Health and Diet Online Glossary

Adequate Intake: As much caloric or nutritional intake as is necessary for a person's activity and lifestyle. This is gauged through a number of health metrics including, growth rate and circulating nutrient values.

ADP (Adenosine DiPhosphate): A major step in the cell energy processes. With the addition of another phosphate group, it is converted into ATP where energy is stored until released during cell metabolism where it again becomes ADP until another phosphate group is added.

Aerobic Exercise: Directly translated as "with oxygen". Especially in terms of activity which involves extended periods of intense heart and lung function. Examples of aerobic exercise include running, biking, swimming, walking, etc. As a general rule these activities need to be executed for a minimum of 20 minutes to be considered aerobic.

Akavar: A diet and weight loss pill developed from the caloric restrictor family of diet supplements. Akavar was developed by Dynanor Pharmacal and originally released in the European market.

Allergen: Any substance that your body recognizes as physiologically foreign and causes an allergic reaction.

Allergy: An abnormal reaction of the body's immune system to previously encountered substances. Allergic reactions can include, itchy eyes, runny nose, wheezing, skin rash, or diarrhea.

Anaerobic Exercise: Directly translates as "without oxygen". This indicates activities which require intense skeletal muscle workouts, but does not increase heart and lung activity for an extended periods of time. Examples of anaerobic exercise include, weight lifting, sprinting and wrestling.

Antioxidant: A chemical compound or substance that inhibits oxidization. In terms of diets and health this refers to substances thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation. An example of these substances would be vitamin E, vitamin C, or beta carotene.

Appetite suppressant: A drug or nutraceutical which suppresses appetite. Also known as Anorectics, anorexigenics—substances which reduce the desire to eat.

Appetite Suppressant: A family of foods or substances which causes hormones in the body to register a person's gastrointestinal nerves as "full". Appetite suppressants help to relieve cravings or feelings of hunger which can lead to overeating and obesity.

Artificial Sweetener: Substances that provide sweetness stimulation to foods but supply little or no energy to the body. Artificial sweeteners have recently come under scrutiny as a catalyst for triggering abnormal blood sugar levels in the body. Popular artificial sweeteners include acesulfame, aspartame, saccharin and sucralose.

ATP (Adenosine TriPhosphate): The main source of energy for physiological reactions especially muscle contractions. ATP releases energy when it is broken down into ADP by hydrolysis during cell metabolism.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR): The rate at which energy is used at complete rest. BMR is measured by the amount of heat released per a given unit of time. This is expressed as released calories per kilogram of body weight per hour. Although results vary greatly from one individual to another, BMR typically accounts for 60 to 70 percent of daily energy use.

Biological Value (BV): A measure of protein quality based on the percentage of absorbed nitrogen that is retained by the body. This value ranges from 50 – 100 percent and is a measure of how much a dietary protein source can support growth. In other words, BV is related to the amino acid composition of food protein, that is, whether or not it contains adequate amounts of essential amino acids.

Body Mass Index (BMI): A measure of the relative percentages of fat and muscle mass. Weight in kilograms is divided by height in meters. This ratio is then used an index of obesity. Athletes, body builders and pregnant women all have increased BMIs that do not necessarily indicate increased health risks: obviously every individual is different and therefore BMI results should be interpreted with caution:

Caloric Inhibitor: A product or family of product that reduces the amount of calories your body is able to metabolize from a given food source. The objective of a caloric inhibitor is to allow a people to eat as much as they want, but only absorb the minimum calories for their daily adequate intake.

Calorie: A unit of energy equal to the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius. In practical health terms this would be considered the amount of energy given by food. For example:

People who consume more calories than they burn in a normal day or during exercise are likely to be overweight or obese.

Calorie balance: The difference between a person's calorie intake and calorie expenditure. That is what's left over from what you ate and what your burned off. When a calorie balance is zero, it means they are burning all the energy they eat. A negative calorie balance results in losing weight while a positive calorie balance results in gaining weight.

Calorie Expenditure: The amount of energy your body uses to work. This includes anything from thinking to breathing to running.

