| WORD |
DEFINITION |
| Antioxidants |
A
chemical compound or substance that inhibits oxidation, or A substance,
such as vitamin E, vitamin C, or beta carotene, thought to protect body
cells from the damaging effects of oxidation. |
| Arthritis |
Inflammation
of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and
resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic
disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as
bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. |
| Cholesterol |
A
type of fat produced by the liver and found in the blood; it is also found
in some foods. Cholesterol is used by the body to make hormones and build
cell walls. |
| Coronary
heart disease |
Heart
disease caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the
heart. If the blood supply is cut off the result is a heart attack. |
| Diabetes
mellitus |
A
disease that occurs when the body is not able to use blood glucose
(sugar). Blood sugar levels are controlled by insulin, a hormone in the
body that helps move glucose (sugar) from the blood to muscles and other
tissues. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or
the body does not respond to the insulin that is made. There are two main
types of diabetes mellitus: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. |
| Free
radicals |
An atom or group of
atoms that has at least one unpaired electron and is therefore unstable
and highly reactive. In animal tissues, free radicals can damage cells and
are believed to accelerate the progression of cancer, cardiovascular
disease, and age-related diseases. |
| Homeostasis |
The
ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal
equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes |
| Hypoglycaemia |
An
abnormally low level of glucose in the blood. |
| Minerals |
A
naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a
definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure,
color, and hardness. |
| Myocardial
infarction |
An
interruption in the blood supply to the heart because of narrowed or
blocked blood vessels. Also called a heart attack. |
| Osteomalacia |
A
disease occurring mostly in adult women that results from a deficiency in
vitamin D or calcium and is characterized by a softening of the bones with
accompanying pain and weakness.
|
| Osteoporosis |
A
disease in which the bones become extremely porous, are subject to
fracture, and heal slowly, occurring especially in women following
menopause and often leading to curvature of the spine from vertebral
collapse. |
| Vitamins |
Any
of various fat-soluble or water-soluble organic substances essential in
minute amounts for normal growth and activity of the body and obtained
naturally from plant and animal foods. |
| Source:
http://www.dictionarylink.com/ |
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