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BEIJING, Dec. 30-- To eat, or not to eat? That's always a tough question for people interested in fitness, and it is even more true in China. Chinese food, although diverse, is high in fats and features a great deal of fried fare. Many Chinese bodybuilders nowadays prefer western style food like boiled chicken breasts and steamed broccoli rather than Chinese food due to its often deep-fried cooking methods, heavy amounts of soy sauce and sugar coated items like lemon chicken. It is fair to say that many of these foods are caloric bombs waiting to destroy your physique. "I think Chinese food tastes fantastic but is something of a guilty pleasure, while Western fitness food is much cleaner and physique-friendly," a fitness amateur surnamed He said. Although China's various regional cuisines contain unhealthy dishes, not all Chinese food is marked by unhealthy cooking. There are plenty of options that are fairly healthy and lean by most standards. For example, Chinese cuisine treats vegetables as meals rather than add-ons, as in the case in many types of western cuisine. This creates a number of culinary opportunities for those interested in cooking and eating healthy food. "There are lots of foods that can influence workouts, and the most fundamental task is educating people to make correct choices," said Wang Ru, vice dean of the School of Kinesiology, Shanghai University of Sport. "There is a common saying that carbohydrates are the culprits of all chronic diseases. But that depends on the types of carbohydrates, not all carbs are bad," Wang said. "For example, there is a rich variety of cereals in China which are very healthy carbohydrate sources with a large portion of dietary fiber. Such kind of cereals can reduce toxin absorption, lower blood sugar, increase feelings of satiety, and promote gastrointestinal motility." | 
