Argument162 爱生活，爱拍砖，倾情奉献

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argument162（抑郁症，同类72，187）

A recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.

A.        这项调查有问题，由于没有提供有关调查的详细资料，所以可以怀疑这项调查可能比较片面。比如拿生活在美国东北部的城市的人与生活在中国四川的人对比。不具有代表性。
B.        大豆含有某种物质，虽然这种物质具有预防疾病的功效，但是未必能有效减少人们的疲劳和抑郁。也就是说就算亚洲人比北美人活得更轻松，也不一定是吃大豆的功劳
C.        即使大豆的确可以缓解疲劳和减少抑郁，那也可能仅对亚洲人有效，而对北美人无效。因为人种不同，还有生活习惯等其他地方不同。

In the analysis, the arguer concludes that eating certain amount of soy everyday can help North Americans prevent fatigue and depression. This conclusion bases on the assumption that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. However, the argument has several flaws which make it deficient.

Firstly, the study has several problems. The study asserts that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. But it has no information about the samples they have studied. Then it is logical to suspect that in this study, researchers choose samples without strict consideration. For example, maybe they choose Americans who live in the cities in North-eastern America, where people lead famous busy lives; and at the same time they choose Chinese who live in Sichuan province in China, where people are very idle. So their conclusion is unilateral  and cannot tell us the truth.

Secondly, the different chronic fatigue and chronic depression levels between North Americans and Asians may be not the result of different amount of soy they eat everyday. The arguer says that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. But no scientific research has proved this ingredient may treat fatigue and depression, though it is able to treat some other diseases. North Americans and Asians have many other differences in their food except soy. The former usually eat more meat and cream, which contain a lot of protein and fat, while the latter eat more rice and vegetable, which contain more vitamin and fiber. Now popular point is that Asian food is healthier than other area’s food. As a result, we can suspect that soy is not the primary reason.

Thirdly, even if soy has some effect in reducing fatigue and depression, it may be not suit for North Americans. In Asia, most people are the yellows. But in North America, most people are the whites. There are so many differences between their constitutions of body that one food has different effect on them. Soy may be good for Asians, but may be bad for others. And there are still a lot of differences of their living habits. For example, westerners used to drink coffee, but easterners prefer tea.

To sum up, the argument is not as persuasive as it stands. We cannot find any evidence to prove that isoflavones has function of relaxing people and alleviating depression. And the arguer fails to provide any necessary information about the study mentioned at the beginning of the argument, which is the foundation of the latter discussion. Besides, the arguer doesn’t take the difference between the yellow and the white into consideration.