Glossary:

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Absorption:  Nutritionally, the process by which nutrients are passed from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream to be used by the body.  If nutrients are not properly absorbed, nutritional deficiencies can result.
Acetate: A derivative of acetic acid.
Acetic acid: Used as a synthetic flavoring agent, one of the first food additives (vinegar is approximately 4 to 6 percent acetic acid); it is found naturally in cheese, coffee, grapes, peaches, raspberries, and strawberries. Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) when used only in packaging.
Acetone: A colorless solvent for fat, oils, and waxes, which is obtained by fermentation (inhalation can irritate lungs, and large amounts have a narcotic effect). 
Acetylcholine:  One of the chemicals the body makes to transport messages along your nerves.. (A neurotransmitter) This neurotransmitter is made using choline. 
Acid: A water-soluble substance with sour taste. An acid is any class of compounds that share certain basic chemical characteristics. Acids found in plant tissues (especially fruits) tend to prevent the secretion of fluids and shrink tissues.
Acute illness: An illness that comes on quickly and may cause relatively severe symptoms, but is of limited duration.
Adaptogen: A term used for a substance, usually an herb, that produces suitable adjustments in the body.  Adaptogens tend to normalize body functions, and when  the job is completed, they are eliminated or incorporated into the body without side effects.  Some beneficial adaptogens include garlic, ginseng, echinacea, gingko, and goldenseal.
Addiction: Compulsive use of habit-forming drugs.
Adenosine: A flavonoid (substances found in fruits and vegetables) found in onions. It maybe helpful in lowering cholesterol.
Adipose: the scientist's name for fat tissue or body fat. 
Adrenal gland: You have two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney. They are triangular-shaped. They make and store a number of steroid hormones. These hormones quickly prepare the body to meet emergencies.   They include DHEA, dopamine (increase blood pressure), norepinephrine (vasoconstrictor), and epinephrine also known as adrenaline (stimulates autonomic nerve action - it is used as a heart stimulant, vasoconstrictor and in the treatment of asthma). 
AIDS:  Acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Ajoene: A substance (flavonoid) found in garlic that may help thin your blood and prevent blood clots. 
Albumins: Albumins are proteins. They are part of what all the tissues of the body are made of.  Albumins from food are taken into the stomach by the process of digestion and then absorbed into the blood, whence they go to build up tissues gradually worn out in the activity of the body. 
Alkali: An acid-neutralizing substance (sodium bicarbonate is an alkali used for excess acidity in foods).
Allergen: A substance that provokes an allergic response.  See definition below for Allergy.
Allergy:  An inappropriate response by the immune system to a normally harmless substance.  Allergies can affect any of the body's tissues.   Hay fever is a common type of allergy.   See Allergies
Alpha Carotene: A carotene found in red- and orange-colored foods. It is a powerful antioxidant. (see Free Radicals & Antioxidants).
Alpha linolenic acid (LNA): Omega-3 fatty acids found in plant foods, especially nuts, soybeans, canola oil and flaxseed oil. See Essential Fatty Acids
Alpha tocopherol: The most active form of Vitamin E.
Amenorrhea: Absence or suppression of menstruation.
Amino Acids: The building blocks of protein. Twenty-two amino acids are necessary for life.
Amino acid chelates: Chelated minerals that have been produced by many of the same processes nature uses to chelate minerals in the body; in the digestive tract, nature surrounds the elemental minerals with amino acid, permitting them to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Amino acids:  Any of the twenty-two nitrogen-containing organic acids from which proteins are made.   There are twenty-two known amino acids, but only nine are indispensable nutrients for men.
Amnesia: Memory loss.
Anabolic: A conversion of nonliving material into living cells.  It is the constructive phase of metabolism as it is the building up of body tissue.
Analgesic: Tending to relieve pain, or a substance that relieves pain.
Anemia:  A deficiency in the blood's ability to carry oxygen to the body tissues. It is a general term meaning that your red blood cells either don't have enough hemoglobin in them (the oxygen carrying protein in the blood), or that you have a reduction in normal amount of red blood cells. 
