To answer question, read the article from “The New York Times” below: 

How healthy is broccoli? 

The dinnertime standard is a nutritional multitasker.

New York Times

By Caroline Hopkins Legaspi.

Oct. 14, 2024

    Children may not want to hear this, but broccoli more than deserves its place on our plates. The florets and stems are filled with nutrients that help keep your heart and bones healthy — and may reduce the risk of cancer.

    “Broccoli is a multitasking vegetable,” said Emily Ho, a professor of nutrition and the director of the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: It has a range of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that give your body “a boost.”

    Along with cauliflower, brussels sprouts and other cruciferous vegetables, broccoli is a source of a sulfur-based nutrient called sulforaphane. It’s the compound behind broccoli’s odor and slightly bitter flavor. It also has anticancer properties, scientists believe.

    Research suggests the sulforaphane in broccoli could help your body produce more of the enzymes that get rid of toxins like air pollution and cigarette smoke, Dr. Ho said.

    In addition, sulforaphane is an antioxidant that can protect your body from inflammation. The theory “is that broccoli is protecting cells from the inflammation that promotes the growth of cancer,” said Ingrid Adams, a registered dietitian and associate professor of medical dietetics at Ohio State University. 

    In a recent analysis, 17 out of 23 studies found associations between eating broccoli and having lower risks of common cancers, including lung, colon and breast cancer. Taken together, the studies suggested that people who ate broccoli at least once a week were 36 percent less likely to develop cancer than those who didn’t.

    Still, researchers haven’t definitively proven that broccoli helps prevent cancer, said Trygve Tollefsbol, a distinguished professor of biology at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. People who regularly eat broccoli tend to have other healthy habits, too, Dr. Tollefsbol said, so studies can’t single out broccoli as the reason someone doesn’t develop a disease.

    The vitamin K in broccoli helps your body regulate blood circulation and clotting, said Anna L. Fogel, a registered dietitian at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Dietary guidelines generally recommend that adult women consume around 90 micrograms and men consume around 120 micrograms of vitamin K per day. One cup of chopped raw broccoli has about 93 micrograms.

    That cup of broccoli also contains a decent amount (288 milligrams) of potassium. Potassium can help lower high blood pressure, Dr. Adams said.

    Broccoli is high in fiber, as well, which can lower your bad cholesterol levels and risk of coronary heart disease.

    Those high levels of vitamin K could also benefit your bones, Dr. Ho said. The vitamin plays a key role in activating several of the proteins that form your bones and keep them strong.

    The vitamin C in broccoli is also important here. Vitamin C helps with bone mineralization, which keeps bones from becoming brittle, in part by stimulating collagen production. One cup of raw broccoli contains more vitamin C than a cup of grapefruit. 

    Is there a best way to eat broccoli?

    Just avoid boiling or overcooking it, the experts said.

    Broccoli contains an active enzyme, called myrosinase, that’s released when you chew and digest it. Myrosinase activates the broccoli’s sulforaphane — but if you cook broccoli too long, you risk losing much of its myrosinase.

    You’re fine as long as there’s still a slight crunch to the vegetable, Dr. Ho said. “If it’s not fully mushy, you still have some live cell walls, which means you still have some active enzyme.” 

    There’s another reason that boiling broccoli isn’t the first choice of experts: Some of broccoli’s water-soluble vitamins, like vitamin C, can leach out during the boiling process, Ms. Fogel said.

Disponível em: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/14/well/eat/broccoli-health-benefitsrecipes.html#:~:text=The%20dinnertime%20standard%20is%20a%20nutritional%20multitasker.&text=Children%20may%20not%20want%20to,reduce %20the%20risk%20of%20cancer. Acesso em: 10 out. 2024.

INSTRUCTION: Read the following text to answer question.

The Key to Balanced Bilingualism

    Bilingual education, especially in an immersion setting, is much more than just learning a second language: it’s a gateway to cultural and cognitive growth. As Vannina Boussouf – Assistant Head of School and Director of Primary at Lycée Français de New York (LFNY) – explains, several factors need to be considered to make sure this type of program succeeds, like the language environment of the country, the quality and amount of exposure to both languages, and the teaching expertise needed to guide students on their language journey.

    One of the first things to think about in language immersion is the students’ language environment. In a country where the main language is different from the one taught in school, it’s important to make sure there’s enough exposure to the second language, and that it is high quality. This means more than just spending a lot of time speaking in the minority language (often the language of instruction in an immersion program); it also requires support to help students develop strong skills in both languages.

    Language immersion relies on the idea that the more a child is exposed to a language, the better they will learn it. In this sense, combining varied interactions with stimulating learning environments is the key for students to truly grasp a second language.

    One challenge teachers face is the “language insecurity” students can feel. When students are immersed in a classroom where the language spoken is different from what they use at home, they might feel uneasy. It is important to create a safe space where making mistakes is part of learning, and where students are encouraged. Thus, a positive learning environment helps not just with language learning but also with building thinking and cultural skills.

    Besides, teachers need to be trained to spot when students feel insecure and respond with the right strategies, all while keeping the immersion experience engaging. This might include using visual aids, gestures, repetition, and interactive activities that help students participate, even if they’re still mastering the new language.

    In reality, bilingual education through immersion is an ambitious goal, but when designed well, it offers great benefits to students. To make it work, it is necessary to consider the language environment, ensure high-quality exposure in both languages, and support students’ learning with care and expertise. Educators are responsible for creating spaces where both languages can thrive, while respecting the unique needs of each student. In addition, they can refine an approach where language immersion is balanced with support and excellence. In this bilingual journey, each student becomes an active participant in their own learning, opening doors to a multilingual, inclusive world.

Source: https://frenchly.us/the-key-to-balancedbilingualism/

Accessed on November 13, 2024. [Adapted]