Cancer: Any spreading (malignant) growth or tumor caused by abnormal and unregulated cell division. Cancerous cells may spread to other parts of the body through the lymphatic system or the blood stream.

Carcinogen: Any substance, (genotoxic or biotoxic) that can cause cells to become cancerous. Asbestos, DDT, and tobacco are examples of carcinogens.

Cardiovascular Disease: A general term for disorders pertaining to or involving the heart and blood vessels.

Casein: The principal protein in cow's milk. A white, tasteless, odorless mixture of related phosphoproteins. Casein is very nutritious and forms curds when exposed to acid. It is the basis of cheese and is used as a key ingredient to make plastics, adhesives, paints, and foods.

Cellulite: From Latin, cellula or "little cell" Lumpy fat deposits causing a dimpled or uneven appearance. These deposits are usually found in the thighs and buttocks.

Cholesterol: A sterol that is the main component of blood plasma and cell membranes. Cholesterol is an important precursor of many steroid hormones such as the estrogens, testosterone and cortisol. A person with higher than normal amounts of cholesterol in the blood is at higher risk of developing coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis. Two main cholesterols are high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol.

Chromium Polynicotinate: A patented version of the trace mineral chromium. Studies indicate this dietary supplement may provide many healthy benefits. Weight loss, more regulated cholesterol and glucose levels, and improved body mass indexing. Some studies indicate previous findings may be called into question.

Dehydration: The condition that occurs from a loss in body water through precipitation or other loss of bodily fluids, (e.g. diarrhea, vomiting, blood loss, etc). The symptoms of dehydration range from the mildest, thirst and can progress into weakness, dizziness, exhaustion, headaches, and in severe cases can eventually lead to death. The human body is about sixty percent water. Unhealthy diets may mistake dehydration as a sign of weight loss. This is not healthy nor is it an actual indicator of sustainable weight loss. Staying properly hydrated is a fundamental of healthy living.

Dietary supplement: An orally ingested product that contains one or more ingredients that are intended to augment one's diet and are not considered a food. This includes the broad assortment of minerals, vitamins, herbs and other botanicals and amino acids. Dietary supplements are not considered medicines and therefore are not required to pass the stringent FDA guidelines for supplements.

Ephedra: A stimulant, often sold as pills or tablets, derived from ephedrine, a product of plants of the Ephedra family. Although originally used for the treatment of allergies and asthma, recent—though unsubstantiated—uses include it as a stimulant for weight loss.

Fat: The ester of glycerol and one, two or three fatty acids. In human health terms it's the various soft, solid or semisolid tissues containing such substances. Fat is the most dense and often the body's easiest form of calorie storage. Eating more calories that one consumes lead to build-up of fat storage. As a general rule, fat should account for less than 30% of ones daily caloric intake. See obesity.

FDA: Abbreviation for Food and Drug Administration. A federal agency developed under the Department of Health and Human Services to regulate the release of new foods and health-related products.

Garcinia Cambogia: Low spreading tree of Indonesia yielding an organic brown gum (gamboge). Also marketed as an all-natural, safe and effective plant extract containing hyrdoxycitric acid, (HCA).

Glycogen: Also known as "animal starch", it is the principle storage for of carbohydrate energy (glucose) which is reserved in the muscles and liver. Glycogen is readily converted into glucose as needed by the body to satisfy its energy needs.

Gram: The basic unit of mass and volume in the metric system. One thousandth of a kilogram or approximately 1/28 of an ounce ( 0.035 ounces).

Gymnema Sylvestre: An herbal extract historically used for reducing glycosuria and for neutralizing blood sugar. It has commonly been used in India for over two thousand years to treat diabetes.

Homeostasis: The tendency to regulate internal conditions regardless of outside conditions. Homeostasis is achieved through a large number of feed back systems which regulate temperature, metabolism, energy levels and so forth.

Hoodia: An indigenous plant of South Africa or any number of derivatives of this plant, which was historically used for treating indigestion and small infections. No peer-reviewed double-blind clinical trials have been performed on humans to investigate the safety or effectiveness of hoodia in pill form. Many studies indicate that most supplements lack sufficient amounts of P57, (the active ingredient for appetite suppressant).

