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You could prevent certain diseases by eating white meats. White meats include fish,

turkey, duck, goose, chicken and rabbit. Red meats include beef, lamb, pork, veal, venison

and goat.

          Red meat is a source of protein and vitamins but it may not be good for health. Eating a

lot of red meat increases the risk of bowel cancer as research has shown. You should enjoy

white meat and reap the benefits it brings; try fish.          

           Fish has vitamins and minerals and it’s a major

source of omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming fish

regularly can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

It also improves your chances of survival following

a heart attack. Fish lowers the levels of fats in the

blood. Raised levels of fats in blood are associated

with heart diseases. Fish oils also help reduce blood

clotting and abnormal heart rhythms after a heart attack

           To add on to this, eating fish can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease leads to weakening of the brain’s ability to remember things. Fatty acids found in

fish may prevent damage to brain cells.

            Further, eating fish can reduce the risk of high blood pressure, which is linked to

dementia. Dementia causes forgetfulness.

            Importantly, fish has cancer-fighting properties. Men who do not eat fish are at a

higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Researchers have ascertained this. This risk is

low among heavy consumers of fish. Shellfish contains nutrients thought to have cancer-

fighting ability.

             Moreover, it has been reported that fish can help to ease depression.

             Further, eating fish can reduce and relieve arthritis. Research has shown that heavy

consumers of fish have low rates of inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Studies have

also shown that fish oil reduces symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis.

             Finally, eating fish can smoothen age lines. Choose white meat today.

1. Working in groups, identify all the diseases mentioned in the passage.

    Discuss what all these diseases are.

2. Match the words in the table with their meanings in choices a-h.

    a) intestines, especially the large intestines

    b) systematic investigation to collect information

    c) get the advantages

    d) eating

    e) any sickness that affects the heart

    f) the fact of a person continuing to exist

    g) the turning of blood into a thick solid

    h) harm/hurt/injury

3. Which combinations of meats in the following choices should one eat?

    A. chicken, pork, beef, venison, vea,l turkey

    B. rabbit, pork, goose, chicken, fish, duck

    C. fish, duck, goose, lamb, goat

    D. rabbit, goose, chicken, fish

4. Which title among the following best summarises the passage?

    A. healthy eating and living

    B. meat for life

    C. Avoiding common illnesses

    D. The white meat advantage

5. List the white meats mentioned in this passage.

6. Eating fish can help prevent ............, which affects the brain.

7. In point form list down the benefits of eating fish.

8. Would eating white meat alone ensure you are in perfect health? Give reasons

    for your answer.

9. Young people today are hooked on junk food. What do you think are the effects

    of eating junk food?

1. Some young people do not eat because they would like to be small-bodied. Carry out

     a research on eating disorders from the library, biology books or the internet if you are

     connected to it. Find out what diseases can be caused by eating too little.

2. Imagine most of the Rwandan population was obese. How would this affect our country?

1. There are some religious groups that do not believe in taking their children to hospital.

     Have you ever heard or witnessed this? Discuss the results of such a belief.

2. How can good health affect our economy?

3. Debate the motion, ‘Prevention is better than cure’.