Well not exactly. But that title sounds a lot better than "this is why you're still hungry after that huge pile of lettuce". Apparently the reason why is all due to the lack of ingested fats. After a fatty (and delicious) meal of say, Texas-style brisket, the small intestine needs more time to fully digest the fats that have been consumed (as compared to carbs or proteins). If that time isn't provided and fats aren't digested, then voila, out comes stinky, floating, fatty diarrhea. Ew. To prevent that disgusting outcome, the arrival of fats in the stomach stimulate CCK, a protein in your small intestine, to slow stomach emptying. Thus, fatty foods biologically make you feel full! So, I wonder if we are inclined to eat more fatty foods because they, compared to say brussel sprouts, are what ultimately satisfies our tummies. I guess the moral of this story is that the reason why my salads at home don't taste as good as those $15 bistro salads is that I'm too cheap to add in the really good cheeses and dressings and bacon bits and grilled meats and what-have-you's. It also defeats the purpose of staying on a diet. Oh well.
More details...
Medical dramas don't prepare you for reality
While shadowing at the hospital yesterday, I saw a man undergoing chemotherapy treatment. This was my first time seeing someone undergoing that process in real life. It's not at all comparable to what I've seen on popular TV/movies. The man's cheeks were sunk in and his cheekbones extremely prominent. His skin was so pale as to be paper-white. And although I've seen people in and out of hospitals who are far skinnier, he looked more under-nourished. Most of all, there was an aura of sickness and fatigue. Nearly all of his energy and emotions and willpower appeared to have been leeched out of him. He looked like he was trying to move mountains with every word and action, but the result felt like the dry-crackle of dead leaves in the breeze.
Is it medicine
or is it poison? Only
stats and time will tell.
Living Bone is Beautiful
Have you seen living bone? I always thought that our bones were the bleached white, rock-hard stuff with some amorphous composite of marrow in the center. The (dead) bones of the skeletons are amazing in their stark beauty and the fact that without them we'd sit like lumps of dough (Pillsbury Dough Boy anyone?). But living bone, the stuff that is right now inside all living creatures is a completely different story of wonder. While browsing through wikipedia to supplement my orthopedics pathology course at HMS (and yes, does that send little shivers of fear down your spines?), I came upon this gorgeous photograph of a living femur head. The bone is like a juicy fruit, bursting with life. Look at that intricate vascular network within the trabecular bone. Just beautiful. Everything within us is really really really honest to goodness alive.
Section through the head of the femur, showing the cortex, the red bone marrow and a spot of yellow bone marrow. Source: Steven Fruitsmaak, Wikipedia
An epic battle...
...between man and nature. Well, more specifically, between me and the spider mites that had infested my basil plant. This August, I had the grand vision of having a year-long supply of basil. I even bought miracle grow potting soil! During the warmer days, I put the plant outdoors to enjoy the sun. I noticed as the days progressed, my plant developed a white-ish "covering" that won't rub off as well as some "cobwebs". Then there were black dots all over it. It just didn't look healthy. Several days ago, I was amazed to find several stalks swarmed by this little black dots steadily moving from leaf to leaf. I picked some up with a tissue and indeed the dots were alive and when squished, left a disgusting yellow brown streak. I remembered that a favorite bush in my family yard once died from "spider mites." A quick internet search confirmed my suspicions. Obviously, I was very unhappy that the pests were killing my plant. So for the past several days, I have been diligently spraying my plant with a 1:1 isopropanol-water mixture that kills the bugs instantly. Hopefully, I will successfully get rid of them with a week's more of spraying. My room really smells like alcohol wipes now...
More details...Restaurant Review: Fugakyu
Fugakyu is a chic Japanese restaurant with the standard array of chic sushi plates and popular Japanese entrees. From the amount of business it had on the Friday evening that we dined there, the place certainly doesn't lack customers willing to spend large sums for chic food in a chic atmosphere. We however are a group of medical students sitting on a large nest of loans whose appetites are just a smidgeon larger than 6 pieces of fish/cucumber/carrot slivers rolled in rice. There's a saying that one would rather have a poor loving man for a father than a rich uncaring king. Well, I'd like to have a cheap, unassuming and filling meal rather than an aesthetically arranged, overpriced platter of little nothings. Give me a bowl of Gyudon anyday. Fugakyu, I can't believe I paid you nearly $3 per piece of sushi roll, even if it was delicious and pretty.
Quality of food 4/5.
Ambience 3.5/5 - Eastern style waterfalls by entrance. Shoji-esque doors. Stone benches with stone Japanese snow monkeys carved in the sides. Kimono clad waiters and waitresses. AND two giant flat screens playing a loop of beautiful Japanese scenery. I'm tempted to give it a 4, but I can't help but feel that they are trying too hard to impress... non-Asian customers.
Service 3/5 - Very very long wait (~45min) for sushi! Honestly, did you go to the ocean and fish for it? There were also some hot towels. That was nice.
Overall, 3.5/4. I would only go back there if someone else was paying... and willing to pay for a lot of food.
Location:
621 Boston Post Rd
Sudbury, MA 01776-3306
