Lifestyle, Health and Body Care

Maturita topic 5, general part, at Cambridge B2 First level. The specific part of this topic is The USA – Geography and Places of Interest.

What to talk about

• a healthy lifestyle – diet, exercise, sleep, stress, bad habits
• common illnesses and injuries, visiting the doctor, the healthcare system
• personal hygiene and body care
• mental health
• unhealthy trends – fast food, sitting at screens, addictions

Model answer

I think a healthy lifestyle is based on a few simple things: a balanced diet, regular exercise, enough sleep and avoiding bad habits like smoking or drinking too much alcohol. It sounds easy, but in practice it’s quite difficult. As an IT student I spend hours sitting at a computer, so I try to work out at least twice a week and go cycling at weekends. I also try to eat more vegetables and fewer sweets, although I must admit I have a weakness for chocolate.

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Many young people suffer from stress and anxiety, especially before exams, and social media can make it worse because we constantly compare ourselves with others. What helps me is sport, spending time outside and switching off my phone in the evening. If someone has serious problems, it’s important to talk to someone or to seek professional help – it isn’t a sign of weakness.

When I’m ill, I usually get a cold or the flu, with a sore throat, a runny nose and a temperature. In that case I stay at home and take some medicine. If it doesn’t get better, I make an appointment with my GP, who examines me and may prescribe antibiotics. In the Czech Republic most healthcare is covered by health insurance, so people don’t have to pay for most treatment, which is a big difference from the USA, where healthcare can be very expensive.

Body care is a natural part of daily life – having a shower, brushing your teeth twice a day, looking after your skin and hair and visiting the dentist regularly. Today people, both women and men, spend a lot of money on cosmetics and some even undergo cosmetic surgery. I think it’s fine to want to look good, but we shouldn’t be obsessed with appearance.

To sum up, health is something we usually take for granted until we lose it. That’s why I think it’s worth making small changes now – they will pay off in the future.

Vocabulary

Grammar worth showing

• should / had better / ought to for advice: You’d better see a doctor.
• zero and first conditional: If you don’t sleep enough, you can’t concentrate. If I have time, I’ll go jogging.
• gerund as subject: Eating too much sugar is bad for you.

Useful phrases

• I try to… / I make sure I…
• I must admit that I…
• It’s a well-known fact that…
• The best way to stay healthy is…
• If I were you, I would…

Speaking practice

Part 1 – about you

Part 3 / 4 – discussion