The three major contributors to a food’s total caloric value are carbohydrates (4 calories/gram), proteins (4 calories/gram) and fats (9 calories/gram). Our body tends to utilize all three for energy in a certain order based on the type of activity, a person’s genetics, etc. It was once thought that by reducing the intake of carbs (considered to be the primary fuel source), our bodies would be forced to burn more fat calories. Now the high-protein trend plays on the fact that protein helps build muscle (and helps suppress appetite for longer intervals), and an increased muscle mass burns more calories at rest.

The NEJM study basically had several groups assigned to consume varying levels of carbs, proteins, and fats over time. The researchers had the following conclusion: “Reduced-calorie diets result in clinically meaningful weight loss regardless of which macronutrients they emphasize.”

Now this doesn’t mean you should consume 2,000 calories worth of donuts per day, because obviously, donuts don’t have all the other nutrients your body requires. Heh, what a shame! It’s interesting, however, that many of our previous diet conceptions involving the control of macronutrients may indeed be inaccurate.

It’s terrible. My dad, brother, and I eat everything, but my mother only cooks vegetarian food at home. Whenever we get a chance to go out to an Indian restaurant, I’m overcome with joy in anticipation of devouring chicken tikka masala or tandoori chicken; however, today was just a sick joke. I sat there and ate more of the same stuff I’m accustomed to passing up at home in favor of pepperoni pizza lean pockets or turkey sandwiches. Sometimes I think that Gujarati food is the worst thing to ever emerge out of India. *Sighs* I should’ve been born in Punjab.

Anyways, I also made a striking observation. I knew the restaurant sucked since everyone was of a “brown” decent. Believe it or not, most of the better Indian restaurants have a wide variety of people (sometimes, Indian guests are the minorities in their own restaurant). Not only that, but I enjoy seeing hefty brown guys in other restaurants; that way, I don’t feel as bad going back to the buffet line for seconds. At Bhojan, all the guests had six inch waistlines padded by their khaki trousers and pressed shirts. According to online reviews, the food really is good… just not to someone of my taste. Bleh, at least the customer service was great and mom really enjoyed it.

So in conclusion, I follow a balanced diet as much as the next guy, but when I get to visit an Indian restaurant once in a blue moon, I want my murghi (chicken)! Oh, and to the person who is thinking:

“Rishi… you’re a Hindu. You’re not supposed to be eating meat. What a disgrace!”

My personal view of religion does not entail abiding by some restriction on food. If all Hindus believed in strict vegetarianism and the world’s agricultural system came to a stand still, we would be the first ones to go extinct. I understand why people choose to be vegetarians, but I don’t understand how it’s now universally recognized as a facet of Hinduism. In terms of health, poultry and fish provide some of the best sources of nutrition available for consumption. Lol, plus, I don’t see how one can be considered to have a “balanced diet” without eating all types of food.

…I’m done ranting.

This study, published in Neurobiology, does not actually outline a causal relationship between B12 and brain atrophy; however, I surmise future studies will begin to verify what this initial observation is leaning towards. Vitamin B12 is an exception to the “water-soluble” nature of the other B vitamins as well as Vitamin C. Rather than excess vitamin being flushed out of the body, B12 actually gets stored in the liver, kidney, and other tissues. Therefore, a simple urine test is typically not the best way to determine B12 deficiency, as it would take a significant amount of time for the vitamin to exit one’s body.

As a person who loves the workings of organic chemistry, B12 is very interesting in its structure. B12, also known as cobalamin, is one of the few instances of a stable organometallic compound in the body (in this case, a stable carbon-cobalt bond). Furthermore, deficiencies can be attributed to the work that must be put forth to absorb the vitamin. Rather than simply being absorped in the intestinal lining, intrinsic factor from the parietal cells of the stomach (the same cells which secrete HCl for digestion) must be used to facilitate absorption.

Though the study doesn’t show a direct relationship between B12 levels and brain atrophy, taking note of your vitamin B intake would be prudent. This is of particular importance to vegetarians and lactating/pregnant women as their vitamin levels can be drastically skewed. Good sources of B12 include the following:

• Liver
• Shellfish
• Milk/yogurt
• Fortified cereals
• Vitamin supplements (my personal favorite )