ABC Of Fitness

Abs - the collective expression used to describe the group of muscles at the area around the abdomen under the chest. These muscles are key drivers and, when not toned, contribute to aches and pains in the lower back.


Low-calorie Sweetener Blends - mixtures of low-calorie sweeteners in foods & beverages that might work exponentially to provide the preferred degree of sweetness in lesser amounts than the sweetening agents used individually. The resultant flavor often better meets consumer expectations of a sweetness profile, which is very like the taste and flavor of white sugar or other caloric sweeteners. The products may also have greater sweetness stability that remains unchanged from production to consumption. Health authorities around the world have rationally concluded that there is no scientific basis to have any anxiety or expect that any adverse health or functional consequences will ever come from combined sweeteners, that are distinct from any effects that take place with the use of the component low-calorie sweeteners, and no such effects have been reported.


Pectin - a natural gelling agent present in ripe fruits (such as apples, crab apples, gooseberries, and some varieties of plums and grapes). It is an important ingredient in the preparation of jellies and jams. Some fruits contain large quantities of pectin (such as, apples, citrus fruits, red currants, and blackberries), but others are low in pectin (for example, cherries and strawberries), so lemon juice should additionally be used in those jams to help them gel.


Callus - an excessive build up of hard, tough layers of an area of the skin caused by excessive pressure and / or abrasion.


Hormone - a chemical messenger produced by endocrine glands, which triggers or regulates particular functions in another part of the body.


Anaerobic - without the need for oxygen.


Angiopathy - any abnormality of the arteries, veins, or capillaries, which is associated with the health complications of diabetes. There are two types of angiopathy: macroangiopathy (arteriosclerosis or cardiovascular disease) and microangiopathy (affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves, etc).


Sorbitol - a naturally occurring sugar-like compound used as a sweetening agent for foods.


Umami - an enigmatic taste. In addition to the 4 major tastes that are easily identifiable (sweet, salty, bitter, and sour), there is a 5th flavor known as `savory` or `umami`. Among the food ingredients contributing to the umami flavor in foods is a nonessential amino acid, glutamate, which is present in many animal and plant proteins. (Also look at glutamate and MSG.)


Ketonuria - a warning sign of ketoacidosis.


Ascorbic Acid - also popularly known as vitamin C, it is essential for the development and maintenance of connective tissue. This vitamin promotes the production of new cells in wound healing and it is an antioxidant that keeps free radicals from hooking up with other molecules to form damaging compounds that might attack tissue. Vitamin C protects the immune system, helps fight off infections, reduces the impact of hypersensitive responses and contributes to the synthesis of hormones and several other body chemicals. Green peppers, broccoli, citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries, and many other fresh fruits and vegetables are good sources of vitamin C.


Urine Testing - checking a urine sample in order to see whether it contains glucose (sugar) and ketone bodies (substances produced when the body uses fat instead of sugar for energy). Special strips of paper or tablets (called reagents) are put into a small quantity of urine or urine plus water. Alterations in the color of the reagent determine the quantity of sugar (glucose) or ketone byproducts in the urine sample. A urine test (also called `urinalysis`) is the only way to determine if ketones are present, a sign of a life-threatening disease.


Anemia - a condition that occurs when there is a reduced count or size of red blood cells (erythrocytes) or in which the amount of hemoglobin these red blood cells contain restricts the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the tissue cells. The majority of anemias are due to a dietary deficiency in the nutrients that are essential for the body`s normal production of red blood cells, usually iron, vitamin B-12, and folic acid. Other anemias are due to several different physical ailments, for example hemorrhage (an abnormal severe internal or external discharge of blood), genetic abnormalities, long-term illnesses that can be controlled but not cured or due to negative effects of prescribed drugs.


Biceps - the prominent muscle located on the inside of the upper arm, which bends the arm at the elbow.


Saponins - the functional constituent of soybeans, soy foods and soy protein-containing food, which could bring down `bad` cholesterol levels and could contain enzymes that provide protection against cancer.


Soy Protein - the protein nutrients found in soyabeans and soy-based food items which, if consumed in amounts of 25 grams per day, might lessen the risk of cardiac disease.


Bontril SR - a drug that suppresses the appetite and that which works by stimulating the nervous system.


Allergy - over-reaction of the immune system in allergy-prone individuals. Indications of allergic or hypersensitive reactions include sneezing, coughing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rashes.


Obesity - excessively excessive quantity of body weight and body fat, which is much greater than what is considered good for health: 20 % more than ideal body weight. A person`s body weight is controlled by several factors: hereditary, biological, behavioral, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic influences. Explorations into what causes obesity indicate that the number of calories ingested, regardless of which food group they come from, plays a key role in body weight. For example, as the percentage of calories coming from fats has dipped in the U.S. diet, there is no indication that body weight is also declining. And yet, studies have indicated that a noticeable decrease in the number of calories from fat will result in a small reduction of body weight in the case of people who have normal body weight or are moderately obese. A few scientists argue that the quantity and location of a person`s body fat is a significant indicator of health risk and, hence, needs to be factored into the definition of overweight and obesity. Fat that is localized around the abdomen has been associated with a greater health risk compared to fat in the thighs or hips. Consequently, calculations of waist-to-hip ratio are preferred by some health experts to help determine whether a person is carrying excess weight.


Renal Threshold - with reference to blood glucose levels, the point beyond which blood sugar is excreted into the urine.


Cross Training - including two or more dissimilar activities into one`s everyday workout schedule to prevent chronic injuries and to prevent boredom. Cycling, running, and swimming are 3 common activities used to cross-train different muscle groups.


Candida - an yeast-like fungal infection often occurring around female genitalia.


Hypotension - a subnormal arterial blood pressure. It is frequently associated with traumatic shock, though not necessarily a symptom of it.


Adrenal - a gland of the endocrine system that produces hormones that control growth, metabolism, mood, and reproduction and influence almost every cell and organ in the body, including adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol.