Learning English

Fast food: Bad for the brain?

It's very convenient and often tasty, but is ultra-processed food affecting our brains?

Some health experts are worried. They suggest eating a diet high in processed foods can have a negative effect on older people's mental abilities.

Neil and Beth teach you the vocabulary used in headlines about this story.

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The story  

Ultra-processed food affects people’s mental abilities.

That’s according to a new study in Australia which found older people were affected negatively by things like fast food and fizzy drinks.

Meanwhile, research in the UK found almost 75% of calories in school lunches come from ultra-processed food.

Health experts have called for there to be a limit on this type of food for schoolchildren.

Key words and phrases

ultra-
extremely

• She’s ultra-serious about becoming a famous singer.
• He’s ultra-sensitive. Any criticism will make him cry. 

cap
limit

• They put a cap on the number of people who can apply.
• There’s a cap on spending this year. 

escape the cycle
get away from a situation which keeps getting worse

• They escaped the cycle of poverty through education.
• It’s hard to escape the cycle of drug addiction.

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