How and why would strain and anxiety trigger some of us to pile on extra weight Stress activates the flight-or-fight response (应激反应), a physiological reaction designed to get your body moving quickly in a physical emergency. When your brain perceives a threat, it sounds the alarm to your adrenal glands (肾上腺) to pump out the stress hormone cortisol (皮质醇). The hormone then signals fat cells to quickly release energy, which your muscles can use for a surge of power to "flee" or "fight". When the danger passes, cortisol briefly stays elevated to encourage your body to replenish (补充) its fat stores, then returns to normal.
"The system works beautifully if you’re running for the last bus home after work. It gives you a burst of energy, which you recover from quickly once you take your seat," says Pamela Peeke, MD, clinical assistant professor of medicine and author of Body for Life for Women. But when you turn on the stress response for months on end—worrying about your marriage or mortgage payments—you do damage. "Then, cortisol levels remain persistently elevated, persistently signaling your body to store fat," says Dr. Peeke.
This mechanism may also affect where flab (松弛) builds up on your body. Under stress, women who carry excess weight in their abdominal area secreted (分泌) significantly more cortisol than women who didn’t have extra belly fat, according to a study from the University of California at San Francisco. And since deep abdominal fat tissue has up to four times the number of receptors for cortisol as does superficial fat elsewhere in the body, the cells in this area are the most likely to respond and store fat when exposed to extra stress-induced cortisol. Unfortunately, this extra abdominal flab isn’t just a cosmetic concern; it is strongly linked to a greater risk of heart disease and stroke, two top killers of women over 50.
The cumulative (累积的) effects of the stress-fat connection can be great. Although you can’t control many of the things that cause you stress, you can take steps to curb the negative effect these stressors have on your body. "Support is essential. Reach out to family and friends," says Alice Domar, PhD, director of the Mind/Body Center for Women’s Health at Boston IVF.

What can we learn from the first paragraph（　）

A:The flight-or-fight response makes our body move slowly when in a physical emergency. B:When we feel a threat, our brain sends the alarm to our adrenal glands to pump out cortisol. C:Our muscles can use the energy released slowly by the fat cells to flight or fight. D:Cortisol stays elevated persistently to encourage our body to replenish its fat stores after the danger passes.

According to a report issued in May 1998, elderly people who have consistently high blood levels of cortisol don’t score as well on memory tests as their peers with lower levels of the stress hormone. What’s more, high levels of cortisol are also associated with shrinking of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that plays a key role in learning and memory.
The findings suggest that even cortisol levels in the normal, "healthy" range can actually acceIerate brain aging.
The study results "now provide substantial evidence that long-term exposure to adrenal stress hormones may promote hippocampal aging in normal elderly humans", write Nada Porter and Philip Landfield of the University of Kentucky in Lexington in their editorial. Cortisol is a hormone released in response to stress by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys.
Over a 5 to 6-year period. Dr. Sonia Lupien and his colleagues measured 24-hour cortisol levels in 51 healthy volunteers, most of whom were in their 70s.
Despite wide variation in cortisol levels, the participants could be divided into three subgroups: those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently high (increasing/high); those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently moderate (increasing/moderate); and subjects whose cortisol decreased, but was currently moderate (decreasing/moderate).
The researchers tested the volunteers’ memory on six people in the increasing/high category and five people in the decreasing/moderate group. The groups did not differ on tests of immediate memory, but the increasing/high cortisol group had other memory problems compared with those in the decreasing/moderate group.
The researchers also found that the total volume of the hippocampus in those in the increasing/high group was 14% lower than those in the decreasing/moderate group, although there were no differences in other brain regions.
The results suggest that " ... brain aging can be accelerated by levels of adrenal hormones that are not generally regarded as pathological and that variation within this normal range is related to variation in the rate of brain aging," write Porter and Landfield. "This further suggests that chronic stress may accelerate the worsening of hippocampus. /
The part of the brain important for a person’s learning and memory is______

