Glossary

Antioxidant
Chemical substances that prevent or repair damage caused by exposure to oxidizing agents. Oxidizing agents are formed in the normal process of producing energy for the body’s needs. Oxidizing agents can also be obtained from environmental pollutants, ozone and smoke. Back to Food Guide Fruit article  

Coumarins
Plant substances that prevent blood clotting. Back to Vegetable Groups article

DNA
Is the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is a molecular structure that through its 4 different components, called nucleotides, joins in various combinations to act as different codes to build different proteins. Like the letters e, i, m, and t can join to form the words time or mite. Nucleotides join in various ways to form different codes to make different proteins. Back to GMO article. Back to Nutrition Note article

Ergogenic aids
A subsance designed to increase performance. Back to Exercise and Eating article.

Flavonoids
Substances found in vegetables and fruit, which may maintain capillary wall integrity. Some of these substances give yellow, blue and red pigmentation. Back to Healthy Eating Article.

Gene
A gene is a segment of DNA found on a particular site of a chromosome which codes for a particular protein. Back to GMO article

Genitourinary
Pertaining to the reproductive and urinary tract. Back to HRT article

Glycemic index (GI)
The measure of the absorption of glucose after eating a given quantity of a carbohydrate as compared to the absorption of glucose when the same quantity of white bread or glucose is consumed. Back to Exercise and Eating article

Goiter
A deficiency in iodine causing an enlargement of the thyroid gland, resulting in swelling of the front part of the neck. Back to You Asked article

Hemophiliac
A person who has the disease hemophilia. This disease is inherited and is characterized by an inability for the blood to clot due to a lack of a particular coagulation factor in the blood. Back to Clone cat article

Hereditable
From the word hereditary, which means the genetic transfer of a particular trait from parent to offspring. Back to GMO article

Immunodeficiency
A deficiency of the immune system which results in the person to have a reduce ability or no ability to fight infection.  Back to Genetherapy article

Ionic ... to contain ions.
The word "ion" means an atom or molecule that has lost or gained one or more negatively charged particles called electrons. The loss of an electron results in an atom or molecule that has a positive ionic charge (cation). Atoms or molecules that gain electrons have a negative ionic charge (anion). Back to Salt article

Isoflavones
A Plant phytoestrogen that may inhibit the production of cholesterol. Back to Vegetable Groups article

Metabolic
Adjective form of the word Metabolism. Metabolism is defined as the sum total of the chemical and physical reactions that occur in a living cell (i.e. body) that produces the substances that are used by the cell (i.e. body). An example of metabolism is the processes in the body that converts glucose to energy or fat. Back to Life Style article

Organic
A chemical substance which contains carbon. Back to Vitamins article.

Oxalates
A phytochemical found in vegetables that can bind minerals making them unavailable. Back to Food Guide Meat group article

Phytates
Naturally occurring plant substances that can tightly bind minerals making the minerals unavailable to the human who ingested them. Back to Food Guide Meat group article

Phytochemicals
Plant substances that gives flavour and colour. They also participate in the process of protecting plants from disease and insects. Back to Food Guide Fruit article

Phytoestrogen
Naturally occuring substances found in plants that have similar structure and function to 17 B-estradiol, or may have effects similar to estrogen. Back to HRT article

RNA
Is the abbreviation for ribonucleic acid. RNA has three major types: messenger RNA, transfer RNA and ribosomal RNA. Like DNA, all three RNA types are involved in the genetic transfer of information. Back to Nutrition Note article.

Saponin
A group of glycosides (speciality carbohydrates) found in over 500 genera of plants that are foaming agents, lower tissue cholesterol, inhibits many enzymes and liberation of hemoglobin form red blood cells. Back to Vegetable Groups article

SCID
Severe combined immunodeficiency disorder.  A type of immunodeficieny.  Back to Gene therapy article

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Substances that inhibits the hormone serotonin from being taken up by brain neurons, resulting in an increase concentration of serotonin that appears to balance mood. Back to HRT article

Teats
Nipple part of the mammary gland. Back to FMD article

Transgenic
Introduction of new DNA into the genetic makeup of an organism. Back to GMO article

Venous thromboembolism
Obstruction of vein. Back to HRT article

References for Glossary

1. Ayman, A. A. E.  2002.  Phytoestrogens in the Management of the Menopause: Up-to-Date.  Obstetrical and gynecological survey 57(5):306-313.
2. Brown, J. E. 1999.  2^nd ed Nutrition Now. West/Wadsworth, Albany NY
3. Dorland’s Pocket Medical Dictionary.  1982.  23 ed.  W. B. Saunders Co
4. Lehninger, A. L.  1975.  Biochemistry.  2^nd ed.  Worth Publishers
5. Lewin, B.  1987.  Genes III.  John Wiley and Sons Inc.
6. Lu, C. D., Tsai, L. S., Shaer, D. M. and Jorgensen, N. A.  1987.  Alteration of fermentation in continuous culture of mixed rumen bacteria by isolated alfalfa saponins.  J Dairy Sci.  70:799-805
7. MIMS Australia 1997 Medi Media Australia
8. Van Horn,  L.,  Archer S., Thedford, K. and Battes, A.  2001.  Other dietary components and cardiovascular risk.  In: Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease.  Academic Press.
9. Whitney, E. N. and Hamilton, E. M. N.  1984.  Understanding Nutrition.  3^rd ed.  West Publishing Co.

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