环球英语 1242 Using the Soybean
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Joshua Leo.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand - no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
At Kansas State University, the American football game begins. The players run onto a large green football field. But this field is not real grass. It is a material called turf. It almost seems like plastic. But it is made from something surprising – soybeans! The small soy, or soya, bean is a yellow plant seed. Soy beans are traditionally a food crop. People all over the world eat them in many ways. Soybeans are also used in more and more industrial products. Today’s Spotlight is on the soy bean.
Voice 2
The story of the soybean begins in China. Thousands of years ago, people began to plant soy on their fields. They found an amazing result. While it grows, the soy plant puts good substances in the soil. This helps the other crops to grow well. Dr. Ping-ti Ho is an expert on Chinese history. He wrote a book about the history of Chinese farming. In it, he explained the importance of the soybean:
Voice 3
“The soybean had a huge effect on the farming and nutrition of the ancient Chinese. Finally, the Chinese had found a food plant that did not decrease soil quality. Soy even helped to protect the soil and improve the crops. The soybean supplied all classes of the population with more protein food. It also cost less money. The ancient Chinese cropping system was not well balanced until after people began using soybeans. Once people knew about the good qualities of the soybean it spread around the country quickly.”
Voice 1
The soy bean quickly became a big part of the Chinese diet. It was very important food. All beans, including soy, provide protein. A person must eat protein for her body to be healthy. Protein gives her body strength and protects her from disease. Soy is very high in protein. And it costs less money to grow and buy than other kinds of protein, like meat and milk.
Voice 2
The ancient Chinese found many good tasting ways to eat the soybean. Usually, they would ferment the soybeans first. This is a way to prepare the beans to make them better to eat. People would first boil the beans. Then they put the soybeans in salt water for a few days. And finally, they dried the beans in the sun. Then people made foods from the prepared beans such as tofu and tempeh. These foods are formed into a block shape. Then people cut them up, cook them and eat them. They are the base of many different kinds of food.
Voice 1
People in many countries also eat and enjoy soy foods. Japanese cooking uses a soy food called miso. To make miso, soy beans are fermented, mixed with grains and made into a smooth thick paste. Then people add it to soup and other meals. Many people also drink soy milk and use soy oil to cook food. And around the world, people eat soy sauce. This is a dark brown liquid that is made from fermented soybeans.
Voice 2
Some people think that everyone should eat soy. It is easy to grow and good for the soil. It is a way to eat protein without spending much money. People who cannot drink cow’s milk or eat meat can eat soy instead. Nathan Zassman is an expert in healthy food. He says that soy can help a person have strong bones and healthy blood. Zassman wrote about the advantages of eating soy on his website:
Voice 4
“The Okinawans of Japan have the world's longest life expectancy. They have one of the lowest rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, bone problems and other diseases. And they eat soy as their main kind of protein. When mixed into a healthy diet, soy may be one of nature’s most perfect foods.”
Voice 1
But some experts disagree. They argue that soy is not healthy. They find two main problems with soy. One is that many people do not eat soy in a healthy way. They say that whole fermented soy – cooked in a traditional way is good. But in some places this is not the kind of soy that many people eat.
Voice 2
Instead soy is added to other foods, usually packaged food. These are prepared foods that people buy in plastic or paper containers. Many people say that these foods have been processed by too many machines. The soy and other things in the food are no longer fresh and healthy.
Voice 1
The other possible problem is that many soybeans have been genetically modified - people have used technology to change the qualities of the soybean. The soybeans used in packaged foods are not the same as the soybeans grown in ancient China. Many people think that genetically modified food may be unhealthy and even dangerous.
Voice 2
Dr. Ed Bauman is head of a clinic and college of nutrition. He says that people should eat whole soy that is prepared well. Bauman says that eating processed soy foods is not the same. He talked to the magazine Terrain about this problem. He said that it is good to look at the advantages and disadvantages of soy:
Voice 5
“As with any food, soy can be good in one system and bad in another. I think soy is an acceptable food, but we need to look at how it is used. People mainly want food that is quick and easy. We are looking at this whole fast processed food market. But then we are making judgements about one plant. Is soy the problem? Or is it the packaging and processing of the plant that is the real problem?”
Voice 1
Soy is used in much more than food. In the United States huge factories separate the soy oil from the remaining meal. Ninety eight percent [98%] of this soy meal is used for feeding animals.
Voice 2
People also use soy to make surprising things: Parts for cars. Plastics and foams. Clothes. Ink for writing. Diapers for babies. And turf for sports fields! Using soy in industry has some disadvantages. On large farms, farmers often treat genetically modified soybeans with chemicals. But growing soy is still better for the environment than using gas and oil. And it costs much less too.
Voice 1
Do you eat soybeans? Do you think soybeans are healthy for people? What soy products or foods do you use? Give your opinions about soy on our website: http://www.radioenglish.net
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Voice 2
The writer and producer of this program was Rena Dam. The voices you heard were from the United States and the United Kingdom. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at http://www.radioenglish.net This .program is called, ‘Using the Soybean’.
Voice 1
We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
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