Diet And Drugs Info

Cardiovascular - referring to the circulatory system: heart and blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries).


Obese - the condition of having extra body weight caused by excessive accumulation of fat. There are a number of methods to recognize if a person is obese, though experts are of the opinion that an individual`s BMI (body mass index) is the most precise measurement of the amount of fat in the body for children and adults. Obese is usually indicated by a BMI over 30. There are exceptions. As an example, an athlete may record a higher body mass index but not be overweight.


Helix - a corkscrew-like structure with a repeating pattern described by two concurrent operations (translation and rotation). It is one of the natural conformations exhibited by biological polymers.


Barbell - a length of steel bar having weighted plates affixed to either end. Both hands are needed to raise it.


DV (Daily Value) - information printed on food labels. DVs are recommended values developed by the FDA in order to explain the amount of a nutrient used as the standard for labeling purposes. Daily values include two sets of recommendations - DRVs and RDIs.


Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) - the recommended amounts of energy and given foods deemed sufficient to meet the dietary requirements of almost all healthy people.


Maximum Heart Rate - The fastest that the heart can beat when doing activity. Instead of actually measuring the fastest rate at which an individual`s heart is able to pump blood, it is more expedient to predict what this rate should be. This can be done by applying an uncomplicated formula: 220 - age = maximum heart rate.


Physical Activity - exercise or bodily movement in any form. Physical activity may include a planned form of exercise such as walking, running, tennis, or any other sports. Physical activity might additionally entail other everyday activities like chores around the house, gardening, taking one`s dog for a walk, among others. It is advisable for adults to get minimally 30 minutes and for children to get at least an hour of light to moderate physical exercise on five to six days of the week. Light to moderate physical exercise is any activity that needs roughly the same amount of energy as would be spent on a two-mile walk in 30 minutes.


Dumbbell - a short rod, used in weight training, with weights at either end, which can be held in just one hand.


Nutrition - (i) the process by which a body consumes, breaks down and absorbs nutrients in order to grow and survive; (ii) the study of what people eat and the effects of food on health.


High Blood Pressure - an alternative term for `hypertension`. There is a rise and fall in blood pressure all through the day. An ideal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. When blood pressure stays above normal, more than or equivalent with 140/90 mmHg, it is considered hypertension or high blood pressure. Hypertension adds to the risk factor for strokes or heart problems.


Saturated Fat - a type of fat that is solid at room temperature. Fats that are in foods are blends of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fatty acids. Foods that contain saturated fats are fat-rich dairy products (such as cheese, whole milk, cream, butter, and regular ice cream), fatty fresh and processed meats, the fat and skin of chicken and turkey, suet, coconut oil, and palm oil. Saturated fats contain the identical caloric count as do other types of fat, and could cause weight gain if not consumed in great moderation. Eating a diet high in saturated fat also increases the levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream and chances of heart disease. The 6th edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued in `05, suggests that people who want to be or remain physically fit ought to eat fewer than ten percent of total calories consumed from saturated fats each day.


Antibiotics - drugs that are administered to kill or inhibit the bacteria that cause diseases.


Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - the synergetic combination of pest control techniques and methodologies with due consideration to the environment, which include mechanical, chemical, biological, cultural, techniques, to control damage to crops caused by plant pests by using the most affordable strategies, and with minimal peril to the ecology, as well as to people and property.


Anaerobic Threshold (or lactate threshold) - the point during high-intensity activity when lactic acid starts to accumulate in the blood stream faster than it can be metabolized. This is the point at which a person starts working the muscles without oxygen.


Complex Carbohydrates - starches such as those found in rice, bread, and pasta, as well as grains, legumes, and vegetables.


Unsaturated Fat - a fat which is a fluid at room temperature. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids belong to this category. When unsaturated fats are substituted for saturated fats in the diet, they help lower levels of blood cholesterol and consequently lower the risk of cardiac disease. The 6th edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued in `05, suggests limiting the total amount of fat consumed to within 20 and 35% of calories, with the largest proportion of fats being contributed by poly- and monounsaturated fat sources like fish that have omega-3 fats (such as salmon), vegetable oils, and nuts. Nuts and oils such as canola, peanut, olive, and high oleic sunflower and safflower oils are rich sources of monounsaturated fats. Alpha-linolenic and linoleic acids (forms of essential unsaturated fats) are found in flaxseeds, walnuts, and vegetable oils.


Insoluble Fiber - a type of dietary fiber found in certain fruits (particularly the skin) and vegetables, whole-wheat products, and seeds and nuts. Generally, insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It includes cellulose, some hemicelluloses, and lignin, which ease the passage of food in the digestive tract by adding bulk, and therefore might decrease the risks of cancers of the rectum and colon. Insoluble fiber may additionally provide some protection against breast cancer.


Saccharin - a zero calorie synthetic sweetening agent. Saccharin, the oldest of the intense artificial sweeteners, is presently derived from purified, manufactured methyl anthranilate, which is a chemical naturally found in grapes. Saccharine is 300 times sweeter than sucrose, retains its properties when heated, and does not cause tooth decay. It has a long shelf-life, but has a slightly bitter after-taste. The human body does not metabolize saccharine or accumulate it, but excretes it rapidly as urinary waste.


Diabetic Retinopathy - a disease of the small blood vessels of the retina of the eye.