Hydration: The process of taking in water. A measure of the water content of the body tissues. Although levels may significantly increase for athletes, pregnant women and people who require other physical activity, (sickness included), a person should drink at least 2 quarts, (64oz.) of water per day.

Hydroxycitric acid, (HCA). A clinically proven ingredient found many diet supplements that help suppress appetite and inhibit fat production. A key characteristic of HCA is that manufacturers claim it does not stimulate the central nervous system.

Hydroxycut: A popular name brand market which employs HCI (the active ingredient in Garcinia Cambogia), chromium polynicotinate, and Gymnema Sylvestre to control blood sugars). Hyrdoxycut is found to be most effective when used in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise routine.

Ideal weight: A value assigned to identify the normal or "healthiest" weight of a person based on height, age, sex and build. Because constant factors are taken into account, percentage deviation from ideal weight is generally accepted to identify a person's fat and water levels. See obesity.

Intensity: Primarily measured by heart rate. The higher the heart rate for a particular activity, the higher its level of intensity.

Lipid: The main type of fat found in the body, another word for dietary fats.

Liter L: The basic unit of volume in the metric system. The volume of 1000 grams of water at 4 degrees Celsius.

Maximum Heart Rate MHR: The fastest and hardest a person's heart can pump without going into fibrillation. This rate obviously differs according to age and body type although an basic estimation can be found by subtracting your age in years from 220.

Maximum Oxygen Uptake or VO2 Max: An indication of cardiovascular efficiency. The maximum amount of oxygen can use per minute of work. If, the intensity of exercise increases further the body starts to work anaerobically and lactic acid is produced—although most people get soreness from lactic acid before he or she reaches VO2 Max.

Metabolism: The sum of the processes by which a particular substance is handled (the breaking down, assimilation and incorporation) in the body. People with a higher metabolism, have systems which digest, assimilate, detoxify and subsequently excrete food and nutrients more quickly.

Metabolite: A produce or single step/phase in a chain of metabolites which make a metabolism process.

Nutraceutical: A food or natural food supplement which is recognized or believed to provide health or medical benefits in addition to its basic nutritional value.

Obesity: Having more than average body fat content. Although the "average" body fat content can vary from country to country or culture to culture, generally accepted obesity is 20% over a person's ideal weight.

Oxidation: Any chemical reaction in which a material gives up electrons when the material combines with oxygen. In other words the natural atomic breakdown of our cells due to the exposure and processing or oxygen.

Post Exercise Energy Consumption: A term which refers to the amount of calories burned during recovery from exercise. These calories are typically burned during muscle and tissue repair.

Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE): The level of effort a person feels they are putting into an activity. Lower numbers indicate lower levels of exertion. This is often used as a means to measure performance trends over time.

RDA: Recommended Dietary Allowance. The amount of an essential nutrients or calories that have been established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences, to meet the average daily nutritional needs of most people according to age group and sex. Obviously the caloric or nutritional RDA is different for everyone, but does provide a great reference point.

Resting Heart Rate: or (RHR): A measure of heart beats per minute when the body is completely at rest. Typically the most accurate results can be obtained immediately after waking up in the morning.

Spot Reduction: Surgical, nutraceutical or otherwise which removes stored fat from specific areas in the body. No activity or exercise can remove fat from a specific area.

Strength Training: Also Known as Resistance or Weight Training: Activities which involves exercising with weights or isometric positions to build, strengthen and tone muscle. Strength training is important to maintain the balance of bone and weight in the body.

Supplement: A product intended to augment or support. Abbreviated or slang term for dietary supplement.

Target Heart Rate (THR): A pre-determined pulse to be obtained during exercise when circulation is working at full efficient capacities: often 60-85 percent of the symptom-limited heart rate before exercise.

Weight Lifting: Also known as strength training which involves the supplementation of weights to strengthen, build and tone muscle. Weight training is typically a form of anaerobic exercise.