Scientist slams recipes
By Wang Qingchu |
March 12, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
YUN Wuxin, a scientist and writer, has refuted a claim made by an alleged food therapy expert that large intakes of potatoes could combat a wide range of common diseases, calling it groundless and lacking common sense.
Ma Yueling shot to fame after writing a recipe book that contained suggestions such as consuming lots of potatoes as they reduce fat in the blood, and eating live loach - a species of fish - as they clear internal heat.
Yun, a biologist and one of the most popular science writers in the Science Squirrel Club, a group forum of science writers who explain science in an interesting and easy way, rebutted Ma's theory.
He said Ma had taken -advantage of people's desire for cheap and practical ingredients and used them as part of her recipes, Guangzhou Daily reported yesterday.
A potato does contain a certain amount of fiber, but even if one consumes 500 grams of potatoes every day, it's still impossible to generate the effect described in the book, such as improving digestion and preventing cardiovascular ailments, Yun said.
Ma's book is fraught with loopholes and self-contradictions, Yun said. Ma herself said that she hadn't practiced modern medicine for many years and had generated her theories solely based on her past experiences.
"Then how can she prove a potato can alleviate swelling and ease pain after surgery?" Yun questioned.
One woman ate live loaches after reading Ma's book. The recipes didn't clear any of her inner heat, on the contrary, she suffered from low grade fever for several days, China's Central Television reported earlier.
Ma Yueling shot to fame after writing a recipe book that contained suggestions such as consuming lots of potatoes as they reduce fat in the blood, and eating live loach - a species of fish - as they clear internal heat.
Yun, a biologist and one of the most popular science writers in the Science Squirrel Club, a group forum of science writers who explain science in an interesting and easy way, rebutted Ma's theory.
He said Ma had taken -advantage of people's desire for cheap and practical ingredients and used them as part of her recipes, Guangzhou Daily reported yesterday.
A potato does contain a certain amount of fiber, but even if one consumes 500 grams of potatoes every day, it's still impossible to generate the effect described in the book, such as improving digestion and preventing cardiovascular ailments, Yun said.
Ma's book is fraught with loopholes and self-contradictions, Yun said. Ma herself said that she hadn't practiced modern medicine for many years and had generated her theories solely based on her past experiences.
"Then how can she prove a potato can alleviate swelling and ease pain after surgery?" Yun questioned.
One woman ate live loaches after reading Ma's book. The recipes didn't clear any of her inner heat, on the contrary, she suffered from low grade fever for several days, China's Central Television reported earlier.
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