Weight Loss, Dieting & Slimming Glossary

Weight Loss, Dieting & Slimming Glossary

Dieting A-Z

A glossary of weight loss, dieting and slimming terms you may encounter on this website.

Amino acids: There are 22 amino acids and these are units from which protein is formed.

Antioxidant: A substance that protects molecules from oxidation by getting oxidized itself.

Bingeing: An eating spree.

Calorie: An energy unit in food.

Carotene: An orange-yellow pigment usually found in vegetables which is a from of vitamin A.

Cellulose: An insoluble fibre.

Cholesterol: A fatty substance (lipid) found in animal tissue and fat.

Co-enzyme: A substance, usually made out of a vitamin.

Complex carbohydrate: Polysaccharides comprised of starches and dietary fibres.

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus.

Diet: Food eaten to maintain or promote healthy living.

Disease: Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems.

Essential amino acids: Nine amino acids that can not be synthesized by mammals and are therefore dietarily essential.

Fat soluble vitamins: Needed for proper assimilation and are more easily stored in the body.

Fatty acids: Lipids that can be directly utilized as a source of energy by most body cells.

High blood pressure: High blood pressure is, by definition, a repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg.

Hypercholesterolemic: Excessive quantity of cholesterol in the blood and tissues.

Hyperglycaemia: An elevated concentration of glucose in the blood.

Hypoglycaemia: Low blood sugar levels, often causing confusion, light headedness and irritability.

Lipoproteins: Lipid-protein particles that are carried through the blood stream.

Macrobiotic: A very restrictive diet, containing mainly whole grains, considered to promote health.

Metabolism: Summary of all chemical events in our body's cells.

Mono-unsaturated fats: Usually found in plant products.

Nutrient density: The amount of nutrients found in a single food.

Obese: Well above ones normal weight. A person has traditionally been considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight.

Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Overweight: A state between normal weight and obesity.

Polyunsaturated fats: Highly unsaturated fat, usually of plant origin.

Recommended Dietary Allowance: The levels of intake of essential nutrients judged by the Food and Nutrition Board, on the basis of scientific knowledge, to be adequate to meet the nutrient needs of all healthy persons.

Saturated fats: A type of fat found in animal products, can raise cholesterol levels.

Side effects: Problems that occur when treatment goes beyond the desired effect.

Simple carbohydrates: Are monosaccharides (glucose and fructose) and disaccharides (sucrose, maltose and lactose).

Simple sugar: Fructose and glucose which are more easily absorbed and utilized by the body.

Solutes: Trace elements or minerals dissolved in a substance.

Stress: Forces from the outside world impinging on the individual.

Subcutaneous body fat: Fat found under the skin.

Unsaturated fats: Primarily found in vegetable products. Saturated fats which are usually solid are found more often in animal products.

Weight loss: A decrease in body weight resulting from diet.

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Weight Loss, Dieting & Slimming Glossary

Dieting A-Z

Weight Loss, Slimming & Dieting

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