Medical Dictionary: Healthy Eating

The latest research has resulted in a new healthy eating pyramid, a new concept of good fats and bad fats, and a greater understanding of the components of foods and how they influence health and longevity. This medical dictionary covers the terms used in the report, Healthy Eating: A guide to the new nutrition, and includes details on keeping track of your health, diets, various foods and vitamins, natural options, the food pyramid, and helpful tips.

body mass index (BMI): An estimate of the body’s fat content, calculated from measurements of height and weight.

dietary fiber: The edible, nondigestible component of carbohydrates naturally found in plant food.

dietary reference intakes (DRIs): A comprehensive set of standards for daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals, based on evidence from scores of observational and clinical studies.

essential fats: Beneficial fats, such as omega-3 and omega-6, that come exclusively from foods and supplements; they are not manufactured by the body.

glycemic load: A measure of how soon and how much a serving of a food causes blood sugar to rise. Foods with a high glycemic load are thought to increase the risk of insulin resistance and other health problems.

high-density lipoproteins (HDLs): Spherical particles that transport cholesterol from body cells to the liver and other sites for elimination; called “good” cholesterol because high levels are associated with a low risk for heart disease.

insulin resistance: An illness in which the body does not respond normally to insulin, the hormone that ferries sugar from the blood into the cells. Insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

low-density lipoproteins (LDLs): Spherical particles that transport cholesterol in the blood; called “bad” cholesterol because high levels are associated with a high risk for heart disease.

macronutrients: The basic categories of nutrients that humans need: fat, carbohydrate, and protein.

micronutrients: The vitamins and minerals that humans need to maintain normal body functions and prevent certain illnesses.

monounsaturated fats: Beneficial fats that contain one double bond between adjacent carbon atoms.

omega-3 fatty acids: Beneficial fats also known as n-3 fatty acids. These are polyunsaturated fats in which the last double bond between carbon atoms is located three carbons from the end of the chain.

omega-6 fatty acids: Beneficial fats also known as n-6 fatty acids. These are polyunsaturated fats in which the last double bond between carbon atoms is located six carbons from the end of the chain.

phytochemicals: Substances made by plants that have biological effects in the human body. Some are phytoestrogens, chemicals that behave like (or sometimes block the action of) the hormone estrogen.

polyunsaturated fats: Beneficial fats that contain two or more double bonds between adjacent carbon atoms.

saturated fats: Unhealthy fats in which all the carbon atoms are bonded to the maximum number of hydrogen atoms so there are no double bonds between the carbons.

trans fatty acids (trans fats): Unhealthy fats that occur naturally in meat but come mainly from processed foods made with hydrogenated oils. Hydrogenated oils are polyunsaturated fats that have been chemically altered to be made more like saturated fats.

triglycerides: Fat that is transported through the bloodstream. High levels increase the risk of heart disease.