Glossary

Alkaline (alkalizing foods)
From a nutritional standpoint, foods are classified as either acid forming or alkalizing according to the effect they have on the body.

Artificial Foods
Food that most likely contains artificial ingredients, such as colorings or flavorings, that are not naturally in the food. An example is artificial strawberry flavoring created in the laboratory to mimic the natural taste of fresh strawberries.

Antifungal
Any agent that destroys or prevents the growth of fungi.

Antioxidants
A substance that blocks or inhibits destructive oxidation reactions and thus slows or prevents cell deterioration.
Examples: Beta-carotene, Vitamins C and E, the mineral Selenium and germanium.

Antiviral
An agent that inhibits growth or kills a virus.

Allicin
An organic compound obtained from garlic. It is also obtainable from onions, and other species in the family Alliaceae. This compound exhibits antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Anti-inflammatory
Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance that reduces inflammation.

Beta-carotene
The orange-yellow plant pigment that the body uses to make Vitamin A. This is most often found in orange-yellow vegetables such as carrots, and squash, for example.

Carbohydrates
Any one of many organic substances, almost all of them from plant origin, that are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and serve as the major source of energy in the diet.

Carotene
A yellow to orange pigment that is converted into Vitamin A in the body. There are several different forms, including, alpha, beta and gamma carotene, found in many plants.
Examples: Carrots

Carotenoids
A group of phytochemicals that act as antioxidants and includes the carotenes as well as some other substances.

Daikon
A large, elongated, white winter radish, used especially in Asian cuisine and is sometimes pickled.

Diosgenin
One of many plant sterols, plant sterols are close relatives of human steroid hormones. In some cases your body will use the sterols to balance hormones by filling hormone receptors. Diosgenin is naturally abundant in plants such as the tropical wild yam and the soybean, and can be converted by the body into the exact molecule as human progesterone.

Diuretic
Tending to increase urine flow, or a substance that promotes the excretion of fluids.

Ellagic Acid
A phytochemical found in fruits such as strawberries and grapes that help rid the body of free radicals.

Energetic Action
Food imparts energy and thus may improve our energy levels and improve our way of dealing with our every day activities. Most of us attribute changes in our energy level to other factors, such as sleep deprivation or excess work, etc, and tend not to link it to our food intake. However, our food choices are directly responsible for our energy. Processed foods, sugar, and caffeine will give us rapid energy, but only temporarily, while whole foods will give us a more moderate, steady, longer-lasting energy.

Fermentation
Fermentation in food refers to the conversion of sugar to alcohol using yeast, bacteria, or a combination thereof, under anaerobic conditions. Fermentation usually implies that the action of the microorganisms is desirable, and the process is used to produce alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer, and cider. Fermentation is also employed in preservation to create lactic acid in sour foods such as pickled cucumbers, sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, and kefir.

Filtered Water
Water that has been purified by filters use sieving, absorption, ion exchanges and other processes. Unlike a sieve or screen, a filter can remove particles much smaller than the holes through which the water passes.

Fragmented Food
Food that has been stripped out of some of its original nutrients. For example white rice, as its bran and germ have been taken out in the refining process.

Flavonoid
Any of a large group of crystalline compounds found in plants. Flavonoids are most commonly known for their antioxidant activity. Flavonoids are also commonly referred to as bioflavonoids in the media – the terms are largely equivalent and interchangeable.

Flax Seed
Edible plant seeds containing soluble fiber, which assists in regulating cholesterol levels.

Germanium
Considered an ultratrace element in human nutrition. The ultratrace elements currently recognized by the US Department of Agriculture include boron, chromium, germanium, lithium, molybdenum, selenium, silicon, tin, and vanadium.

Glucaric Acid
A chemical made by the body and also found in foods. Because it is thought to hasten the elimination of potentially harmful substances from the body, glucaric acid has been promoted for cancer prevention.

Glutathione
An important antioxidant and detoxifier. Glutathione is made by the body and is also found in some foods, such as asparagus.

Gomasio (Sesame salt)
Made from unhulled sesame seeds (16 parts) and sea salt (1 part).

Healthful (Good) Fat
Unrefined fats that have been extracted using low technology methods (cold pressed), and have not been heated, bleached or deodorized.
Examples: Extra virgin olive oil, unrefined sesame oil, virgin coconut oil.

Hemostatic
Acting to arrest bleeding or hemorrhage.

