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Terms & Definitions Calorie - A unit of energy ‐ producing potential supplied by food and released upon oxidation by the body, equal to the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C. Empty Calorie Foods - Foods that contain calories but little or no nutrition. Empty calories are most often found in processed foods. Body Mass Index (BMI) - A measure of a person’s weight‐to‐height used to determine if that person’s weight is healthy or not. Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) - The number of calories that your body burns at rest. For example, if all you did all day was sit on the couch and just breathe, your RMR would be the number of calories your body burns in the course of the day. Body Composition - The ratio of fat, lean muscle, and bone of a person’s body, can be indicative of chronic disease risk. Macronutrient - Nutrients that we need to consume in relatively larg e amounts to stay healthy. The key macronutrients are protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Micronutrient - Nutrients that we need to consume in relatively smaller amounts to stay healthy. The key vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. Phytonutrients - Natural food substances that help our bodies destroy carcinogens and other harmful substances before they cause can cer and other chronic diseases. Fruits, vegetables, herbs and some supplements contain thousands of phytonutrients. Free Radical - Harmful particles inside our bodies that damage our cells, causing disease and aging. Free radicals come from stress, the air we breathe, the food we eat, pollution, and natural biological processes of our bodies. Antioxidants protect cells against free radical damage. Antioxidant - A vitamin, mineral, or phytonutrient that helps to protect our cells from genetic damage by neutralizing (destroying) Free Radicals. Genetic damage is at the root of chronic diseases and aging. Amino Acid - Compounds which are the building blocks of protein (in foods and in the human body). The human body cannot produce the nine essential amino acids on its own , so they must be obtained from protein foods. Omega‐3 - A nutritionally essential fat substance (or Essential Fatty Acid), which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, along with other health benefits. Often referred to as a “good fat”. Some common sources include cold water fish and seafood, fish oil supplements, and some nuts. Fad Diet - A diet consisting of an improper nutrient balance, cannot be depended upon for proper long-term health. A fad diet will usually recommend an unhealthy intake or restriction of one or more of the macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, fat). |
