List Of Healthy Life Terms

Lochia - period-like vaginal discharge following childbirth, which persists for 4 to 6 weeks.


NFCS (Nationwide Food Consumption Survey) - a survey conducted by the USDA (US Department of Administration) around every ten years, which monitors the dietary and nutrient intake of a random section across all groups of the US population.


U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - the United States Department of Agriculture includes many institutions, each of which is in charge of a different function in connection with agriculture and food supply. Among these numerous tasks is providing a risk-free, inexpensive, wholesome and freely available supply of food. The USDA also improves the lifestyle, health, and wellness for American citizens by giving support and help to the cultivation of agricultural produce; caring for agricultural, forest, and range land; encouraging healthy evolvement of rural communities; providing financial opportunities for farm and rural populations; expanding the global demand for agricultural and forest products and services; and seeking to decrease hunger and poverty within the US and throughout the globe.


Anemia - a medical condition in which a deficiency in the size or number of erythrocytes (red blood cells) or the amount of hemoglobin (the oxygen-carrying pigment in red blood cells) these red blood cells contain inhibits oxygen being transported to the tissue cells by the blood, and carbon dioxide being carried away. The majority of anemias are caused by a dietary deficiency in the nutrients that are essential for normal erythrocyte synthesis, principally iron, vitamin B-12, and folic acid. Other anemias are caused by various physical ailments, such as severe bleeding, hereditary medical problems, chronic illness (illness marked by long duration or frequent recurrence) or negative effects of prescribed drugs.


Xylitol - a natural sweetening agent found in plants and used as a low-calorie sugar substitute.


Biopesticide - refers to any substance that occurs naturally and is used in pest control, which is a product or byproduct of living organisms or microorganisms, such as animal and plant cells, or bacteria.


Angiopathy - any malfunctioning of the blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries) that is a complication in long-term diabetes. There are 2 types of angiopathy: macroangiopathy (arteriosclerosis or cardiovascular disease) and microangiopathy (affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves, etc).


Confounding Variable / Factor - a `spurious` variable that may cause an association which the researcher attributes to other variables.


Duodenal Switch (DS Procedure) - also known as Bilio-Pancreatic Diversion or `Bilio-Pancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch. This is a form of bariatric surgery, during which surgeons a) tie off a section of the stomach to shrink its capacity by 20-30% and b) divert the small intestine for impaired absorption of nutrients.


Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - a US federal agency, composed of eleven centers, institutes and departments, that has the objective of promoting physical fitness and improve standards of living by preventing and controlling disease, physical injury and disability.


Bontril SR - a drug that suppresses the appetite and that which diminishes hunger by stimulating the nervous system.


Lactobacillus - a class of prebiotic/probiotice found in yogurt and some other milk products, which may be beneficial to the gastro-intestinal tract.


Weight Lifting - a sport where contenders vie to lift heavy weights mounted on steel bars.


Resting Heart Rate (RHR) - the number of times the heart beats each minute when a person is resting. To get the most authentic calculation, the RHR must be recorded first thing in the morning prior to getting out of bed.


Bulimia Nervosa - an eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating (gulping down large quantities of food in a very short time), accompanied by a feeling of being utterly out of control during the food encounter, and feelings of self-condemnation based on discontent with one`s physical appearance. Two variants of this eating disorder are prevalent: purging and non-purging. In the first type, the individual compulsively engages in purging by forcing him/herself to throw up the food eaten, or by the excessive use of laxatives, diuretics, or even enemas. Conversely, in the second type, the person prevents weight gain through severe dieting, going on periodic fasts, or extreme physical exercise. This binge eating before self-induced vomiting, and feelings of depression, guilt, and self-loathing, are frequently associated with another eating disorder, anorexia nervosa. Many times there is no appreciable loss in weight and the condition might go unnoticed until the person seeks help.


Underwater Weighing - also known as hydrostatic weighing, a research method for measuring fat in an individual`s body. An individual is placed in a tank, underwater, and weighed. By comparing weight underwater with weight on land, a researcher is able to get a very accurate estimate of body fat.


Alternatives to Trans Fats in the Food Supply - the findings of research on fatty acids (acids within the body derived from the breakdown of fats), regarding both physical fitness and applicability, are likely to have practical relevance for food researchers. Scientists continue to look for methodologies that will give trans fatty acid (or `trans fat`) alternatives in order to help consumers to meet recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Trans fat alternatives are required to have the identical measurable characteristics, such as consistency, crispness, color and presentation, and stability of the product being substituted, while additionally remaining cost effective and freely available for use. The challenging aspect is in bringing to consumers acceptable alternatives that include these functional qualities that have lower levels of trans fats (hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fat/oil) or none at all, and also are made with lower levels of saturated fats (fats from animal products). In order to help consumers control blood cholesterol levels, margarines containing no hydrogenated fats have been placed in stores, and some margarines additionally contain beneficial plant sterols (organic chemicals that help reduce high cholesterol. For more knowledge about plant sterols, refer to the `Functional Foods` section of at IFIC.org. The emerging R&D behind dietary fats provides a very promising chance for nutrition scientists and food scientists to work together and provide dietary recommendations that promote health, as well as food products that deliver on those guidelines.


Lipoprotein - compounds of protein, which transport fatty substances, such as cholesterol, in the bloodstream.


Morbid Obesity Diet - also referred to as after gastric bypass surgery diet, gastroplasty diet, and roux en y diet. This diet is a stringent dietary routine that patients who have had bariatric (obesity) surgery must follow. It frequently restricts patients to no more than 800 calories each day.


Strain - an injury resulting from a pull or due to twisting of the muscle or tendon that causes various levels of stretch or tearing of the tendon or muscle tissue.


Insulin-Dependent Diabetes - a condition in which the pancreas does not produce insulin at all, causing elevated blood glucose. Also called `Juvenile Diabetes`.


Diabetes Mellitus - a metabolic disease that occurs when the body is not able to use blood glucose (sugar). Blood glucose levels are regulated through the action of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas which is necessary for glucose (sugar) to be able to enter the cells. Diabetes occurs if the pancreas does not make insulin or the body fails to respond adequately to the insulin that is produced. There are 2 primary kinds of diabetes mellitus - juvenile (Type 1) diabetes and adult-onset (Type 2) diabetes.


Body Mass Index (BMI) - a math formula used to calculate the amount of body fat and amount of lean body mass (as a measure of excess weight) in adults. BMI is a calculation which divides a person`s weight (in kilograms) by his/her height (in meters) squared (BMI = [kg/m²]). There is also a formula to calculate BMI in pounds and inches: BMI=[lbs/in²] X 703. The general guideline presently advocated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is that persons who have a BMI of 25-29.9 are said to be overweight and those persons who have a BMI greater than 30 are said to be dangerously over their ideal body weight. BMI is a useful method for individuals to become aware of their health risk in being vulnerable to particular diseases, including hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes.