Researchers may have discovered the holy grail of dieting - low fat cake and cheese.
British researcher say they have created a
protein that mimics the taste and texture of fat perfectly.
The proteins will enable food manufacturers
to remove much of the fat used in their products without compromising on product quality.
研究人員可能已經發現了節食的「聖杯」──低脂蛋糕和乳酪。
英國研究人員說他們已經發明了味道與脂肪相似、質地完美的蛋白質。這種蛋白質能夠使食品製造商的產品去掉過多的脂肪又不用影響品質。
- unveil (v.) 揭幕，揭露出來
- grail (n.) 傳說中耶穌最後晚餐所用之杯（或盤）
- mimic (v.) 模仿
There are insects which mimic leaves .
有些昆蟲極像葉子。
- texture (n.) 組織，結構，質地
I like the smooth texture of this material .
我喜歡這種料子的光滑質地。
- compromising (adj.) 妥協的，讓步的
Funded by the Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the team, from Heriot-Watt University and
the University of Edinburgh, has produced modified
proteins that easily break down into micro-particles and therefore closely mimic
the behaviour of fats during food manufacture.
'We’ve paved
the way for the development of modified proteins that, by closely mimicking
fat, can be used to produce a wider range of appealing low-fat foods,' said Dr
Steve Euston, Senior Lecturer in the School of Life Sciences, who led the
research.
'The result could be important health
benefits, as well as a reduction in the burden on the NHS caused by obesity and other weight-related health problems.'
Protein-for-fat substitution is not a
completely new idea, but to date it has been restricted to products such as
yogurts.
藉由工程和物理科學研究委員會（EPSRC）的贊助，來自赫瑞瓦特大學和愛丁堡大學的團隊，已經生產出一種很容易分解成微小顆粒的改良蛋白質，在製造過程中與脂肪的特性非常相似。負責這個研究的生命科學學院高級講師Steve Euston博士說。
「這個結果可能帶來重要的利益，不但減少英國國家衛生事業局肥胖問題的負擔，還有其他與體重相關的健康問題。」
蛋白質代替脂肪並不是一個全新的想法，但迄今為止它被限定在「產品」上，例如優格。
- modify (v.) 更改，修改
- break down 失敗，崩潰，瓦解
Negotiations between the two sides have broken down.
雙方談判已經破裂。
- pave (v.) 鋪，築（路等）
The road was paved with concrete .
路面由混凝土鋪成。
- obesity (n.) 肥胖，過胖
In cheeses and cakes it has proved less
successful in ensuring the authentic taste
and texture vital to consumer satisfaction,
mainly because proteins could not mimic the behaviour of fats closely enough.
By studying the proteins’ chemical
structure, the team has developed a detailed understanding of how they behave
when they are heated or undergo other food
manufacturing processes.
This has provided the basis for modifying
proteins so that they can be used as effective fat substitutes.
在乳酪和蛋糕上，從實際的味道到最重要的消費者滿意度都不太成功，主要是因為蛋白質的特性與脂肪不夠相似。
透過研究蛋白質的化學結構，研究小組已有詳細的認知，當它們被加熱或進行其他食品製造過程會有什麼變化。
這提供蛋白質改良的基礎，使它們能作為有效的脂肪替代品。
- authentic (adj.) 可信的，真實的，可靠的
The report is authentic.
這個報告是可靠的。
- vital(adj.) 極其重要的，必不可少的
The questions put forward at the meeting are of vital importance .
會上提出的那些問題極其重要。
- undergo (v.) 經歷，忍受
You may have to undergo disappointment and failure before experiencing success .
你在嚐到成功的滋味之前，也許得忍受失望與失敗。
The proteins could encourage development of
a wider choice of low-fat foods, helping consumers to eat more healthily and
reducing obesity.
The team has achieved particularly
promising results in using proteins to replace eggs, an ingredient commonly used as a gelling agent in bakery items.
Such substitution not only cuts fat
content; because eggs can be subject to significant price volatility, it could also cut the cost of products
and so encourage consumers to eat more healthily.
這些蛋白質能夠促進低脂食品更多的發展空間，幫助消費者吃得更健康，減少肥胖。
研究小組特別令人讚賞的成果是使用蛋白質來代替雞蛋，成分通常用作烘焙食品的膠凝劑。
這種替代不僅有利於減少脂肪的含量；因為蛋可能會受到顯著的價格波動，也可以減少產品的成本，鼓勵消費者吃得更健康。
- ingredient (n.) （混合物的）組成部分，（烹調的）原料
What are the ingredients of the cake ?
這蛋糕是用哪些原料做成的？
- volatility (n.) 揮發性；揮發度
The research will now be taken forward by
project partner Nandi Proteins, who will use the findings to extend their range
of proteins with a view to food manufacturers incorporating
them in new low-fat products that could start reaching the shops within two
years.
As part of a Technology Strategy
Board-supported Knowledge Transfer Partnership, the research team is now also
developing a computer model to help food manufacturers
pinpoint the optimum level of
protein-for-fat replacement for particular products.
這項研究將會使蛋白質的運用更加廣泛，透過合作夥伴Nandi Proteins，以食品製造商的視野，兩年內會將有新的低脂食品上架。
作為委員會贊助的一部分，研究小組也開發了一個計算模式，幫助食品製造商找出用蛋白質替代脂肪的最佳效果。
- incorporate (v.) 把……合併，使併入
We ' ll incorporate the new plan with the old .
我們將把新老計畫合併為一。
- pinpoint (v.) 準確地確定（位置，範圍，性質，程度等）
Engineers are trying to pinpoint the cause of the trouble .
工程師們在設法找出故障的原因。
- optimum (n.) 最佳效果
