Fit Living Dictionary

Allergen (food allergen) - the part of a food (a protein) that stimulates the immune system of food-allergic individuals. An item of food could contain multiple food allergens. Carbohydrates or fats are not food allergens.


Waist-to-Hip Ratio - a ratio that reflects the level of excess weight. Waist-to-hip ratio is deemed to be a more accurate predictor of the danger of heart attack than is Body Mass Index (BMI). To work out the waist-to-hip ratio, measure the waist and hips (in inches) and divide the former by the latter. A waist-to-hip ratio less than 0.8 for females and 0.9 for males is considered the normal standard. A waist-to-hip ratio that is higher than average indicates the chances of heart illness.


Chemical Diabetes - a term no longer in use; see impaired glucose tolerance.


Cholesterol - a fat-like substance that is vital for numerous normal bodily functions, such as being a constituent of cell walls, the generation of bile acids (which help in breaking down and absorbing fat in the diet), and in the generation of sex hormones that regulate reproduction and the development of the male and female sexual characteristics. An excess of cholesterol in the blood, though, may result in the formation of deposits along the inner lining of blood vessels and cut down blood flow to the primary arteries, which can lead to damage to the heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply. Dietary cholesterol (that comes from the diet) is present only in foods from animal sources, like poultry products (egg-yolks and chicken), dairy products (butter and cream), red and white meats, especially organ meats, and shellfish. Vegetable oils and shortenings are cholesterol-free. The bulk of the cholesterol present in the blood is synthesized by the body, inside the liver, at a rate of approximately 800-1,500 mg per day. By comparison, the average American takes in 300 - 450 mg daily through foods. Overall blood cholesterol levels exceeding 249 mg/dL are deemed over the average. Cholesterol levels anywhere between 200 to 239 milligrams for each deciliter of blood are said to be borderline high. Levels less than 200 milligrams per deciliter of blood are considered safe.


Organic - in the sphere of crop cultivation, describes agricultural produce, which are cultivated by means of cultural, biological, and mechanical methods prior to the use of artificial, non-agricultural substances in order to prevent pest infestation, enhance soil quality and / or enhance processing. The US Department of Agriculture is presently setting up eligibility standards for organic produce, and has official regulations to determine what may be considered organic.


Albuminuria - a condition in which a protein known as albumin is present in the urine in more than normal amounts - signifies possible nephropathy (kidney disease).


Herbicides - a class of specialized plant defoliants utilized to control hostile plants such as weeds on farmlands and in forested areas, and also in non-agricultural applications, such as on golf links, communal land and household front yards.


LDL - the main carrier of blood cholesterol. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) seems to be the culprit in coronary heart disease and is commonly known as the `bad` cholesterol. Conversely, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is more readily deemed to be healthy and recognized as the `good cholesterol`. (Also look at low-density lipoprotein.)


Renal - a term that is related to the kidneys.


Obesity - unusually excessive amount of body fat and body weight, which is much more than what is considered conducive to good health: 20 % more than normal body weight. An individual`s body weight is determined by several factors: genetic, metabolic, behavioral, environmental impacts, cultural, and social and economic impacts. Investigations into the cause of obesity show that caloric intake, irrespective of which food group they come from, is a core determinant of body weight. For instance, as the percentage of calories coming from fats has dropped in the U.S. diet, there is little evidence that body weight is dropping correspondingly. At the same time, research has shown that a significant cutback in the percentage of fat in the total caloric count will cause a small reduction of body weight in the case of normal-weight and moderately obese individuals. A few scientists suggest that the distribution and amount of an individual`s body fat is an essential signaler of health risk and, therefore, must be considered when defining overweight and obesity. Abdominal fat (that is, fat centrally distributed between the thorax and pelvis) has been linked to a higher health risk than fat in the thighs or hips. Consequently, calculations of waist-to-hip ratio are preferred by some health experts to help decide whether an individual is carrying excess weight.


Body Fat - the part of an individual`s body weight that is composed of fat rather than lean muscle, water, the boney framework, or organs.


RICE - the acronym for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This is the time-tested formula for treating injuries such as sprains. If there is any doubt about the severity or nature of the injury, the opinion of a trained medical practitioner is required.


Monosaccharides - also called `simple sugars`, they are made up of just one sugar molecule and cannot be decomposed any further by hydrolysis. They are the building blocks of more complex sugars.


Duration - the length of time one is on the move or works out; this period of physical activity is one way of increasing muscle or system resistance in order to enhance its functionality.


Synergistic Effect - the dynamics attained with the combination of 2 or more substances or organisms which those substances could not achieve individually.


Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) - a protein-coated fat compound of cholesterol. It is derived from very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles, which are transported in the bloodstream. Popularly known as `bad` cholesterol, LDL carries cholesterol to the tissues and cells of the body. Elevated levels of LDL are most obviously associated with arteriosclerosis (hardening and thickening of the arterial walls) and increase the risk of cardiac complications. An LDL reading of under 100 mg/dl is considered optimal, 100-129 mg/dl is said to be near or just above the recommended levels, 130 - 159 milligrams per deciliter of blood is considered hovering close to high, 160 - 189 milligrams per deciliter of blood is deemed high, while 190 milligrams per deciliter of blood or more is considered abnormally high.


Alpha-Carotene - a type of carotenoid found in carrots and pumpkins which provides the physical benefit of neutralizing free radicals (highly reactive particles produced during oxidation) that might cause damage to cells.


Strain - an injury caused by a pull or twisting of the tendon or muscle that causes various degrees of stretch or over-stretch or tearing of the muscle or tendon tissue.


Antibody - a substance (protein) that is an intrinsic immune response in the bodies of humans and higher mammals as a reaction to an antigen (foreign substance). Helps the body to fight infections.


Toxicology - the scientific study of the adverse effects of toxic substances on living organisms.


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


Hemoglobin - the oxygen-carrying pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen in the blood.


Calorie Expenditure - the quantity of energy an individual burns to walk, run, sleep, read, breathe, or anything else.


Risk Factor - refers to documented activity or factor that may increase the chance of developing a disease; however, a risk factor need not necessarily assume that possible risk will always be realized.


Nutrition - (i) the process by which a body consumes, breaks down and absorbs nutrients in order to grow and survive; (ii) the study of the organic process by which an organism assimilates and uses food and liquids for normal functioning, growth, and maintenance.