WL Glossary

Crustacean - aquatic arthropods belonging the aquatic class Crustacea, which include crabs, shrimps, lobsters, and barnacles. They typically have segmented bodies, chitinous exoskeletons and paired, jointed limbs.


Hamstrings - The group of 3 muscles at the underside of the thigh, which run from the lower part of the pelvis to just underneath the knee joints. They enable an individual to bend the knee and, along with the gluteus muscles (the muscle group in each of the buttocks), un-flex the legs at the hips.


Saturated Fat - a kind of fat that solidifies at room temperature. Fats that are present in foods are combined blends of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and saturated fatty acids (SAFAs). 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), suet, coconut oil, and palm oil. Saturated fats contain the identical number of calories as other types of fat, and, if eaten in excess, could largely contribute to weight gain. In addition, a diet that is rich in saturated fat raises blood cholesterol and chances of cardiac disease. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans published in 2005 advocate that individuals who want to be or remain healthy should eat not more than 10% of calories from saturated fats daily.


Vegan - a strict vegetarian, who only eats foods from plant sources and keeps away from all animal-derived foods - even honey.


Prevalence - the number of existing cases of a disease in a defined population at a specified time.


Nematodes - Microscopic, roundworms and threadworms that eat away at plant roots or stems.


Pectorals - the 2 pairs of muscles in the chest that work to draw the upper arms toward the chest or across it. The pectoralis major (popularly known as `pecs`) extends from the upper part of the arm up to the clavicle (collarbone), and also extends downward to the breast bone (sternum) and the upper six ribs. The smaller pectoralis minor is positioned underneath, and extends from the scapula (shoulder blade) to the middle of the chest.


Adipocytes - fat cells. A convoluted expression used by scientists rather than simple English. Is burdened with double the syllables (making it a rather obese term for `Fat Cells`).


Sucralose - the only zero-calorie sweetener that is manufactured from sucrose (sugar). This sweetener is approximately 600 times sweeter and contains no calories. Sucralose is highly stable under a broad variety of food-processing situations. Therefore, it has the versatility to be used almost in any food where regular sugar is used, which includes cooking and baking, while still retaining all of its sugar-like sweetening properties. Currently, sucralose is authorized in more than 25 nations world-wide for use in foods and beverages. Within the U.S., the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has been asked to sanction the use of sucralose in fifteen individual food and beverage categories.


Morbid Obesity Diet - also called after gastric bypass surgery diet, gastroplasty diet, and roux en y diet. This diet plan is a rigorous nutritional regime that patients who have had bariatric (obesity) surgery must follow. It frequently puts obese patients on a daily caloric intake of less than 800.


Diabetic Coma - a life-threatening medical emergency when a person becomes comatose because of extremely high or low blood sugar levels. When the glucose level is dangerously low, the person is suffering from hypoglycemia (insulin shock); when the blood sugar level is too high, the individual is in a diabetic coma and may develop ketoacidosis.


Hyperosmolar Coma - a coma (state of deep unconsciousness) linked with high levels of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream and necessitating urgent medical attention. An individual with this kind of coma is typically of advanced age and weak from loss of body fluids and weight. The person might or might not have an earlier history of diabetes. Ketones (acidic substances from the breakdown of fat) are not present in the patient`s urine.


Sweeteners and Health - describes the effect of sweeteners on human health. Regardless of whether it is regular sugars, reduced-calorie sweeteners, blends of two or more sweeteners, or sugar alcohols that are utilized to provide the desirable flavor of many popular foods, nutrition experts have a common consensus that sweet foods may be included in a healthful diet. The core issue is watching the caloric intake in order to ensure that sweet foods, a few of which could provide a few nutritive calories to the food intake, do not jostle out more nutrient-dense foods. Denial of sweet foods can increase their attractiveness, along with the possibility of bingeing and guilt if people yield to temptation. Following such overindulgence and guilt, attempts at eliminating sweet foods from the diet can set in motion a cyclical pattern of deprivation and overindulgence, that may ultimately end in failure to achieve weight loss goals. Sugars and sweeteners do not lead to hyperactivity in children, Type 2 diabetes, nor do they cause other recurrent or long-term illnesses. Scientific evidence does not confirm any association between sugar consumption and excess weight or obesity in humans. Additional research on non-caloric (and non-nutritive) sweeteners by the European Commission and the French Food Standards Agency re-verifies their health safety and usefulness in food intake. Sugars and sweeteners hold the potential to function as supportive aids for efficient weight management if used in harmony with physical activity and judicious food choices.


Ligament - a flexible, non-elastic tissue, which connects bone to bone. Ligament injuries can include sprains or tears.


Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) - a weight-loss procedure that is relatively rare in the US. A large portion of the stomach is surgically removed. The quantity of intake is curtailed, and so is stomach acid produced. The small sac that the stomach has been reduced to is linked directly to the ileum (final section of the small intestine), totally unconnected to other parts of the small intestine. A common conduit remains in which digestive juices secreted by the liver and pancreas combine prior to entering the colon. Weight loss occurs since most of the calories and nutrients are diverted into the colon where they are not absorbed. This surgical procedure is more rarely employed than other types of surgery on account of the considerable danger of impaired nutrition. A less radical form of biliopancreatic diversion includes a duodenal switch (called `the DS procedure`), which retains a more sizeable piece of the stomach in place, including the pyloric sphincter that regulates the release of contents of the stomach into the duodenum (the first portion of the small intestine). It also retains a small portion of the first section of the small intestine. (Refer to Duodenal Switch.)


Hydrogenation - the process in which hydrogen is added to an unsaturated vegetable oil to create a trans fat (for example, shortening). Hydrogenation contributes important texture to food. The level of hydrogenation influences the degree of firmness and spreadability of margarines, crispness and lightness in the layers of pie crust and the smooth, rich texture of desserts. Hydrogenated oils are occasionally used in lieu of other fats with a higher percentage of fats from animal sources, like butter or lard. Consuming a large amount of hydrogenated fats could pose a health risk for heart ailments.


Continuing Survey of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII) - part of the National Nutrition Monitoring System that was the pioneering survey of dietary intake to be carried out across the USA each year. This survey is undertaken by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).


Simple Carbohydrates - single-molecule sugars such as fructose, galactose, and glucose. They are named `simple` sugars because their chemical makeup has only 1 or 2 sugar molecules, as against complex carbohydrates, which contain entire chains of molecules.


Tendon - the flexible tissue which attaches muscles to the bones of the skeleton; an inflammation of the tendon is called `tendonitis`.


Proanthocyanidins - a type of tannin present in cranberries and cranberry products, as well as cocoa and chocolate, which might supply the health benefits of preventing urinary tract infections and of decreasing the health risk of cardiovascular disease.


Meridia - an orally administered medication for weight loss, which checks hunger by impeding the re-absorption of relevant hormones.