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BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 501
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST 501 – PASSAGE – 3
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST – 501
READING PASSAGE – 3
BEING VEGAN
A. One million people are vegan in the United States. People choose to go vegan for many different reasons, whether it’s because they advocate for ethical treatment of animals or because they’re hoping to reap the health benefits of a vegan diet. It’s no secret that boosting your fruit and vegetable intake has major health perks, but that’s only if you do it the right way. Experts say the benefits of a healthy vegan diet come from a balance of foods, conscientious eating, and smart meal plans.
B. If you switch to a vegan diet, you’ll eliminate meat and animal products. In the case of a wholefoods vegan diet, replacements take the form of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, beans, peas, nuts and seeds. Since these foods make up a larger proportion of a vegan diet, they can contribute to a higher daily intake of certain beneficial nutrients. For instance, several studies have reported that vegan diets tend to provide more fiber, antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds. They also appear to be richer in potassium, magnesium, folate and vitamin A, C and E.
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However, poorly planned vegan diets may provide insufficient amounts of essential fatty acids, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, iodine or zinc. That’s why it’s important to stay away from nutrient poor, fast-food vegan options. Instead, plan your diet around nutrient-rich whole plants and fortified foods. You may also want to consider supplements like vitamin B12.
C. An increasing number of people are turning to plant-based diets in the hope of shedding excess weight. Many observational studies show that vegans tend to be thinner and have lower body mass indexes (BMIs) than non-vegans. In addition, several randomized controlled studies report that vegan diets are more effective for weight loss than the diets they are compared to. In one study, a vegan diet helped participants lose 4.2 kg more than a control diet over an 18- week study period.
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Interestingly, participants on the vegan diet lost more weight than those who followed calorie-restricted diets, even when the vegan groups were allowed to eat until they felt full. What’s more, a recent small study comparing the weight loss effects of five different diets concluded that vegetarian and vegan diets were just as well-accepted as semi-vegetarian and standard Western diets. Vegan diets have a natural tendency to reduce your calorie intake. This makes them effective at promoting weight loss without the need to actively focus on cutting calories.
D. Going vegan may also have benefits for Type 2 diabetes and declining kidney function. Indeed, vegans tend to have lower blood sugar levels, higher and up to a 50-789% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Studies even report that vegan diets lower blood sugar levels in diabetics more than the diets from the American Diabetes Association (ADA), American Heart Association (AHA) and National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP).
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In one study, 43% of participants following a vegan diet were able to reduce their dosage of blood-sugar-lowering medication, compared to only 26% in the group that followed an ADA recommended diet. Other studies report that diabetics who substitute meat for plant protein may reduce their risk of poor kidney function. Several studies report that a vegan diet may be able to provide complete relief of systemic distal polyneuropathy symptoms a condition n diabetics that causes sharp, burning pain. Vegan diets are also particularly effective at reducing blood sugar levels and may help prevent further medical issues from developing.
E. According to the World Health Organization, about one-third of all cancers can be prevented by factors within your control, including diet. For instance, eating legumes regularly may reduce your risk of colorectal cancer by about 9-18%. Research also suggests that eating at least seven portions of fresh fruits and vegetables per day may lower your risk of dying from cancer by up to 15%.
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Vegans generally eat considerably more legumes, Fruit and vegetables than non-vegans. This may explain why a recent review of 96 studies found that vegans may benefit from a 15% lower risk of developing or dying from cancer. What’s more, vegan diets generally contain more soy products, which may offer some protection against breast cancer. Avoiding certain animal products may also help reduce the risk of prostate, breast and colon cancers.
It’s important to note that these studies are observational in nature. However, until researchers more, it seems wise to focus on increasing the amount of fresh fruits, vegetables and legumes you eat each day while limiting your consumption of processed, smoked and overcooked meat.
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F. Eating fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes and fiber are Iinked to a lower risk of heart disease. All of these are generally eaten in large amounts in well-planned vegan diets. Observational studies comparing vegans to vegetarians and the general population report that vegans may benefit from up to a 75% lower risk of developing high blood pressure. Vegans may also have up to a 42% lower risk of dying from heart disease.
What’s more, several randomized controlled studies report that vegan diets are much more effective at reducing blood sugar, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol than the diets they are compared to.
This may be particularly beneficial to heart health since reducing high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels may reduce the risk of heart disease by as much as 46%. Compared to the general population, vegans also tend to consume more whole grains and nuts, both of which are good for your heart.
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G. A few studies have reported that a vegan diet has positive effects in people with different types of arthritis. One study randomly assigned 40 arthritic participants to either continue eating their omnivorous diet or switch to a whole-food, plant-based vegan diet for 6 weeks. Those on the vegan diet reported higher energy levels and better general functioning than those who didn’t change their diet. Two other studies reported that participants in the vegan group experienced a greater improvement in symptoms such as pain, joint swelling and morning stiffness. The bottom line is that vegan diets based on probiotic-rich whole foods can significantly decrease symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
H. Some studies show that your diet can give your intestines a micro biome makeover quite rapidly. A small study discovered an increase in B.wadsworthia, a bacterial microbe linked to inflammation in the bowel, inside the stomachs of the people who ate animal foods. People who ate meat also had more faecal bile acid in their guts, which can cause gastrointestinal infections.
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A vegan diet helps grow more good bacteria in our gut, which positively influences our digestion system as well as absorption of nutrients.
Take Home Message: Vegan diets may provide an array of health benefits. That said, until further research emerges, it can only benefit you to increase the amount of nutrient-rich, whole plant foods in your diet.
Questions 28 -35
The text has 8 SECTIONS, marked A to H. Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
i. . Feel free to indulge your sweet tooth
ii. Succour for the skeletal structure
iii. Plan correctly to ensure adequate nutrients
iv. Eat smartly to get the vegan advantage
v. Eyeing a new wardrobe? Go vegan!
vi. Of matters cardiac
vii. Get over your tummy travails
viii. Bye bye big C
ix. Of bacteria in meat
x. Go vegan to control cholesterol
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28. Paragraph A
29. Paragraph B
30. Paragraph C
31. Paragraph D
32. Paragraph E
33. Paragraph F
34. Paragraph G
35. Paragraph H
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Questions 36 – 40
Choose ONE WORD from the text to complete the following sentences:
36. Some people want to be humane to ………………. and hence go vegan.
37. Vegan diets provide more beneficial plant compounds as has been mentioned in a number of ……………….
38. It has been noticed that vegans are generally ………………. as compared to non-vegans.
39. When it comes to succumbing to an ailment of the heart, vegans are not at as much of a ………………. as non-vegans.
40. As per a study, non-vegetarian foods are linked to ………………. in the digestive system.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
IELTS Academic Reading Test
ANSWERS
28. IV
29. III
30. V
31. I
32. VIII
33. VI
34. II
35. VII
36. ANIMALS
37. STUDIES
38. THINNER
39. RISK
40. INFLAMMATION
IELTS Academic Reading Test