A:the cortisol B:the adrenal glands C:the stress hormones D:the hippocampus

According to a report issued in May 1998, elderly people who have consistently high blood levels of cortisol don’t score as well on memory tests as their peers with lower levels of the stress hormone. What’s more, high levels of cortisol are also associated with shrinking of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that plays a key role in learning and memory.
The findings suggest that even cortisol levels in the normal, "healthy" range can actually acceIerate brain aging.
The study results "now provide substantial evidence that long-term exposure to adrenal stress hormones may promote hippocampal aging in normal elderly humans", write Nada Porter and Philip Landfield of the University of Kentucky in Lexington in their editorial. Cortisol is a hormone released in response to stress by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys.
Over a 5 to 6-year period. Dr. Sonia Lupien and his colleagues measured 24-hour cortisol levels in 51 healthy volunteers, most of whom were in their 70s.
Despite wide variation in cortisol levels, the participants could be divided into three subgroups: those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently high (increasing/high); those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently moderate (increasing/moderate); and subjects whose cortisol decreased, but was currently moderate (decreasing/moderate).
The researchers tested the volunteers’ memory on six people in the increasing/high category and five people in the decreasing/moderate group. The groups did not differ on tests of immediate memory, but the increasing/high cortisol group had other memory problems compared with those in the decreasing/moderate group.
The researchers also found that the total volume of the hippocampus in those in the increasing/high group was 14% lower than those in the decreasing/moderate group, although there were no differences in other brain regions.
The results suggest that " ... brain aging can be accelerated by levels of adrenal hormones that are not generally regarded as pathological and that variation within this normal range is related to variation in the rate of brain aging," write Porter and Landfield. "This further suggests that chronic stress may accelerate the worsening of hippocampus. /
According to the article, when people feel too worried or nervous or when they overwork,______.

A:the adrenal glands will produce a streets hormone B:the kidneys will produce adrenal glands C:the hippocampus will produce high levels of cortisol in the blood D:the cortisol will produce something that makes a poorer memory

? ?According to a report issued in May 1998, elderly people who have consistently high blood levels of cortisol don’t score as well on memory tests as their peers with lower levels of the stress hormone. What’s more, high levels of cortisol are also associated with shrinking of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that plays a key role in learning and memory.
? ?The findings suggest that even cortisol levels in the normal, "healthy" range can actually acceIerate brain aging.
? ?The study results "now provide substantial evidence that long-term exposure to adrenal stress hormones may promote hippocampal aging in normal elderly humans", write Nada Porter and Philip Landfield of the University of Kentucky in Lexington in their editorial. Cortisol is a hormone released in response to stress by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys.
? ?Over a 5 to 6-year period. Dr. Sonia Lupien and his colleagues measured 24-hour cortisol levels in 51 healthy volunteers, most of whom were in their 70s.
? ?Despite wide variation in cortisol levels, the participants could be divided into three subgroups: those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently high (increasing/high); those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently moderate (increasing/moderate); and subjects whose cortisol decreased, but was currently moderate (decreasing/moderate).
? ?The researchers tested the volunteers’ memory on six people in the increasing/high category and five people in the decreasing/moderate group. The groups did not differ on tests of immediate memory, but the increasing/high cortisol group had other memory problems compared with those in the decreasing/moderate group.
? ?The researchers also found that the total volume of the hippocampus in those in the increasing/high group was 14% lower than those in the decreasing/moderate group, although there were no differences in other brain regions.
? ?The results suggest that " ... brain aging can be accelerated by levels of adrenal hormones that are not generally regarded as pathological and that variation within this normal range is related to variation in the rate of brain aging," write Porter and Landfield. "This further suggests that chronic stress may accelerate the worsening of hippocampus. /

