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Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and Minerals

Date: Jun 06 2008

Themes: Health

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

For every ailment, there’s a vitamin or mineral. Have a cold? Take some zinc. Can’t focus? Try some vitamin B.

supplements[/def] are a big industry. There’s no doubt they can do a lot of good. But there are so many, how do you know which ones you really need? Marni and Jason both fancy themselves vitamin experts.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Jason

Jason

Marni:  So, do you take a lot of vitamins?

Jason:  I take so many. I take so many supplements.

Marni:  Really? Do tell.

Jason:  I take garlic for my immune system. Calcium because I don’t eat a ton of dairy, really.

Marni:  Neither do I. That’s good.

Jason:  I take evening primrose oil…

Marni:  For what?

Jason:  ...which keeps my skin clear.

Marni:  It is good for that. I don’t know very many men who take that.

Jason:  Oh really? My mom is obsessed with this stuff so she’s always passing along some new supplement or vitamin. Do you take ‘em?

Marni:  I do. I take…I’ve sort of tried to pare down because for a while I felt like for a while I was like, “It’s a supplement. I want to take it!” which really isn’t very healthy for you.

Jason:  And you end up taking a handful of pills everyday.

Marni:  Yeah, and it gets a little cumbersome. But I have to say I’m kind of a secret closeted fan of Dr. Oz, he’s always on Oprah and he was talking about supplements and what you really should take and he recommends everyone take a multivitamin. So I do do that. And calcium and in conjunction with magnesium. But I think the main thing I keep hearing lately and I’ve been reading about is vitamin D because we’re so vitamin D deficient because…

Jason:  The sun…

Marni:  There’s no sun here! So I actually take fish oil. I feel like a 80-year-old woman, I’ve got my fish oil, you know. And it has vitamin D in it and it gets you all the omegas you’re supposed to get in your diet.

Jason:  Interesting. I often wonder though, when I’m taking all my supplements. I’m like, “How did people live before supplements?”

Marni:  Exactly!

Jason:  I mean, there had to be some way to get all this stuff without these pills.

Marni:  Right. Well that’s also why probably why people died at the age of 40 on the farm.

 

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Discussion

Jason takes a lot of vitamins. His mother sends them to him. He even takes evening primrose oil, which is normally only taken by women, because it keeps his skin clear.

Marni takes vitamins, too, but she’s trying to cut back. She’s afraid she’s taking too many pills and that it isn’t healthy.

She trusts a doctor she watches on TV who suggests everyone take a multivitamin and calcium and magnesium. She also takes vitamin D, which helps the body use calcium and which you absorb from sunlight. Since she lives in a rainy city, Marni doesn’t see much of the sun.

Even though he takes them, Jason thinks its strange to take so many vitamins since people lived just fine without them until recently. Marni points out that people didn’t used to live as long.

Do you take any dietary supplements?

 

Comments

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sara1998

sara1998

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

well i take zink pills.how ever,some people say that it’s not necessary but i just do that and i think there’s nothing wrong about it!


:)

02:24 PM Jul 10 2014 |

goldie54

Canada

taking some supplements is so important for me…i know , many people will be disagree, but depends in what country you live..people in Canada don`t have lots sunny day and we are take VItamin D..I take multivitamine during the spring time..but OMEGA_3 is also good for brain and hart..calcium is important if you have problem with bones or if you have osteoarthritis…


01:52 AM Mar 03 2013 |

nellis

nellis

Indonesia

Innocent It's difficult to give my opinion about this issues, I think every one have it's own purpose to keep their health. For me eating a fresh one is the best choice, I never count on Vitamin or supplement, I keep myself prevented from negative thinking and relaxing to face this life, I believe everything will be running as God willingness.Keep the heart in gladness and the health will follow.

09:16 AM Mar 04 2009 |

1 person likes this

miffoo

miffoo

Slovakia

I think eat many supplements is unhealthy.

When you want to be healthy you must live healthy eat  much fresh fruits, vegetables and more exercise. That's best way to be healthy!!

02:20 PM Mar 03 2009 |

yousef81

Jordan

يوسف

07:16 AM Aug 04 2008 |

samorfox

samorfox

Algeria

i don't like to take pills ! i like natual things ( from food ) ;)

07:21 PM Jun 12 2008 |

Madzia_

Madzia_

Poland

i think taking too many supplements is really unhealthy. i don't take any, maybe sometimes. eating different kinds of food including meat, fish, vegatables, fruit and other is full of all vitamins.

05:52 PM Jun 12 2008 |

Rosetta82

Spain

It's important to eat all because of the vitamins

 

11:42 AM Jun 12 2008 |

8rees

8rees

Japan

I don't do that at all!!!

And I'm very healthy. I don't need them.

Taking too many supplements is just supporting pharmaceutical companies.

06:40 AM Jun 12 2008 |

swallow_

swallow_

Ukraine

If the pills were pleasant, they would not be gilded

03:06 PM Jun 11 2008 |

jasminealiya

Indonesia

wow intristing

02:30 PM Jun 11 2008 |

rosarios

Mexico

I think it might depend on how many energy do you need during the day,if you do a lot of fisical work maybe you should need more vitamines and calories and all this stuff, if not, maybe with a balanced diet is enough, but always is better consult a specialist.

11:38 PM Jun 10 2008 |

nellis

nellis

Indonesia

I agree with you to take some vitamins and minerals under doctor suggestion  but is not good without any Doctor advice  if you used to consumption it  daily like eating a cake, thank you for your comment.

03:54 AM Jun 10 2008 |

mmmggg

mmmggg

Peru

It ok taken vitamins and supplement but sometime under medical advice

08:36 PM Jun 09 2008 |

mmmggg

mmmggg

Peru

I am agree in taken vitamins and suppements, but always under mediacal prescripton

08:34 PM Jun 09 2008 |

Rosetta82

Spain

I think that taking a lot of supplements is not too healthy because those supplements are not natural.

05:17 PM Jun 09 2008 |

drijan

drijan

United Kingdom

I have never understand people who taken the pills. they just poisen usand destroy our healthy. if you wanna be healty you should eat less and make a exercises and sleep enough. all you need that all.

 

04:48 PM Jun 09 2008 |

nellis

nellis

Indonesia

Well Abey what ever the sales strategy they need to raise their goal a consumer and last to have benefit but we can't do a priory for this business we have to  learn and take the best thing for us just doing what we want to, to keep healthy is ourself duty, I hope you agree with me.

03:10 PM Jun 09 2008 |

Renulka

Slovakia

I dont take supplements because is it very stupid.Foot in mouth

02:48 PM Jun 09 2008 |

patricia_divina_velasquez

Philippines

i don't usually take food supplements. i only do if i feel like needing it.

01:34 PM Jun 09 2008 |

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