UNIT 1: LIFESTYLE

1B

The Secrets of a

Long Life

The island of Okinawa in Japan has some of the oldest people in the world. It’s famous for its high number of centenarians—men and women who live beyond one hundred years of age. Some of the reasons for their good health are that they:

• G0 fishing and eat what they catch.

• Do a lot of gardening and grow their own fruit and vegetables

• Go cycling and never drive when ‘they can walk often spend time with friends. They meet at people'shouses and play games.

• Rarely buy food from a supermarket.

• Do regular exercise, go swimming and lead active lives.

1C

NATURE

IS GOOD FOR YOU

How do you feel about nature? After spending hours indoors, do you often feel like going outside for a walk? Or if you work for hours at your office desk, do you feel better when you take a break and visit your local park? Most people think that nature is good for us; it's good for our bodies and for our brains. However, humans are spending more time inside and less time outside. For example, the number of visitors to Canada’s national parks is getting lower every year. And in countries such as the USA, only 10% of teenagers spend time outside every day. Many doctors feel that this is a problem in the twenty-first century, and that it is making our physical health worse. As a result, some doctors are studying the connection between nature and health: one example of this is the work of Dr. Matilda van den Bosch in Sweden.

The doctor gave people a math test. During the test, their heart rate was faster. After the test, a group of people sat in a 3D-virtual-reality room for fifteen minutes with pictures and sounds of nature. Their heart rates were slower than those in the other group. As a result, some doctors are studying the connection between nature and health: one example of this is the work of Dr. Matilda van den Bosch in Sweden. The doctor gave people a math test. During the test, their heart rate was faster. After the test, a group of people sat in a 3D-virtual-reality room for fifteen minutes with pictures and sounds of nature. Their heart rates were slower than those in the other group.