NUTRITION, HEALTH & WELLNESS
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Created by:
DjTheGeneral on May 30, 2011
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44 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 ANTIOXIDANT | A compound that has the ability to prevent or repair the damage caused by oxidation. |
| OXIDATION | A chemical reaction in which molecules of a substance are broken down into their component atoms. During oxidation, the atoms involved lose electrons |
| free radical | A highly unstable atom with an unpaired electron in its outermost shell. |
| reactive oxygen species (ROS | A specific term used to describe an oxygen molecule that has become a free radical. |
| RECAP | Free radicals are formed during oxidation when a stable atom loses or gains an electron and this electron remains unpaired. Free radicals can be produced during the formation of ATP, when our immune system fights infections, and when we are exposed to pollution, toxic substances, radiation, the Sun, and tobacco smoke. Free radicals are highly unstable entities that cause the production of more free radicals. They can damage our cell membranes, low- density lipoproteins (LDLs), cell proteins, and DNA and are associated with many diseases including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. |
| RECAP | ntioxidant vitamins donate electrons or hydrogen atoms to free radicals to stabilize them and reduce oxidative damage. Antioxidant minerals are part of antioxidant enzyme systems that convert free radicals to less damaging substances, which the body then excretes. Other compounds stabilize free radicals, which prevents them from damaging cells and tissues. Selenium, copper, iron, zinc, and manganese act as cofactors for the antioxidant enzyme systems, which include superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. |
| tocotrienols | A family of vitamin E that does not play an important biological role in our bodies. |
| tocopherols | A family of vitamin E that is the active form in our bodies. |
| glutathione | A tripeptide composed of glycine, cysteine, and glutamic acid that assists in regenerating vitamin C into its antioxidant form. |
| erythrocyte hemolysis | The rupturing or breakdown of red blood cells, or erythrocytes. |
| RECAP | Vitamin E protects cell membranes from oxidation, enhances immune function, and improves the absorption of vitamin A if dietary intake is low. The RDA for vitamin E is 15 mg alpha-tocopherol per day for men and women. Vitamin E is found primarily in vegetable oils and nuts. Toxicity is uncommon, but taking very high doses can cause excessive bleeding. A genuine deficiency is rare, but symptoms include anemia and impaired vision, speech, and movement. |
| COLLAGEN | A protein found in all connective tissues in the body. |
| megadose | A dose of a nutrient that is 10 or more times greater than the recommended amount |
| prooxidant | A nutrient that promotes oxidation and oxidative cell and tissue damage. |
| RECAP | Vitamin C scavenges free radicals and regenerates vitamin E after it has been oxidized. Vitamin C prevents scurvy and assists in the synthesis of collagen, hormones, neurotransmitters, and DNA. Vitamin C also enhances iron absorption. The RDA for vitamin C is 90 mg per day for men and 75 mg per day for women. Many fruits and vegetables are high in vitamin C. Toxicity is uncommon with dietary intake; symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, and nosebleeds. Deficiency symptoms include scurvy, anemia, diarrhea, and depression. |
| provitamin | An inactive form of a vitamin that the body can convert to an active form. An example is beta- carotene. |
