雅思阅读真题（Part 2）
黑巧克力健康益处：护心降压与抗氧化
本篇也叫：黑巧克力、黑巧、黑朱古力、可可黄烷醇、黑巧克力对心脏的好处、吃黑巧克力降血压
Part 2 · 考频：超高频 · 最近考试：2025.4.15湖北省对外交流中心
本篇为雅思阅读真题（Part 2）《Dark chocolate's health benefits》，共 13 题，2025.4.15湖北省对外交流中心雅思考试真题回忆，页面提供完整原文、题目、答案与解析，并支持在线机考模式免费练习。本页同时提供 Markdown 版本 供 AI 助手与搜索引擎直接读取。
文章讨论黑巧克力是否真能降低心脏病和中风风险。黑巧克力中的可可黄烷醇具有抗氧化和抗炎特性，可能帮助降血压、保护心血管；但个体肠道菌群差异会影响吸收效果，且巧克力摄入与2型糖尿病风险的研究证据仍需谨慎看待。
Researchers are investigating whether taking dark chocolate daily can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
A
Dark chocolate is gaining a reputation as a healthy food,and research suggests that there might be some substance behind those claims. Ginger Hultin, owner of Champagne Nutrition in Seattle and a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says 'Cocoa contains antioxidants in addition to magnesium,potassium,zinc,and iron. Plus, studies have shown that there could be some benefit to consuming chocolate or cocoa for the cardiovascular system, including potentially lowering blood pressure.
B
Dark chocolate's health benefits come from its cocoa -- specifically its cocoa flavanols. Flavanols are a type of polyphenol, and polyphenols are one group of phytochemicals. Many fruits and vegetables contain flavanols, but they are especially rich in tea,wine,and cocoa. During digestion, cocoa is broken down into smaller chemical compounds. Some research suggests that these compounds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may help protect against cardiovascular disease, which affects both the heart and brain. For example, research has found that even two weeks of eating dark chocolate or other flavanol rich cocoa products is better than a placebo for lowering blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure, although not to normal levels. In 2013, the European Food Safety Authority approved the claim that cocoa flavanols help maintain normal blood pressure, which means that the cost involved in future medical treatment may be less than scientists previously predicted.
C
Researchers have also pointed out that people may digest cocoa differently. Variations in gut bacteria can influence how flavanols are processed and absorbed in the body. As a result, the health effects of cocoa may differ from person to person, depending on individual digestive systems and dietary habits.
D
Data from the long-running Physicians' Health Study suggests that chocolate intake is associated with a reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in younger and normal-weight men. However, take those findings with a grain of salt, because they were based on a single question about average yearly intake of chocolate that didn't ask what type of chocolate white,milk,or dark-says Howard Sesso, an associate professor of preventive medicine at Brigham and Wechat Straightedge Hospital in Boston. 'If we assume that any benefits from cocoa are attributable to its flavanol content, then dark chocolate should in theory confer greater benefits than milk chocolate.' Sesso and other researchers are investigating whether taking daily supplements of 600 mg of cocoa flavanols-not chocolate itself-reduces the risk for developing heart disease and stroke, as well as cancer. However, they have yet to determine how much people need to consume to reap benefits.
F
Even though cocoa is a key ingredient in milk and dark chocolate, you can't really be sure how many flavanols you're getting. 'Product packaging does not specify amounts of cocoa flavanols, only percent cacao,' Sesso says. 'Variable processing of the cocoa bean makes it difficult to equate percent cacao with cocoa flavanol content.' White chocolate contains no cocoa solids, milk chocolate contains relatively small amounts of cocoa, while dark chocolate contains a much higher percentage of cocoa. Cocoa may also appear in the form of cocoa powder, cocoa butter, or concentrated cocoa extracts.
G
In the meantime, remember that chocolate products are typically high in calories and fats; therefore, Sesso says it's best not to think of dark chocolate as a health food. 'Moderation is key; if someone enjoys eating chocolate, it should be done in moderation along with other foods.' So for now, it's best not to put all your flavanol eggs in a dark chocolate basket. "We get different phytochemicals and antioxidants from a wide variety of foods,' Hultin says. 'Including different colors of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans is the best way to gain access to fiber that could support health.' That said,she does recommend enjoying a bit of chocolate or cocoa. 'I put cocoa powder in my smoothies for an added boost of flavor, nutrients and antioxidants.
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答案：F
原文定位：Cocoa may also appear in the form of cocoa powder, cocoa butter, or concentrated cocoa extracts
同义替换：「different kinds of cocoa」↔「cocoa powder, cocoa butter, or concentrated cocoa extracts」
答案：B
原文定位：During digestion, cocoa is broken down into smaller chemical compounds. Some research suggests that these compounds have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may help protect against cardiovascular disease, which affects both the heart and brain
同义替换：「chemicals produced during cocoa digestion」↔「cocoa is broken down into smaller chemical」，「reduce the risks of diseases」↔「protect against cardiovascular disease」
答案：D
原文定位：Data from the long-running Physicians' Health Study suggests that chocolate intake is associated with a reduced risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in younger and normal-weight men
同义替换：「a group of people」↔「younger and normal-weight men」
答案：G
原文定位：I put cocoa powder in my smoothies for an added boost of flavor, nutrients and antioxidants
同义替换：「specific way」↔「put cocoa powder in」
答案：C
原文定位：Researchers have also pointed out that people may digest cocoa differently
同义替换：「differences in the way people digest cocoa」↔「people may digest cocoa differently」
答案：Ginger Hultin
原文定位：Including different colors of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans is the best way to gain access to fiber that could support health
同义替换：「improve」↔「support」
答案：European Food Safety Authority
原文定位：In 2013, the European Food Safety Authority approved the claim that cocoa flavanols help maintain normal blood pressure, which means that the cost involved in future medical treatment may be less than scientists previously predicted
同义替换：「reduce」↔「may be less」，「spending」↔「cost」
答案：Ginger Hultin
原文定位：So for now, it's best not to put all your flavanol eggs in a dark chocolate basket
答案：Howard Sesso
原文定位：However, they have yet to determine how much people need to consume to reap benefits
同义替换：「amount of cocoa required」↔「how much people need to consume」，「remains uncertain」↔「have yet to determine」
答案：compounds
原文定位：During digestion, cocoa is broken down into smaller chemical compounds
同义替换：「less」↔「smaller」
答案：benefits
原文定位：If we assume that any benefits from cocoa are attributable to its flavanol content, then dark chocolate should in theory confer greater benefits than milk chocolate
同义替换：「vary according to chocolate type」↔「confer greater benefits than milk chocolate」，「outperforming」↔「greater」
答案：fats
原文定位：In the meantime, remember that chocolate products are typically high in calories and fats; therefore, Sesso says it's best not to think of dark chocolate as a health food
同义替换：「richness of」↔「high in」
答案：fiber
原文定位：Including different colors of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans is the best way to gain access to fiber that could support health
同义替换：「dietary diversity」↔「different colors of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans」，「acquiring」↔「gain access to」