The Picture of Health: Nutrition - High School

If you need some food for thought, review this list of terms related to nutrition and diet. Whether you're interested in learning about carbohydrates, vitamins, or digestion, this list is full of words to whet your appetite.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. amino acid
    organic compounds containing an amino group and acid group
  2. anemia
    a deficiency of red blood cells
  3. appetite
    a feeling of craving something
  4. ascorbic acid
    a vitamin found in fresh fruits and vegetables
  5. balanced
    being in a state of proper equilibrium
  6. basal metabolic rate
    the rate at which heat is produced by an individual in a resting state
  7. beta-carotene
    an isomer of carotene that is found in dark green and dark yellow fruits and vegetables
  8. body mass index
    a measure of someone's weight in relation to height
  9. calcium
    a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light
  10. calorie
    unit of heat raising 1 gram of water by 1 degree centigrade
  11. carbohydrate
    an essential component of living cells and source of energy
  12. carotenoid
    any of a class of highly unsaturated yellow to red pigments occurring in plants and animals
  13. celiac disease
    an inability to tolerate wheat protein (gluten)
  14. cholesterol
    a substance in the blood that can cause heart disease
  15. deficiency
    the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
  16. diabetes
    a disease characterized by high glucose levels in the blood
  17. diet
    the usual food and drink consumed by an organism
  18. digestion
    the process by which the body breaks down food
  19. eating disorder
    a disorder of the normal eating routine
  20. fat
    a soft greasy substance occurring in organic tissue
  21. fat-soluble
    soluble in fats
  22. fiber
    coarse, indigestible plant food low in nutrients
  23. flavonoid
    any of a large class of plant pigments having a chemical structure based on or similar to flavone
  24. folic acid
    a B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproduction
  25. food additive
    an additive to food intended to improve its flavor or appearance or shelf-life
  26. food allergy
    allergic reaction to a substance ingested in food
  27. fortify
    add nutrients to
  28. fructose
    a simple sugar found in honey and in many ripe fruits
  29. glucose
    a monosaccharide sugar that has several forms
  30. glycogen
    one form in which body fuel is stored
  31. HDL cholesterol
    the cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins
  32. hunger
    a physiological need for food
  33. insulin
    a glucose-regulating hormone produced in the pancreas
  34. iron
    a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element
  35. lactose
    a sugar that occurs only in milk
  36. lactose intolerance
    congenital disorder consisting of an inability to digest milk and milk products; absence or deficiency of lactase results in an inability to hydrolyze lactose
  37. LDL cholesterol
    the cholesterol in low-density lipoproteins
  38. linoleic acid
    a liquid polyunsaturated fatty acid abundant in plant fats and oils; a fatty acid essential for nutrition; used to make soap
  39. lipid
    oily, insoluble organic compound that's a component of cells
  40. lutein
    yellow carotenoid pigments in plants and animal fats and egg yolks
  41. lycopene
    carotenoid that makes tomatoes red
  42. malnutrition
    a state of poor nourishment
  43. metabolism
    the organic processes that are necessary for life
  44. micronutrient
    a substance needed only in small amounts for normal body function (e.g., vitamins or minerals)
  45. mineral
    a solid inorganic substance occurring in nature
  46. moderation
    the trait of avoiding excesses
  47. multivitamin
    a pill or tablet containing several vitamins
  48. niacin
    a B vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract
  49. nutrient
    any substance that can be metabolized to give energy
  50. nutrition
    the scientific study of food and drink
  51. obesity
    the condition of being excessively overweight
  52. omega-3 fatty acid
    a polyunsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has its first double valence bond three carbons from the beginning
  53. omega-6 fatty acid
    a polyunsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has its first double valence bond six carbons from the beginning
  54. pasteurization
    partial sterilization of foods at a temperature that destroys harmful microorganisms without major changes in the chemistry of the food
  55. phytochemical
    a chemical substance obtained from plants that is biologically active but not nutritive
  56. potassium
    a light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite
  57. processed
    subjected to a special treatment
  58. protein
    an organic compound essential to living cells
  59. riboflavin
    a B vitamin that prevents skin lesions and weight loss
  60. serving
    an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
  61. sodium
    a silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group; occurs abundantly in natural compounds (especially in salt water); burns with a yellow flame and reacts violently in water; occurs in sea water and in the mineral halite (rock salt)
  62. soluble
    capable of being dissolved in some solvent
  63. sucrose
    a complex carbohydrate found in many plants and used as a sweetening agent
  64. supplement
    a quantity added
  65. thiamine
    a B vitamin that prevents beriberi
  66. variety
    noticeable heterogeneity
  67. vegan
    a person who does not eat any animal products
  68. vegetarian
    someone who eats no meat or fish
  69. vitamin
    an organic substance essential to normal metabolism
  70. vitamin A
    any of several fat-soluble vitamins essential for normal vision; prevents night blindness or inflammation or dryness of the eyes
  71. vitamin B
    originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins
  72. vitamin C
    a vitamin found in fresh fruits and vegetables
  73. vitamin D
    a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
  74. vitamin E
    a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
  75. vitamin K
    a fat-soluble vitamin that helps in the clotting of blood
  76. water-soluble
    soluble in water
Created on Wed Feb 01 09:01:05 EST 2017 (updated Wed Mar 29 16:08:59 EDT 2017)

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