| carotenoids | Fat-soluble plant pigments that the body stores in the liver and adipose tissues. The body is able to convert certain carotenoids to vitamin A. |
| RECAP | Beta-carotene is a carotenoid and a provitamin of vitamin A. It protects the lipid portions of the cell membranes and LDL-cholesterol from oxidative damage. It also enhances immune function and protects vision. There is no RDA for beta- carotene. Orange, red, and deep-green fruits and vegetables are good sources of beta-carotene. There are no known toxicity or deficiency symptoms, but yellowing of the skin can occur if too much beta-carotene is consumed |
| RETINOL | An active, alcohol form of vitamin A that plays an important role in healthy vision and immune function. |
| RETINAL | An active, aldehyde form of vitamin A that plays an important role in healthy vision and immune function. |
| ATOM | A DISCRETE, IRREDUCIBLE UNIT OF MATTER. IT IS THE SMALLEST UNIT OF AN ELEMENT AND ITS IDENTICAL TO ALL OTHER ATOMS OF THAT ELEMENT |
| NUCLEUS | THE POSITIVELY CHARGED, CENTRAL CORE OF AN ATOM. IT IS MADE UP OF TWO TYPES OF PARTICLES-PROTONS AND NEURONS- BOUND TIGHTLY TOGETHER. THE NUCLEUS OF AN ATOM CONTAINS ESSENTIALLY OF ITS ATOMIC MASS |
| ELECTRON | A NEGATIVELY CHARGED PARTICLE ORBITING THE NUCLEUS OF AN ATOM |
| COFACTOR | A COMPOUND THAT IS NEEDED TO ALLOW ENZYMES TO FUNCTION PROPERLY |
| TOCOTRIENOL | A FORM OF VITAMIN E THAT DOES NOT PLAY AN IMPORTANT BIOLOGICAL ROLE IN OUR BODIES |
| TOCOPHEROL | THE ACTIVE FORM OF VITAMIN E IN OUR BODIES |
| COLLAGEN | A PROTEIN FOUND IN ALL CONNECTIVE TISSUES IN OUR BODY |
| MEGADOSE | A DOSE OF A NUTRIENT THAT IS TEN OR MORE TIMES GREATER THAN THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT |
| PROOXIDANT | A NUTRIENT THAT PROMOTES OXIDATION AND OXIDATIVE CELL AND TISSUE DAMAGE |
| PROVITAMIN | AN INACTIVE FORM OF A VITAMIN THAT THE BODY CAN CONVERT TO AN AN ACTIVE FORM. AN EXAMPLE IS BETA-CAROTENE |
| CAROTENE | FAT-SOLUBLE PLANT PIGMENTS THAT THE BODY STORES IN THE LIVER AND ADIPOSE TISSUES. THE BODY IS ABLE TO CONVERT CERTAIN CAROTENOIDS TO VITAMIN A |
| RETINOL | AN ACTIVE, ALCOHOL FORM OF VITAMIN A THAT PLAYS AN IMPORTANCE ROLE IN HEALTHY VISION AND IMMUNE FUNCTION |
| RETINAL | AN ACTIVE, ALDEHYDE FORM OF VITAMIN A THAT PLAYS AN IMPORTANCE ROLE IN HEALTHY VISION AND IMMUNE FUNCTION |
| RETINOIC ACID | AN ACTIVE, ACID FORM OF VITAMIN A THTHAT PLAYS AN IMPORTANCE ROLE IN CELL GROWTH AND IMMUNE FUNCTION |
| RETINA | THE DELICATE LIGHT-SENSITIVE MEMBRANE LINING THE INNER EYEBALL AND CONNECTED TO THE OPTIC NERVE. IT CONTAINS RETINAL |
| CELL DIFFERENTIATION | THE PROCESS BY WHICH IMMATURE, UNDIFFERENTIATED STEM CELLS DEVELOP INTO HIGHLY SPECIALIZED FUNCTIONAL CELLS OF DISCRETE ORGANS AND TISSUE |
| NIGHT BLINDNESS | A VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY DISORDER THAT RESULTS IN LOSS OF THE ABILITY TO SEE IN DIM LIGHT |
| KESHAN DISEASE | A HEART DISORDER CAUSED BY SELENIUM DEFICIENCY. IT WAS FIRST IDENTIFIED IN CHILDREN IN THE KESHAN PROVINCE OF CHINA |
| CANCER | A GROUP OF DISEASE CHARACTERIZED BY CELLS THAT REPRODUCE SPONTANEOUSLY AND INDEPENDENTLY AND MAY INVADE OTHER TISSUES AND ORGANS |
| TUMOR | ANY NEWLY FORMED MASS OF UNDIFFERENTIATED CELLS |
| CARCINOGEN | ANY SUBSTANCE CAPABLE OF CAUSING THE CELLULAR MUTATIONS THAT LEAD TO CANCER |
| PHYTOCHEMICALS | CHEMICALS FOUND IN PLANTS SUCH AS PIGMENTS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES, THAT MAY REDUCE OUR RISK FOR DISEASES SUCH AS CANCER AND HEART DISEASE |
| ... | A VISION DISORDER CAUSED BY DETERIORATION OF THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE RETINA AND MARKED BY LOSS OR DISTORTION OF THE CENTRAL FIELD OF VISION |
| CATARACT | A DAMAGED PORTION OF THE EYES LENS WHICH CLOUDINESS THAT IMPAIRS VISION |
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