Iron and the Effects of Exercise 课文结构分析(text structure analysis)

The essay can be structurally divided into three parts. 
    Part 1: This part consists of 3 paragraphs, from Paragraph 1 to Paragraph 3. The central topic is that exercise, even moderate exercise, may lead to reduced iron in the blood of women. Then three groups of people are mentioned as suffering from iron deficiency: endurance athletes, women starters of a program of moderate exercise showing evidence of iron loss and new exercisers with the normal diet showing a decrease in iron levels.


    Part 2: This part is made up of 3 paragraphs, from Paragraph 4 to Paragraph 6. Paragraph 4 tells us that iron deficiency is very common among women and the general causes for it. Paragraph 5 deals with one specific cause: the average woman takes in only two thirds of the recommended daily allowance for iron and any additional iron loss from exercise may be enough to tip her over the edge into a more serious deficiency. Paragraph 6 deals with another specific cause: exercise can result in iron loss through a variety of mechanisms. 


    Part 3: This part is made up of 6 paragraphs, from Paragraph 7 to Paragraph 12.
    Paragraphs 7 and 8 tell us there are three stages of iron deficiency and that if you’re stage 3, it means your iron reserves go to zero and you’re in trouble. Paragraph 9 recommends one way to check the amount of iron storage in the blood. Paragraphs 10 to 12 suggest specific ways to correct iron deficiency in blood. Paragraph 10 is about adding more iron-rich foods to the diet, Paragraph 11 about selecting food with “iron-added” labels, cooking food in iron pans and avoiding coffee or tea with meals and Paragraph 12 about paying attention to warning signs of iron deficiency before iron reserves are gone.

Central topic: Exercise, even moderate exercise, may lead to reduced iron in the blood of women.       _________________________________________________________                                                 Sports medicine experts have observed that endurance athletes, particularly females, frequently have iron deficiencies.                      Para. 1     A new study shows that inactive women who started a program of moderate exercise showed evidence of iron loss.                          Para. 2     The new exercisers who followed their normal diet showed a decrease in iron levels.                        Para. 3      Paras. 1-3

Iron deficiency is very common among women:  One in four female teenagers; one in five women aged 18 to 45; the ratio is even greater among active women: about 80 percent of female endurance athletes 　     Four causes: Too many women ignore the amount of iron they take in; women’s monthly bleeding is a major source of iron loss; many women increase their risk of iron loss by rejecting red meat; women are liable to experience a deficiency as a result of restricting their diet in weight control.    Para  4                              _____________________________________         One specific cause: The average woman takes in only two thirds of the recommended daily allowance for iron and any additional iron loss from exercise may be enough to tip her over the edge into a more serious deficiency.                              Para. 5 Another specific cause: Exercise can result in iron loss through a variety of mechanisms.                  Para. 6     Paras. 4-6

Suggested ways to correct iron deficiency:       _________________________________________________________                                                 In general, it’s better to undo the problem by adding more iron-rich foods to the diet.              Para. 10    Select breads and cereals with the “iron-added” labels; cook in iron pans, as food can derive iron from the pan during the cooking process; avoid drinking coffee or tea with meals.                  Para. 11     If you pay attention to warning signs before iron reserves are gone, you can remedy the deficiency before it really becomes a problem.                 Para. 12      Paras. 10-12