Well-Being Tips

Ideal Body Weight - the weight appropriate for an individual that maps to a BMI of 20 - 25.


Antisense - a piece of genetic material (DNA), which produces the reversed image, or antisense messenger RNA, that has a sequence exactly opposite to the genetic coding sequence that signals the cells to generate a particular protein. As the antisense RNA binds strongly to its mirror image, it prevents the synthesis of a specific protein.


Blind (single or double) Experiment - research techniques. In a `single blind` experiment, the participants are not informed about whether they are getting an experimental treatment or merely a placebo. In a double-blind study, neither the test subjects nor the test administrators know which test subjects receive the treatment, until after the study is completed.


Risk Factor - describes characteristics or factors associated with an increased probability of developing a health complication or disease; however, risk factors do not necessarily assume that possible risk will always be realized.


Collagen Hydrolysate - a useful element of gelatin that could help provide relief from a few of the symptoms connected with osteoarthritis.


Weight-Loss Surgery - any surgery to treat and control obesity. Surgical manipulation of the gastrointestinal tract is the best alternative for people who are severely overweight and have failed to shed excess pounds by traditional practices or who suffer from severe obesity-related health problems. The surgical procedure enables loss of weight by limiting the amount of food that can be consumed and, in certain operations, interrupting the digestion of food intake. However, the most satisfactory results are attained through sensible eating practices that are conducive to good health and a daily exercise routine. (Also refer to `Vertical Banded Gastroplasty or VBG` and `Bariatric Surgery`.)


Brittle Diabetes - an expression employed to describe the condition when a person`s blood glucose (sugar) level frequently quickly goes from high to low and vice versa. Also called labile diabetes and unstable diabetes.


Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) - a US government agency, which is a branch of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and monitors the field-testing of agricultural biotechnology crops.


Alternative Agriculture - a range of management and technological options used by agricultural undertakings making a spirited attempt to bring down expenses, prevent damage to the ecology and health, and encourage beneficial biological interactions and natural processes. Alternative agriculture systems cannot be consistently applied across all agricultural goods or every part of the U.S.A. Such procedures usually demand more factual data, skilled workers, and time and management skills for each unit produced than traditional farming.


Meridia - a drug used in the treatment of obesity that decreases hunger by inhibiting the re-uptake of relevant hormones.


Pectorals - the broad band comprising of the two muscles in the chest whose function is to draw the upper arms toward the chest or across it. The pectoralis major covers the chest from the top of the arm to the clavicle (collarbone), down to the sternum and the upper six ribs. The smaller of the two muscles, pectoralis minor, is situated below the larger muscle, and runs from mid-chest to shoulder blade.


Resistance or Weight Training - also referred to as `strength training`, refers to a set of exercises particularly intended to develop muscular size and enhance muscular strength. Weight training also helps in maintaining the volume of bone mass in the skeletal framework and can help maintain body weight.


Carbohydrate - organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They range from monosaccharides (simple sugars) containing from 3 - 7 carbon atoms to highly complex molecules containing multiple bonds. Only the hexoses (monosaccharides having six carbon atoms) and pentoses (simple sugars made up of 5 carbon atoms) and their complex molecule chains play important roles in nutrition. Carbohydrates in food give 4 calories per gram. They are a primary energy source in the food that is consumed. Carbohydrates are grouped into two main categories: simple and complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are sugars (such as glucose, fructrose, and lactose) and complex carbohydrates include cellulose (starches and fiber). Carbohydrates occur naturally in foods like breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products such as milk and cheese. Food products such as sugar cereals, soft drinks, fruit drinks, fruit punch, lemonade, cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream, and candy are very rich in sugars.


Insulin-Dependent Diabetes - a condition in which the pancreas fails to manufacture any insulin, causing abnormally high levels of blood glucose (sugar). Also known as `juvenile diabetes`.


Adipose Tissue - a specialized type of tissue in the body that functions as the major storage site for fat.


Sprain - an injury to a ligament (or other joint-stabilizing structure) when the affected joint is overused or subject to trauma, but does not include dislocation (when extreme force on a ligament causes two bone ends to separate) or fracture (breakage of a bone).