Fan Zhihong comments: Capsaicin helps with blood circulation and energy metabolism, which may be helpful in preventing obesity. However, Chinese people usually use chili to increase the appetite, rather than lower it, and they often take their chili with a bowl of rice. Therefore, if a bowl of rice with chilis contains 1,000 calories, eating enough chilis to burn 100 calories will always result in an overabundance of 900 calories, so weight loss is highly unlikely, not to say impossible.

Milk is a good "weight control" food because scientists have discovered that, at the same levels of energy and protein consumption, dairy products are associated with lower body weight and lower levels of body fat. Replacing some meat protein with dairy protein may be beneficial to weight maintenance, especially for people with low calcium intake.

However, digestive tract resistance to large doses of capsaicin varies among individuals. To be on the safe side, it's more advisable to eat a bowl of low-fat vegetables and drink a cup of milk before meals than a large amount of chili.

The meat-only diet

The dieter eats only meat, eschewing rice, other staples, and vegetables, in the belief that reducing the intake of carbohydrates that can turn to fat will be beneficial, while their appetitie for meat is satisfiied.

Lin Feng comments: An all-protein diet can cause health risks. Overconsumption of animal protein will lead to a nutritional imbalance, and higher levels of cholesterol. High concentrations of cholesterol in the blood can heighten the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.