Diet And Drugs Info

Retinopathy - disease or abnormality of the retina.


Lactobacillus - a type of bacterium present in yogurt and certain additional milk products, which could improve gastrointestinal health.


High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) - a class of cholesterol which circulates in the blood. Better known as `good` cholesterol. High HDL levels reduce the risk of diseases related to the heart. An HDL level of 60 mg/dl or higher is said to be high and safeguards against diseases and illnesses related to the heart. An HDL level of below 40 mg/dL is considered low and escalates the chance for developing heart problems.


Type 1 Diabetes - previously called `IDDM (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus)` or `juvenile diabetes`. Type I diabetes is a persisting medical condition that lasts all through life and in which the pancreas quits making insulin. In the absence of this enzyme, the body cannot make use of glucose (blood sugar) to generate energy. To treat the disease, a diabetic patient has to inject insulin, adhere to a diet plan, get regular exercise each day, and test blood sugar levels several times a day. Type 1 diabetes generally develops before 30 years of age.


Weight-Loss Surgery - any surgery to treat obesity. Surgical manipulation of the gastrointestinal tract is the most sensible option for those persons who are dangerously overweight and are unable to shed excess pounds by conventional practices or those who are afflicted with serious obesity-related health problems. This kind of surgery encourages weight loss by restricting the quantity of food that can be ingested and, in certain surgeries, interrupting the digestion of food intake. Nevertheless, the most successful results are achieved by means of eating behaviors that promote health and wellness, and regular physical activity. (Also see Vertical Banded Gastroplasty or VBG and Bariatric Surgery.)


Catechins - a class of bioflavonoid found in tea (particularly green tea), which gives consumers the health advantages of neutralizing free radicals and perhaps diminishing the health risk of cancer.


Cardiovascular Disease - a generic term to describe any abnormal condition characterized by dysfunction of blood vessels or the heart.


Plants produce and store carbohydrates as their principal energy source. The glucose synthesized in the leaves of plants is utilized as the building block for more complex types of carbohydrates. The classification of carbohydrates relates to saccharides (the sugars that form their structural core). The principal monosaccharides that are present in food nutrients are glucose (also called dextrose) and fructose. Three common disaccharides (sugars composed of two monosaccharides) are sucrose, maltose, and lactose. Polysaccharides (involving 8 or more monosaccharide units) of interest in nutrition are starch (found in plant seeds, fruits, tubers, and roots), dextrin (formed by enzyme action on starch), glycogen (glucose that is converted for storage), and cellulose (part of the cell walls of all plant cells).


Sulfites - a class of sulfur-containing compounds. Sulfiting agents are sometimes used in order to retain the tint of food products like dehydrated fruits and vegetables, and in order to inhibit the spread of pathogenic micro-organisms in fermented food, and drinks like wine. These food additives carry no health risk for most people. A very minor section of the population, however, has been seen to develop shortness of breath or even morbid trauma shortly after being exposed to these preservatives. Sulfites can be responsible for triggering acute asthma attacks in asthmatics who are hypersensitive to sulfites. On account of this, in `86 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the use of sulfur-based preservatives on fresh vegetables and fruits (with the exception of potatoes) intended to be served or sold raw to customers. Sulfites added to every one of the packaged and processed food items must necessarily be listed on the product label.


Lactic acid - a waste product of high-intensity (or anaerobic) exercise that builds up in the muscles and causes discomfort and exhaustion.


Confounding Variable / Factor - a `hidden` variable that may cause an association which the researcher attributes to other variables.


Microalbuminuria - the leakage of small amounts of protein (albumin) into the urine; an early warning of malfunction in the kidneys.


Hypoglycemia - abnormally low blood sugar (glucose) levels. This takes place when a diabetic patient has injected an excessive dose of insulin, eaten too little food, or has not allowed for additional food when exercising. A person having hypoglycemia might feel tense or nervous, shaky or unsteady, weak, or clammy and sweaty, and have an aching head, unclear vision, and hunger pangs. Consuming small amounts of sugar or glucose, sweetened fruit juice, or food that contains sugar will most often help the individual recover within 10-15 minutes.


Osteoporosis - a condition affecting the bones, where the bones lose mass and density, the pores in bones enlarge, and the bones frequently get frail. This condition frequently fails to be recognized as such until a fracture occurs, usually in the wrist, spine, or hip. The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that approximately 1.5 million fractures such as these take place each year in the U.S., at a projected yearly cost of 18 billion dollars in `02.


Polyphagia - excessive hunger; an indication of diabetes. People with this overwhelming hunger often undergo weight loss.


Sorbitol - a sugar used as a sweetening agent for foods.