A portion of fries should only contain six, a Harvard professor has declared - sparking veritable outrage.
哈佛大學一位教授表示，一份薯條應該只有6根——這確實讓人們感到生氣。
Both crunchy and soft, coated in salty oil, little fried sticks of potato have been a source of joy for humankind since the 1700s, when (it’s believed) they were first invented.
小小的油炸薯條口感外脆內軟，外面有少許鹽，（據信）自18世紀初被首次發明以來，它一直是人們的快樂源泉。
For most, six fries is just the beginning.
對大多數人而言，吃6根薯條僅僅只是美餐一頓的開始。
But Professor Eric Rimm, of Harvard University’s nutrition department, says they are ’starch bombs’ and half a dozen should be our limit. After that we should sate our appetite with salad if we want to avoid life-threatening heart conditions.
但哈佛大學營養系的埃裡克·裡姆教授說，它們是“澱粉炸彈”，一次最多隻應該吃6根。如果我們想要避免危及生命的心臟疾病，隨後應吃沙拉來滿足食慾。
Dr Rimm’s comments, in an article for the New York Times this week, prompted predictable furor online, but the medical community warns he has a good point.
在《紐約時報》刊登的一篇文章中，裡姆博士的這些觀點不出意料地引發了網友熱議，但醫學界警告說，他的話很有道理。
Heart disease rates are rising, and progress to prevent heart disease deaths has slowed.
如今，心臟病發病率不斷上升，而預防心臟病死亡的進展已經放緩。
Why? Our penchant for fatty, greasy, salty, sugary food - in monumentally vast proportions - and distaste for exercise.
為何？部分原因是人們偏愛高脂、高油、高鹽和高糖的食物，並且大量地攝入這些食物。但人們又不喜歡鍛鍊。
In the last 25 years, the average serving size in any given establishment has doubled or tripled. Bagels are now six inches wide, not three; a medium bag of popcorn is 11 cups, not five; and a soda is 20 ounces not 6.5.
過去25年來，所有餐廳的食物分量都增加了一倍或兩倍。現在，麵包圈有六英寸寬，而不是三英寸，一袋中等大小的爆米花是11杯，不是5杯，一杯碳酸飲料是20盎司，而不是6.5盎司。
A serving of fries is meant to be capped at around 15. These days, most restaurants serve around 55.
一份薯條本來最多應該只有大約15根，如今大多數餐廳都會給55根左右。
Dr Rimm’s advice is partly based on a recent study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by Italian researchers, who found people who avoided fries altogether lived six months longer than those who indulged.
裡姆博士的建議部分是基於意大利研究人員最近在《美國臨床營養學雜誌》上發表的一項研究。該研究發現，完全不吃薯條的人比那些特別愛吃薯條的人多活6個月。
People who ate fries two or three times a week had (unsurprisingly) higher risks of diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
每週吃兩三次薯條的人患糖尿病、肥胖症和心血管疾病的風險更高(這是意料之中的)。
For most Americans, Dr Rimm laments, taking away their fries is no easy feat.
裡姆博士感嘆道，對於大多數美國人來說，拿走他們的薯條可不是件容易的事。
And true to form, the reaction to the New York Times article was lively.
一如往常，人們對《紐約時報》這篇文章的反應十分熱烈。
What kind of MAD MAN would want six french [sic] fries? I get it, they are bad for you, but eating SIX sounds like torture,’ one person tweeted, adding: ’I’d rather not have them at all. But we all know that’s not going to happen.’
一名網友寫道：“有哪個瘋子會只想要6根薯條？道理我都懂，它們對你沒好處，但只吃6根聽起來像是虐待。”他還說，“我寧願不吃都行，但我知道我做不到。”
閱讀更多 輕鬆學英文 的文章
