Obesity
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Carbohydrate: Any of a large group of organic compounds containing carbon, oxygen and hydrogen, e.g. starch, glucose and other sugars. This is the main fuel and souce of energy for the body.
Carcinogen: Any substance or agent that produces cancer or increases the risk of development of cancer.
Cardiovascular Disease: Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.
Collagen: The protein substance of white fibres of connective tissue, cartilage or bone.
Cortisol: A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex (outer part of the gland).
Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a fat like crystalline substance which is mainly made in the body by the liver from saturated fats in food. It facilitates the transport and absorption of fatty acids in the body.
Complex Carbohydrates: These, like wholegrains, are digested slowly and raise blood sugar level also slowly. Also called low glycemic index foods.
Electrolyte:A chemical substance with an available electron in its structure that enables it to transmit electrical impulses when dissolved in fluids.
Endocrine Gland: A gland that manufactures one or more hormones which are secreted directly into the blood stream. Includes the pituitary, adrenals, thyroid, ovaries and testes.
Endocrine System: A group of ductless glands and tissues that secrete hormones directly into the blood stream to regulate the function of specific tissues or organs or of the entire body.
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA): Substances that the body cannot manufacture and therefore must be supplied in the diet.
Enzymes: Proteins that initiate biochemical reactions in the body. They remain intact in raw foods and help in the digestion process. Enzymes are also present in the saliva.
Fibre: Dietary fibre, also called roughage is made up of indigestible parts of whole plant foods which pass almost unchanged through the stomach and intestines. Soluble fibre helps get rid of extra cholesterol and insoluble fibres relieves constipation and diarrhoea.
Free Radicals: Highly reactive family of molecules which cause random damage to structural proteins, enzymes and DNA. These play major role in inflammation and hyper-oxidation.
Gluten: The insoluble protein found in grains like wheat
Glycemic Index (GI): This ranks foods based on the effect they have on blood sugar level. Foods, such as complex carbohydrates (wholegrains etc.), that raise the blood sugar level slowly have low GI value while those, such as simple carbohydrates (starch, sugars etc.) have high GI value.
Haemoglobin: An iron containing pigment in the red blood cells which carries oxygen from the lungs to the body tissues.
High Density Lipoprotein (HDL): Also referred to as “good cholesterol” which removes cholesterol from the circulation in the blood by returning the extra cholesterol that is not needed by the body back to the liver.
Hormone: A chemical substance that is produced in the body by an organ or cells of an organ and released directly into the blood stream. It has a specific regulatory action on the activity of a certain organ, cells or tissues.
