argument162 by [728西安]小红莓

小红莓UID: 2641349

TOPIC: ARGUMENT162 - 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 physiochemical 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.
WORDS: 365
TIME: 00:30:00
DATE: 2009-7-17 下午 10:04:34

Grounding on the study in the numbers of chronic fatigue in North America and Asia, supposing that soy contains isoflavones which possess disease-prevention properties, and synthesizing the two hypothesized and another factor that Asians eat more soy per day than North Americans on average, the author suggests that North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression. However, carefully of these supporting evidence reveals that is lends little credible support to the arguer's suggestion.

To begin with, the statistics of the study cited by the author is questionable. Perhaps the Asian have higher rates of chronic fatigue and chronic depression, but they do not go to check their health regularly and as a result could not find the diseases. Perhaps the Asian are not that noticeable to these kinds of chronic diseases as Americans even when they are suffered of these diseases. As the people in to areas have different medical system, different doctors, different attitude of diseases, the result of study may not enough to support the author's conclusion.

Next, even if the people living on the continent of North America eat less soy per day than people living on the continent of Asia, it may not lead to the higher rates of chronic fatigue and chronic depression. As there are huge differences, such as dairy, time of working, rest, and so on, it is likely that these kinds of reasons could have effect on the rates of chronic fatigue and depression. Without ruling out all the other possibilities, the author's conclusion is unconvincing.

Additionally, even if the soy contains physiochemical called isoflavones, which possess disease-prevention properties, the author fails to convince me that isoflavones could have effect on people's chronic fatigue and chronic depression. As no scientific evidences haven been showed by author, the author could not have a hasty conclusion.

To sum up, the argument is unconvincing as it stands. To strengthen it, the author should provide clear evidence that the American have higher rates of chronic fatigue and chronic depression, and the isoflavones, which possess disease-prevention properties have effect on fatigue and depression, and it is result from soy rather than other reasons.