Diet And Drugs Info

Orlistat - also known and marketed as Xenical, a pharmaceutical preparation for the treatment of obesity. It prevents the body from absorbing some of the fat in food. It works by blocking pancreatic lipase, an enzyme that begins digesting fat in the intestine. Without lipase, fat from the diet is excreted undigested, and not absorbed by the body. On the negative side, this drug also prevents the body from assimilating certain fat-soluble vitamins and beta carotene. Individuals who are on this medication should take supplementary vitamins that include beta-carotene and vitamins A, D, E, and K. The most prevalent negative effects of this fat-absorption medication are flatulence with some anal leakage, fecal urgency, greasy feces, and frequent bowel movements.


Kinesiology - the scientific study of the principles of mechanics and anatomy with reference to human movement.


Monosaccharides - also called simple sugars, they are made up of a single sugar molecule and therefore cannot be further decomposed by hydrolysis. Simple sugars are the building blocks of more complex sugars like disaccharides and polysaccharides.


Sucrose - usually referred to as table sugar, sucrose is a disaccharide (composed of the two simple sugars, glucose and fructose) and providing 4 calories per gram, which amounts to around 16 calories per teaspoon. This is a type of sugar which the body must synthesize into a more simple sugar before the blood can absorb it and convey it to the cells. Sucrose is processed from sugarcane or sugar beets. The procedure to refine this sugar removes contaminants from the sugar plant, providing the white crystalline substance commonly served in the sugar basin. Molasses is simply a less refined sucrose. (Also look at carbohydrates.)


Triceps - the muscular group that run along the underside of the upper arms that adduct the arm and enable pushing movements of the arms.


Dehydration - an excessive depletion of water or fluid from the body. An excessively high level of glucose (sugar) in the urine causes loss of a great deal of water, and the person becomes very dehydrated.


Hamstrings - The three large muscles at the back of the thigh, which extend from the lower part of the pelvis to just under the knee joints. They allow one to flex the knees and, along with the gluteus muscles (the muscle group in each of the buttocks), straighten the legs from the hip joints.


Low-Calorie Sweeteners - sweeteners that provide a sweet flavor with very few calories or no calories at all. These are sweeteners that provide no nutrition, also referred to as intense sweeteners. These sweeteners can take the place of nutritive sweeteners (that supply calories and energy to the body) in most foods at a caloric savings of around 16 calories for each teaspoon. Therefore, a substantial caloric count could be reduced if low calorie sweetening agents replace regular sweeteners that have higher calories. Before being authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the USA, intensive sweeteners have to go through stringent and systematic safety tests. All FDA-approved low-calorie sweeteners must match same standards of safety. These low-calorie sweeteners may be safely ingested by children or pregnant women. The six non-nutritive, low-calorie sweetening agents currently authorized for use in the US are acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), aspartame, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, and tagatose. The FDA is considering requisitions to sanction other low-calorie sweetening agents for use in the U.S. food production: alitame and cyclamate. Both these low-calorie sweeteners have been authorized for use in several other countries.


Alpha-Carotene - a type of carotenoid (substance in yellow/orange fruits and vegetables and dark green leafy vegetables) present in carrots and pumpkins that provides the physical advantage of neutralizing free radicals (highly reactive particles produced during oxidation) which might damage cells.


Tagatose - technically called D-tagatose, a reduced-calorie sweetening agent derived from lactose, which occurs naturally in certain dairy products and other foods. Tagatose has been considered to be a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) substance in the US, permitting its use in the production of foods & beverages.


Ideal Weight Chart - a chart that helps individuals to find their ideal weight range. The chart assumes knowledge of body frame size.


Sodium Nitrite - a salt used in smoked or cured fish and for the curing of meats. It works as a preserving agent and color fixative. It can react with chemicals in the stomach to produce nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic chemical compounds.


Blood Sugar - also known as blood glucose, refers to simple sugar present in the bloodstream.


Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) - a quality-based methodology deployed in the food industry to recognize potential food-safety hazards. The underlying approach under HACCP for preventing foodborne illnesses and to emphasize high quality standards is to isolate the danger spots and try to avoid them. Instead of placing the onus on the government to note that there is indeed a problem that concerns food safety, HACCP shifts accountability on the food & beverage industry to ensure that the food it produces is free of pollutants. Food producers are required to take appropriate measures to prevent bacterial pollution from occurring in the first place. HACCP ensures food quality through a set of principles: Be familiar with the likely health hazards to consumers regarding a certain product; Be aware of the critical points in the processing (called CCP`s) where the health risks could occur; Organize precautionary steps to preclude the hazard from happening; Monitor and be sure that these security precautions are being implemented; Set up a suitable remedy in case the control check demonstrates any cause for concern; Arrange thorough record-keeping to document the tracking activity and how issues were addressed; Corroborate that the integrated system is running smoothly.


LDL - the chief cholesterol-carrying blood substance. LDL seems to be the culprit in heart disease and is better recognized as the `bad` cholesterol. By contrast, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is increasingly seen as healthy and recognized as the `good` cholesterol. (Also see `Low-Density Lipoprotein`.)


Crop Residues - plant materials left behind from the earlier crop that are left on the soil surface. Crop residues decrease soil erosion, pollution of the air and surface-water bodies, retain soil moisture, and improve the soil by adding organic matter.


RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) - the recommended amounts of energy and given foods deemed adequate to match the dietary requirements of practically all people who are physically fit.