Nutraceutical - a naturally occurring food (such as soya or garlic) or food supplement (such as cod liver oil or garlic capsules) believed to give the consumer medical or health benefits beyond basic nutrition, which includes protection against chronic disease. Research indicates the term `nutraceutical` might not attract consumers. (Also see `functional foods`.)
Isoflavones - a class of phytoestrogen present in soya beans and soy-based foods (where the two primary isoflavones are daidzein and genistein), which might reduce menopause symptoms.
Oral Hypoglycemic Drug - pharmaceutical preparations ingested by mouth that stimulate the production or enhance the action of insulin.
High-density Lipoprotein (HDL) - a type of cholesterol that circulates in the bloodstream. Popularly referred to as `good cholesterol`. High HDL lowers the risk of heart disease. An HDL level of 60 mg/dL or above is deemed to be high and provides protection against heart problems. An HDL level of less than 40 mg/dL is considered low and increases the chance for developing heart problems.
Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) - the level of exertion individuals feel they are putting into an activity (including increased heart rate, increased respiration or breathing rate, increased sweating, and muscle fatigue). The Borg scale is a rating system, which helps people explain how hard they feel they are working by matching a number from 6 right up to 20. Lower numbers on the scale are used to describe a modest level of effort, and numbers that are higher up on the scale denote that the body is exerting more.
Static Stretch - an uncomplicated muscle stretch, which goes just to the point of gentle tension and is held steadily for a specific duration (usually 20 to 30 seconds), without bouncing or any other movement.
Lignans - a class of phytoestrogen (plant substances with estrogenic and anticancer effects) naturally present in flax, rye, and pumpkin seeds, broccoli, and some berries, which may provide the health benefits of lowering LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides, thus providing a measure of protection against cardiac ailments and some cancers.
Antibiotic Resistance - the ability of a bacterium to synthesize a protein that neutralizes an antibiotic.
Weight Lifting Equipment - devices necessary to perform weight-lifting exercises.
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) - the recommended levels of energy and selected foods considered satisfactory in order to meet the nutritive needs of almost all healthy people.
Biotechnology - in a most basic sense, `applied biology`. The application of biological knowledge and techniques to develop products. A more elaborate description is: any technology that uses living organisms (or parts of organisms) to make or modify products, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses. On the basis of this definition, the classic techniques employed for plant and animal breeding, fermentation and enzyme purification, would be considered biotechnology. The term is sometimes employed only to mean the newer tools of genetic science. In this frame of reference, biotechnology could be explained as bio-technical processes by which living cells (usually plants or animals) are genetically engineered to perform useful functions or generate beneficial products. Examples of such applications are recombinant DNA technology, where a replication of a piece of DNA carrying either a single gene or several genes is transferred from one organism to another or artificially combined within an organism.
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