Reading Smart B: Unit 39

Section 2---Unit 39 Food and Health

Is Drinking Milk Really Good for Us?

For generations, milk has been promoted as a food source that is packed with vitamins and minerals. However, nutrition experts have recently begun to question whether milk really is good for us.

Let's look first at the benefits of drinking milk. Milk has a high concentration of calcium and vitamin D, which are necessary for maintaining strong bones. People who don't drink milk tend not to get enough of these nutrients, and this can lead to bone loss and fractures

Another benefit of milk is that it contains a lot of potassium, which regulates the amount of salt in the body. Too much salt and too little potassium may increase the risk of high blood pressure. Some scientists also think that the acids found in milk can reduce the chances of a heart attack. Milk has also been linked to a lower risk of certain diseases such as colon cancer.

However, several recent studies have shown that milk isn't all it's cracked up to be. One analysis revealed that milk doesn't reduce the risk of fractures, while other studies indicated that a high consumption of milk actually increases fracture rates. Furthermore, it was shown that countries with the lowest milk consumption have the lowest rates of fractures.

Research conducted in Canada and in Italy has also linked milk consumption to a higher risk of prostate cancer. Over recent decades, other studies have linked milk consumption to acne, asthma, heart disease, and other problems.

Presented with so much conflicting evidence on the benefits of milk, what should we do? There's no need to avoid milk altogether, but it's also probably not necessary to drink as much of it as was suggested in the past. For those of us wanting to cut back on milk consumption, there are plenty of other healthy choices.

Reading Comprehension

(   ) 1. Which of the following is mentioned as a benefit of drinking milk?

(A) It regulates salt in the body.

(B) It reduces the amount of acne.

(C) It helps with the symptoms of asthma.

(D) It can prevent heart disease.

(   ) 2. Which of the following is NOT true, according to the article?

(A) People who don't drink milk are more likely to suffer from bone loss.

(B) Recent studies show drinking too much milk can increase fracture rates.

(C) Some scientists think drinking milk can decrease the possibility of heart disease, but others have different opinions.

(D) Milk is linked to a lower risk of certain diseases such as prostate

(   ) 3. What is the main idea of the article?

(A) To examine whether milk is good for us

(B) To look at research coming out of Canada and Italy

(C) To talk about the diseases related to milk

(D) To discuss the disadvantages of drinking too much milk

(   ) 4. What suggestion does the writer give for consuming milk?

(A) Never drink milk.                         (B) Drink milk sometimes.

(C) Drink milk every day.                   (D) Drink milk once a month.