit) practice in many religions. Every year during the month of Ramadan,     3     is a religious holiday, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. Many Hindus fast     4     special occasions,     5     do some Christians and Buddhists.

Of course not everyone fasts for political or religious reasons. Some people     6     (occasion) fast just because     7     makes them feel better. The American writer Mark Twain thought fasting was the best medicine for common     8     (ill). Another American writer, Upton Sinclair, discovered fasting after years of overeating, indigestion, and headache. His first fast lasted for 12 days. During this time, his headaches and stomachaches went away. Sinclair said that fasting also made him more alert and energetic.

    9     (choose) to go without food can be very dangerous. However, that doesn’t stop people     10     (fast) for political, religious, or health reasons.

7 . A research model of dietary intake in 184 countries, developed by researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, estimates that poor diet contributed to over 14.1 million cases of type 2 diabetes (糖尿病) in 2018, representing over 70% of new diagnoses globally. The analysis, which looked at data from 1990 and 2018, provides valuable insight into which dietary factors are driving the burden of type 2 diabetes in the world region.

Of the 11 dietary factors considered, 3 had an outsized contribution to the rising global incidence of type 2 diabetes: insufficient intake of whole grains, excesses of refined (精制的) rice and wheat, and the overconsumption of processed meat. Factors such as drinking too much fruit juice and not eating enough non-starchy vegetables, nuts, or seeds, had less of an impact on new cases of the disease.

“Our study suggests poor carbohydrate quality is a leading driver of diet-attributable type2 diabetes globally, and with important variation by nation and over time,” said senior author Dariush Mozaffarian, Jean Mayer Professor of Nutrition. “These new findings reveal critical areas for national and global focus to improve nutrition and reduce devastating burdens of diabetes.”

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the resistance of the body’s cells to insulin (胰岛素). Of the 184 countries included in the Nature Medicine study, all saw an increase in type 2 diabetes cases between 1990 and 2018, representing a growing burden on individuals, families, and healthcare systems.

The analysis revealed that poor diet is causing a larger proportion of total type 2 diabetes incidence in men versus women, in younger versus older adults, and in urban versus rural residents at the global level. Regionally, Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, particularly in Poland and Russia, where diets tend to be rich in red meat, processed meat, and potatoes, had the greatest number of type 2 diabetes cases linked to diet.