The part of the brain important for a person’s learning and memory is______

A:the cortisol B:the adrenal glands C:the stress hormones D:the hippocampus

High Stress May Damage Memory
According to a report issued in May 1998, elderly people who have consistently high blood levels of cortisol don’t score as well on memory tests as their peers with lower levels of the stress hormone. What’s more, high levels of cortisol are also associated with shrinking of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that plays a key role in learning and memory.
The findings suggest that even cortisol levels in the normal, "healthy "range can actually accelerate brain aging.
The study results "now provide substantial evidence that long—term exposure to adrenal stress hormones may promote hippocampal aging in normal elderly humans, "write Nada Porter and Philip Landfield of the University of Kentucky in Lexington in their editorial. Cortisol is a hormone released in response to stress by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys.
Over a 5 to 6—year period. Dr. Sonia Lupien and his colleagues measured 24—hour cortisol levels in 51 healthy volunteers, most of whom were in their 70s.
Despite wide variation in cortisol levels, the participants could be divided into three subgroups: those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently high (increasing/high); those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently moderate (increasing/moderate); and subjects whose cortisol decreased, but was currently moderate (decreasing/moderate).
The researchers tested the volunteers’ memory on six people in the increasing/high category and five people in the decreasing/moderate group. The groups did not differ on tests of immediate memory, but the increasing/high cortisol group had other memory problems com- pared with those in the decreasing/moderate group.
The researchers also found that the total volume of the hippocampus in those in the increasing/high group was 14% lower than those in the decreasing/moderate group, although there were no differences in other brain regions.
The results suggest that "...brain aging can be accelerated by levels of adrenal hormones that are not generally regarded as pathological and that variation within this normal range is related to variation in the rate of brain aging," write Porter and Landfield. "This further suggests that chronic stress may accelerate the worsening of hippocampus. /
The part of the brain important for a person’s learning and memory is ______.

A:the cortisol B:the adrenal glands. C:the stress hormones D:the hippocampus

High Stress May Damage Memory
According to a report issued in May 1998, elderly people who have consistently high blood levels of cortisol don’t score as well on memory tests as their peers with lower levels of the stress hormone. What’s more, high levels of cortisol are also associated with shrinking of the hippocampus, a region of the brain that plays a key role in learning and memory.
The findings suggest that even cortisol levels in the normal, "healthy "range can actually accelerate brain aging.
The study results "now provide substantial evidence that long—term exposure to adrenal stress hormones may promote hippocampal aging in normal elderly humans, "write Nada Porter and Philip Landfield of the University of Kentucky in Lexington in their editorial. Cortisol is a hormone released in response to stress by the adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys.
Over a 5 to 6—year period. Dr. Sonia Lupien and his colleagues measured 24—hour cortisol levels in 51 healthy volunteers, most of whom were in their 70s.
Despite wide variation in cortisol levels, the participants could be divided into three subgroups: those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently high (increasing/high); those whose cortisol progressively increased over time and was currently moderate (increasing/moderate); and subjects whose cortisol decreased, but was currently moderate (decreasing/moderate).
The researchers tested the volunteers’ memory on six people in the increasing/high category and five people in the decreasing/moderate group. The groups did not differ on tests of immediate memory, but the increasing/high cortisol group had other memory problems com- pared with those in the decreasing/moderate group.
The researchers also found that the total volume of the hippocampus in those in the increasing/high group was 14% lower than those in the decreasing/moderate group, although there were no differences in other brain regions.
The results suggest that "...brain aging can be accelerated by levels of adrenal hormones that are not generally regarded as pathological and that variation within this normal range is related to variation in the rate of brain aging," write Porter and Landfield. "This further suggests that chronic stress may accelerate the worsening of hippocampus. /
According to the article, when people feel too worried or nervous or when they overwork, ______.

A:the adrenal glands will produce a streets hormone B:the kidneys will produce adrenal glands C:the hippocampus will produce high levels of cortisol in the blood D:the cortisol will produce something that makes a poorer memory

? ?下面有3篇短文，每篇短文后有5道题。请根据短文内容，为每题确定1个最佳选项。
{{B}}第一篇{{/B}}

The part of the brain important for a person’s learning, and memory is

A:the ?cortisol. B:the adrenal glands. C:the stress hormones. D:the hippocampus.

{{B}}第三篇{{/B}}

The part of the brain important for a person’s learning and memory is

A:the cortisol. B:the adrenal glands. C:the stress hormones. D:the hippocampus.

{{B}}第三篇{{/B}}

The part of the brain important for a person’s learning and memory is______.

A:the cortisol B:the adrenal glands C:the stress hormones D:the hippocampus

{{B}}第三篇{{/B}}

According to the article, when people feel too worried or nervous or when they overwork,______.

A:the adrenal glands will produce a stress hormone B:the kidneys will produce adrenal glands C:the hippocampus will produce high levels of cortisol in the blood D:the brain will work more effectively