Lycopene - a red carotenoid related to the more familiar beta-carotene.
This carotenoid gives tomatoes and some other fruits and vegetables their distinctive red color. In terms of providing nutrients, it works on the body as an antioxidant, providing protection against the damaging effects of free radicals. Research shows that lycopene is best assimilated by the body when consumed in the form of tomatoes that have been subjected to heat, with a small quantity of oil. This includes products like tomato paste and tomato sauce. (Also refer to Functional Foods.)
Cultural Controls - in agriculture, an interrelated pest control system, which comprises of the annual rotation of crops to deter weeds and pests.
Insoluble Fiber - a type of dietary fiber present in certain fruits (particularly the skin) and vegetables, whole-wheat products, and seeds and nuts. As a general rule, insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water. It includes cellulose, some hemicelluloses, and lignin, which help move foods through the digestive system, and thereby might lower the health risks of malignancies of the lower digestive tract. It might additionally help reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Polyuria - the production of large volumes of urine.
HDL - refer to `High-density Lipoprotein`.
Tendon - the tough, fibrous band of tissue that connects muscles to the bones of the skeleton; the condition of having a damaged (inflamed and painful) tendon is known as tendonitis.
Saturated Fat - a fat that solidifies at room temperature. Fats that are in foods are combined blends of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated fatty acids. Foods that contain saturated fats are fat-rich dairy products (such as whole-cream milk, cream, regular ice cream, butter, processed and natural cheeses), fatty meats (both fresh and processed), the skin and fat of poultry (turkey and chicken), lard, coconut oil, and palm oil. They contain the same caloric count as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (9 calories per gram), and may contribute to weight gain if eaten in excess. Eating a diet high in saturated fat also raises blood cholesterol and chances of heart illnesses. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans published in 2005 advocate that people who want to be healthy should eat fewer than 10% of calories in the form of saturated fats daily.
Callus - an excessive build up of hard, tough layers of a section of the skin caused by excessive pressure and / or friction.
Intense Sweeteners - see `Low-Calorie Sweeteners`
Obesity - abnormally excessive quantity of body fat and body weight, which is much more than what is considered good for health: 20 percent over ideal body weight. An individual`s body weight is determined by several factors: hereditary, metabolic, behavioral, environmental impacts, cultural, and socioeconomic impacts. Investigations into what causes obesity show that energy intake, regardless of which food group they come from, plays a key role in body weight. For instance, as the percentage of calories coming from fats has dipped in the American diet, there is no proof that body weight is also dipping. And yet, research has shown that a substantial reduction in the percentage of fat in the total caloric count should cause a small decrease in body weight in the case of normal-weight and moderately obese individuals. A few scientists argue that the quantity and location of a person`s body fat is an essential indicator of health risk and, hence, needs to be taken into account when defining overweight. Abdominal fat has been associated with a greater health risk than fat in the thighs or hips. Thus, calculations of waist-to-hip ratio are preferred by some health experts to help decide whether a person weighs more than normal.
Diallyl Sulfide - a type of allium compound found in pungent foods like garlic and onions, and green vegetables like leeks, scallions and olives, which could supply the health advantages of decreasing `bad` cholesterol and of building up and sustaining a healthy immune system.
Beta Oxidation - the process by during which the body breaks down fats to produce ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate).
Caliper - precision tool used to measure skinfold thickness.
Minerals - the micronutrients (nutrients the body needs only in minute qualities) that are necessary for physical fitness. As opposed to other nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), minerals do not supply either calories or energy to the body. When it comes to nutrition, minerals are divided into two groups: macro minerals (also referred to as `bulk` minerals or `minerals`) and microminerals (also referred to as `trace` minerals). The body`s requirement for macrominerals is at least 100 milligrams daily. Micro minerals are required in more minute quantities, but this in no way undermines their importance. Macrominerals include calcium, magnesium, chlorine, sodium (salt), potassium, sulfur, and phosphorus. Minerals such as chromium, copper, fluorine, iodine, manganese, selenium, and zinc are microminerals.
Type II Diabetes - earlier called `NIDDM (noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus)` or termed `adult onset diabetes`. Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent form of diabetes. About 90 - 95% of people who have diabetes have type II diabetes. Individuals who have Type 2 diabetes are able to produce insulin, but they either do not make insulin in adequate enough amounts or their bodies are unable to utilize the insulin they manufacture. Most of the individuals who have this type of diabetes are overweight or obese. Insulin is present in the body, but does not have the effect that it should. As a result, individuals who have Type 2 diabetes might be able to control their medical condition by losing weight through diet and exercise. Such people might also be required to take insulin injections or take oral medication together with continuing to follow a healthful diet plan that includes regular exercise. Even though Type 2 diabetes routinely develops in adults over the age of 30, an ever-increasing number of children and adolescents who have excess body weight are also developing type 2 diabetes.
Low Calorie, High Volume Foods - foods that have relatively few calories, but are high in volume (such as lettuce, broccoli, carrots, and vegetable soups) so they more easily fill the stomach.
Kilometer - metric measurement of distance. 1k (kilometer) is equal to 0.62 miles, 5 kilometers are equal to 3.2 miles, and 10 kilometers are equal to 6.2 miles.
Spot Reduction - removal of built-up fat (to redefine body contours) from specific parts of the body. There is no exercise or workout that can remove fat from any one area.
Biotechnology - at its simplest, `applied biology`. Applying a set of biological techniques to create useful products. A more elaborate description is: technologies that use living cells and/or biological molecules to implement a process or develop products. According to this definition, the classic technical processes utilized to genetically engineer animals and plants, and for fermentation and enzyme purification, are to be seen as biotechnology. Some people use the term only to mean the newer tools of genetic science. Within this context, biotechnology might be described as bio-technical processes by which living cells (usually plants or animals) are genetically engineered to perform useful functions or generate beneficial products. Examples include recombinant DNA technology, where a replica of a piece of DNA containing either one gene or more is cross-transferred in living organisms or `recombined` within a single organism.
Additives (food additives) - any natural or non-natural material, other than the actual uncooked elements utilized for the production of any edible item to make the food more appealing. Any substance which may affect the properties of any kind of food, including colors, flavors, stabilizers or emulsifiers used during the entire food chain, from supply to consumption, including those that are added during the food manufacturing process to assist with the preservation of food products.
Rapid Weight Loss - as the body breaks down fat in the course of rapid weight loss, it causes the liver to secrete more than the normal amount of cholesterol into bile, which could result in the formation of gallstones.
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