Intestinal Flora (Gut Flora)
Harmless microorganisms that inhabit the intestinal tract and are essential for its normal functioning, including the synthesis of a variety of nutrients such as Vitamins K and B12 . The gut flora consists of the microorganisms that normally live in the digestive tract of animals. In humans, these can be destroyed by the use of antibiotics and other chemicals.

Kefir
A fermented milk drink. Kefir has many reputed health benefits. It has antibiotic and antifungal properties. It’s been used in the treatment of a variety of conditions, including metabolic disorders, atherosclerosis, and allergies, tuberculosis, cancer, poor digestion, candidiasis, osteoporosis, hypertension, HIV and heart disease.

Legumes
Any bean, pea, peanut or lentil is a legume.

Lycopene
A phytochemical found in tomatoes that may protect against certain cancers, and protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays.

Malic Acid
Organic crystalline acid. It’s present in apples, plums, cherries, grapes, and some other fruits.

Macro-nutrients
Nutrients are chemicals that our organism needs to live and grow. Nutrients needed in relatively large quantities are called macro-nutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats).

Micro-nutrients
Nutrients are chemicals that our organism needs to live and grow. Nutrients needed in relatively small quantities are called micro-nutrients (vitamins and minerals).

Mineral
Natural substance found in a wide variety of foods; long recognized as an essential for good health.

Mineral Water
Spring water containing various mineral salts, elements or gasses.

Papain
An enzyme that aids digestion and can be used as meat tenderizer.

Phytochemicals
Chemical substances found in fruits and vegetables. Phyto means plant in Greek. Some have shown promise to protect the body against illnesses, including cancer.

Protein
Proteins are basic elements of all plant or animal tissues. The body needs protein for growth, repair and other functions.
Examples: Fish, beans, lean meats

Processed Food
Foods that have been processed in a factory.
Examples: Canned fruits, TV dinners

Psyllium Seeds
Psyllium seed and its husks are often used to help people suffering from bowel irregularities. They are used to relieve constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, and diarrhea.

Quercetin
A plant-derived flavonoid, used as a nutritional supplement. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and is being investigated for a wide range of potential health benefits.

Real Foods
Those that nature gives us, plants, roots, fruits, nuts, seeds, meats, eggs, milk and those made from it. Fake foods are those that human beings create trying to imitate the natural food.

Refined Foods
Refined foods are fragmented, which means some of their nutrients have been taken away in the refining process.
Examples: White rice and white flour are fragmented/refined foods, because they are missing the germ and the bran.

Spring Water
Water that comes directly from a spring source. A spring is any natural occurrence where water flows onto the surface of the earth.

Starch
Starch is the most important carbohydrate in the human diet.
Examples: Rice, wheat, maize (corn), potatoes and cassava (yucca)

Stevia
A South American herb that has been used as a sweetener by the Guarani Indians of Paraguay for hundreds of years. The leaves of this small, green Stevia rebaudiana plant can be 30 times sweeter than sugar. Stevia can be found in natural food stores as a pure powder extract, or blended with rice syrup powder as a granulated sugar substitute.

Superfoods
A term sometimes used to describe food with high phytonutrient content that some may believe confers health benefits as a result. Superfoods contain significant amounts of antioxidants, phytochemicals, Vitamin C, manganese, and dietary fiber.
Examples: Blueberries, sprouts, quinoa, avocados

Tartaric Acid
A white crystalline diprotic organic acid. It occurs naturally in many plants, particularly grapes, bananas, and tamarinds, and is one of the main acids found in wine. It is added to other foods to give a sour taste, and is used as an antioxidant.

Vitamin
Organic essential nutrient required in small amount by the body for health.

Whole Grains
Whole grains are cereal grains that contain bran and germ as well as the endosperm, in contrast to refined grains, which retain only the endosperm. Whole grains can generally be sprouted while processed grains generally will not sprout.
Examples: Quinoa, millet, oat groats, brown rice

Whole Foods
Natural or organic food with all their edible parts undisturbed. Whole foods have undergone little or no refining or processing and contain no artificial additives or preservatives.
Examples: Brown rice, fresh vegetables, beans, whole fruit

Xenoestrogens
Synthetic chemicals found in pesticides, fuels, drugs and polycarbonate plastic bottles and food containers either cause hormonal activity similar to estrogen, the human sex hormone, or alter the hormone’s effects. Avoiding xenoestrogens have a positive impact on your health.
Examples: Insecticides and pesticides, certain chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastic, food preservatives used to extend the shelf life of processed products.