Basal Metabolic Rate

the rate at which the body uses energy while at rest to keep vital functions going, such as breathing and keeping warm

Calories

a unit of energy equivalent to the heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 °C (now often defined as equal to 4.1868 joules).

Carbohydrates

any of a large group of organic compounds that includes sugars, starch, and cellulose, containing hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water (2:1) and used as structural materials and for energy storage within living tissues.

Cholesterol

1. a compound of the sterol type found in most body tissues. Cholesterol and its derivatives are important constituents of cell membranes and precursors of other steroid compounds, but a high proportion in the blood of low-density lipoprotein (which transports cholesterol to the tissues) is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Diabetes

1. a disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine.

Dietary Fiber

What is dietary fiber? Dietary fiber, also known as roughage or bulk, includes the parts of plant foods your body can't digest or absorb.

Digestive system

The organs that take in food and liquids and break them down into substances that the body can use for energy, growth, and tissue repair.

Electrolytes

a liquid or gel that contains ions and can be decomposed by electrolysis, e.g., that present in a battery.

Fats

a natural oily or greasy substance occurring in animal bodies, especially when deposited as a layer under the skin or around certain organs.

Macronutrients

a type of food (e.g. fat, protein, carbohydrate) required in large amounts in the diet.

Metabolism

1. the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life."the metabolism of fatty acids in the kidney"

Micronutrients

a chemical element or substance required in trace amounts for the normal growth and development of living organisms.

Nutrients

1. a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life."fish is a source of many important nutrients, including protein, vitamins, and minerals"

Protein

A molecule made up of amino acids

Saturated Fat

a type of fat containing a high proportion of fatty acid molecules without double bonds, considered to be less healthy in the diet than unsaturated fat.

Trans Fat

1. another term for trans-fatty acid.

Unsaturated Fat

a type of fat containing a high proportion of fatty acid molecules with at least one double bond, considered to be healthier in the diet than saturated fat.

Vitamins

any of a group of organic compounds which are essential for normal growth and nutrition and are required in small quantities in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.

Water

a colorless, transparent, odorless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms.