培根背後的科學！：英語精讀講義

Mmm, bacon.

嗯，培根。

Few of us can resist its temptation. 文法

我們當中很少有人能抵擋它的誘惑。

I mean,

我的意思是，

did you know that

你知道嗎，

43% of Canadians would choose bacon over sex? 文法

43%的加拿大人會在培根和性愛之間選擇培根？

At least that's what a 2010 survey found. 表達脈絡

至少2010年的一項調查結果是如此。

Or did you know that

或者你知道嗎，

it was included in the first meal ever consumed on the moon 文法

培根還出現在人類於月球上享用的第一頓飯中，

by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin?

而享用它的正是 Neil Armstrong 和 Buzz Aldrin？

This single strip of bacon alone is 43 calories.

光是這一片培根就有43卡路里。

In perspective,

為了讓你有個概念，

here's the same amount of calories in apples and broccoli.

這些蘋果和青花菜所含的熱量也是這麼多。

It's easy to see which might fill you up more easily. 片語動詞

哪一種更容易讓你吃飽，一目了然。

But then again, 表達脈絡

但話說回來，

who eats just one piece of bacon?

誰會只吃一片培根呢？

Looking at this another way, 表達脈絡

換個角度來看，

100 g of apple is around 50 calories

100公克蘋果大約有50卡路里，

while 100 g of bacon is around 550 calories.

而100公克培根大約有550卡路里。

68% of these calories come from fat

這些熱量中有68%來自脂肪，

with almost half being saturated. 文法

其中近一半是飽和脂肪。

So it may or maybe not surprise you that

所以，接下來這件事可能會讓你驚訝，也可能不會：

the average American consumes nearly 18 lb

美國人平均每年會吃掉將近18磅，

or 8 kg every year.

也就是8公斤培根。

That's 44,000 calories every year,

這相當於每年44,000卡路里，

making sliced bacon a 4 billion dollar industry in the US alone. 文法

也讓切片培根光在美國就成為一個價值40億美元的產業。

Even 65% of Americans said they would support bacon as their national food.

甚至有65%的美國人表示支持把培根定為國民食物。

But different countries around the world

不過，世界各國

actually use different cuts of a pig for bacon. 用詞

其實會用豬身上的不同部位來製作培根。

For example,

例如，

Canadian bacon is from the loin.

加拿大培根取自豬里肌。

The British use shoulder and ham bacon,

英國人會用豬肩肉和豬後腿肉製作培根，

and Americans make belly bacon.

而美國人則用豬五花肉製作培根。

Overall,

整體來說，

around 11% of a pig's standard weight can be used for bacon.

一頭豬的標準體重中，大約有11%可以用來製作培根。

So why are we so obsessed? 表達脈絡

那我們為什麼如此迷戀培根呢？

Well,

原因是，

when bacon is heated,

培根受熱時，

the fats melt and the sugars and amino acids have a very unique chemical reaction.

脂肪會融化，糖和胺基酸則會產生一種非常獨特的化學反應。

This specific reaction releases a medley of around 150 volatile organic compounds from the bacon, 講解

這種特殊反應會讓培根釋放出約150種揮發性有機化合物，

which float through the air and create the amazing smell,

它們飄散在空氣中，產生那股誘人的香氣，

ultimately stimulating your mouth-watering response. 用詞

最後讓你垂涎欲滴。

So it's not just the snack you desire,

所以，你想要的不只是這份點心，

but the smell itself is a perfect example of chemistry at work, 慣用語

這股香氣本身也是化學作用的絕佳實例，

stimulating your brain and body.

它會刺激你的大腦和身體。

Our modern culture loves bacon so much 文法

現代文化對培根的熱愛如此狂熱，

that bacon mania is a classified movement.

以至於「培根熱」已被歸類為一種社會運動。

From bacon toothpaste to bacon air fresheners and even bacon condoms, 表達脈絡

從培根味牙膏、培根味空氣芳香劑，到培根味保險套，

some people can't get enough of it. 慣用語

有些人怎麼都嫌不夠。

But bacon isn't all good.

但培根也不全是好處。

Not only are four strips of cooked bacon worth nearly half your recommended daily intake for salt, 講解

光是四片煎熟的培根，鹽分就接近每日建議攝取量的一半，

but most bacon and other things like lunch meats 用詞

而且大多數培根，以及午餐肉等食品，

are treated with a chemical called sodium nitrite.

都會用一種叫做亞硝酸鈉的化學物質處理。

This keeps the meat looking red and fresh instead of turning its natural gray, 文法

它能讓肉品保持鮮紅、新鮮的外觀，而不是變成原本自然的灰色，

but has also been implicated in a lot of health concerns. 用詞

但它也被認為與許多健康疑慮有關。

These nitrites react with amino acids during cooking,

這些亞硝酸鹽在烹調過程中會與胺基酸發生反應，

forming nitrosamines,

形成亞硝胺，

which are known carcinogens,

而亞硝胺是已知的致癌物，

increasing your risk of developing cancer. 片語搭配

會增加罹患癌症的風險。

A diet high in sodium nitrites

亞硝酸鈉含量高的飲食

may also lead to a decrease in your body's ability 片語搭配

還可能削弱人體

to transport oxygen properly in your red blood cells.

透過紅血球正常輸送氧氣的能力。

On the other hand, 表達脈絡

另一方面，

nitrites help to prevent bacterial growth that can cause botulism.

亞硝酸鹽有助於防止可能引發肉毒桿菌中毒的細菌繁殖。

Bottom line is, 表達脈絡

總而言之，

when you do pig out, 片語動詞

當你大吃特吃時，

keep it in moderation. 片語搭配

還是要適可而止。

And a few antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables to go along with it won't hurt either. 講解

同時搭配一些富含抗氧化物的水果和蔬菜，也沒有壞處。

Hungry from looking at all this bacon?

看了這麼多培根，餓了嗎？

Find out why food porn or photos of amazing food is so stimulating 用詞

想知道「美食色情」，也就是誘人美食的照片，為什麼如此刺激人，

in our newest AsapTHOUGHT.

答案就在我們最新一集的 AsapTHOUGHT 中。

There's some yummy science behind it.

這背後藏著一些美味的科學。

So click the screen for that.

點選畫面就能觀看。

Special thanks to Audible for supporting this episode

特別感謝 Audible 對本集節目的支持，

and giving you a free audiobook at audible.com/asap.

也感謝它透過 audible.com/asap 為你提供一本免費有聲書。

This week,

本週，

we wanted to recommend the book The Dorito Effect by Mark Schatzker 語氣意圖

我們想推薦 Mark Schatzker 的《The Dorito Effect》，

because we'll take any chance we can get 片語搭配

因為只要有機會，

to read a book about science and chips at the same time.

我們就樂意讀一本同時談科學和洋芋片的書。

But seriously, 語氣意圖

不過說真的，

it's an interesting look at the link between nutrition and flavor

這本書以有趣的角度探討了營養與風味之間的關聯，

and how we've modified foods through the years.

以及這些年來我們如何改造食物。

You can get a free copy at audible.com/asap

你可以在 audible.com/asap 免費取得這本書，

or any others of your choice from a massive selection.

也可以從龐大的書庫中任選一本。

Don't forget to ask your burning questions 慣用語

別忘了提出那些讓你好奇不已的問題，

and subscribe for more weekly science videos.

並訂閱我們的頻道，每週觀看更多科學影片。