Vegan diet protects men from cancer: BBC News Review

A vegan diet could reduce your chances of getting bowel cancer if you're a man.  

This is News Review from BBC Learning English.

I'm Neil. And I'm Sian.

Make sure you watch to the end to learn vocabulary about today's story.

Don't forget to subscribe to our channel, like this video,

and try the quiz on our website.

Now, the story.

A plant-based diet reduces the risk of developing bowel cancer.

That's according to a new study in the US that found

that men who eat healthy, plant-based foods are

more than twenty percent less likely to develop the disease.

There was no reduction in risk

for women. Scientists say that more research still needs to be done.

You've been looking at the headlines, Sian. What's the vocabulary?

OK, so we have 'a catch', 'rich in' and 'going (vegan)'.

This is News Review from BBC Learning English.

Let's have a look at our first headline.

OK. This is from The Sun.

So the headline is saying that you can change your diet

to a plant-based diet and it reduces your chance of getting bowel cancer.

The chances are 'slashed', that means reduced dramatically,

but the word we're looking at is 'catch'.

Now I know 'catch'. You 'catch' a ball.

You do, but this is 'a catch'.

So 'a catch' is a hidden problem in something that looks or sounds perfect.

Yeah, and what sounds perfect or good is that you change your

diet and you have a very reduced chance of getting bowel cancer.

Yes, it sounds great, but there's 'a catch' - it doesn't help everyone.

It doesn't help women.

So there's the 'catch' and this is quite an informal word, isn't it?

That's right, yes. It's an informal way

of saying there is an issue or a problem.

Yeah. So, for example,

I saw a sign outside today that says "free food all day".

Yeah, but what's the 'catch'?

OK, there is 'a catch'. You have to give them

your contact details and then they email you, they phone you,

they send you information in the post.

So, it's not as perfect as it sounds.

There's always 'a catch'.

Except with BBC Learning English, which is actually free.

There is no 'catch'. OK, let's look at that again.

Let's take a look at our next headline.

OK. This is from The National.

We are looking at the word

'rich', which is easy. 'Rich' means a lot of money, right?

Yes. If you're 'rich',

you have a lot of money, but we're looking at 'rich in' something.

So, if you're 'rich in' something,

it means you have a lot of something.

For example, a diet 'rich in' vegetables contains a lot of vegetables. So, not money.

Yes, and we use 'rich in', followed by something that is seen as a good thing,

not a bad thing. And another example is oranges and lemons.

They are 'rich in' Vitamin C - a good thing.

Yeah, and it doesn't have to just be about food.

So, London is a city that is 'rich in' history and culture.

And we can also use 'rich' as a suffix.

So, we put it at the end of a word with the same meaning.

So, for example, you can say "I have a vegetable-rich diet"

or "this is a protein-rich meal".

Yeah, we do have to be careful with the word 'rich' and food, though,

because there is another meaning, which is quite different.

It's about that kind of food that makes you feel a bit sick.

Yes, if you have food.

that is really buttery or creamy or heavy,

then we can describe this food as 'rich', so that chocolate cake was a bit 'rich'.

It makes you feel a bit sick.

Let's take a look at that again.

Let's take a look at our next headline.

This one is from the Daily Mail.

And we are looking at 'going'.

And I know what you think - "I know the word 'go' - it's too simple!"

Yes, but, together with the word 'vegan',

which describes someone who doesn't eat or use animal products,

it has a special meaning - 'go vegan'.

Yeah, so, it basically means to become vegan.

So, you change from someone who uses animal products to someone

who doesn't use animal products.

So, here, 'going' means 'becoming' or 'changing'

Yeah. And you can say that you 'go vegetarian',

'go gluten-free', 'go sugar-free'.

Exactly, and it doesn't have to just be for food.

So, when fans are watching the World Cup and their team score, they 'go crazy'.

Yeah, I 'went crazy'

three times last night when England scored against Sian's team - Wales.

I did not 'go crazy' last night.

Is it common, this 'go'?

It's very common. So, we use it with lots of adjectives.

So, for example, hopefully, our filming today, won't 'go wrong'.

No, it won't 'go wrong'

if I stop talking about the Wales-England game.

Good idea. Let's take a look at that again.

We've had 'a catch', it sounds perfect,

but there's a hidden problem.

'Rich in' something, contains a lot of something positive.

And 'going (something)', in this case 'vegan', becoming vegan.

Don't forget there's a quiz on our website

at bbclearningenglish.com. Thank you for joining us and goodbye. Goodbye.