Anesthetic: Causing the loss of sensation, or a substance that causes the loss of sensation, especially the ability to feel pain.
Aneurysm: Localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel; may be due to congenital defect or weakness of blood vessel wall. 
Angina pectoris: Severe attacks of pain about the heart, caused by an insufficient supply of blood to the heart.  Also called Angina. Due to the heart not getting enough oxygen, the symptoms include chest pain with sensations of suffocation, typically brought on by exertion and relieved by rest.  
Anorectic: Having no appetite.
Anorexia: Loss of appetite.
Anorexia nervosa: A symptom of  a disturbance that causes loss of appetite for food and compulsive dieting.
Antacid: A substance that neutralizes acid in the stomach, esophagus (food pipe that leads to the stomach), or the first part of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine that comes after the stomach).
Anthocyanins: Found in blue foods such as blueberries and grapes. They protect your eyes against free radicals.
Antibiotic:  Tending to destroy or inhibit the growth of microorganisms, especially bacteria and/ or fungi, or a the various substances that are effective in inhibiting or destroying bacteria.
Antibody: A protein molecule made by the immune system that is designed to intercept and neutralize a specific invading organism or other foreign substance.
Anticholinergic:  A drug used to relieve cramping and spasms of the stomach, intestines, and bladder.
Anticoagulant: Something that delays or prevents blood clotting; blood-thinner.
Antidyskinetics: Drugs used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. 
Antiemetic: Remedy to prevent vomiting.
Antigen: Any substance not normally present in the body that stimulates the body to produce antibodies.
Antihistamine: A substance used to reduce effects associated with colds and allergies by interfering with the action of the histamines. For more information see Allergies.
Antineoplastics: Drugs that prevent growth and development of malignant cells.
Antioxidant:  a substance that blocks or inhibits destructive  reactions in the body.   Enzymes that protect your body by capturing the byproduct of your body's energy production - free radicals - and escorting them out of the body before they do any more damage.    See article on: Free Radicals and Antioxidants
Antispasmodic: A drug used to relieve cramping and spasms of the stomach, intestines, and bladder.
Antitoxin: An antibody formed in response to--and capable of--neutralizing a poison of biologic origin.
APC: Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), phenacetin, and caffeine; common combination of ingredients in a variety of cold remedies and analgesics. 
Aphrodisiac: An agent that produces sexual desire.
Apnea: Temporary cessation of breathing, usually during sleep. 
Arthritis: Inflammation of joints.
Arrhythmia:  Cardiac arrhythmia - an abnormal heart rate or rhythm
Arteriosclerosis: A circulatory disorder characterized by a thickening and stiffening of the walls of large and medium-sized arteries.  It impedes circulation..
Artery: A blood vessel through which blood is pumped by the heart to all the organs, glands, and other tissues of the body.
Arachidonic Acid: A type of omega-6 fatty acid. See Essential Fatty Acids.
Arginine: A non-essential amino acid helpful for boosting the immune system.
Ascorbate: A mineral salt of Vitamin C.  Taken as a nutritional supplement, ascorbates are less acidic (and therefore less irritating) than pure ascobic acid, and also provide for better absorption of both the vitamin C and the mineral.
Ascorbic Acid: Part of the Vitamin C complex.
Aspirin: Acetylsalicylic acid, used to relieve headaches, pain, fever, and inflammation.
Assimilation: The process whereby nutrients are used by the body and changed into living tissue.
Asthma: Condition of lungs characterized by decrease in diameter of some air passages; It is also a spasm of the bronchial tubes or swelling of their mucous membranes. 
Ataxia: Loss of coordinated movement.
Atheroma: Fatty deposit in an artery; the first stage of plaque.
Artherosclerosis: The most common type of arteriosclerosis, caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits, called plaque, built up inside your arteries. It is often  in an artery that nourishes your heart or leads to your brain.
ATP: A molecule called adenosine triphosphate, the fuel of life. It supplies energy to cells through its conversion to ADP (adenosine tripyhosphate). with B1 B2, B3, and pantothenic acid.  ADP  is converted to ATP for the storage of energy.
Aura: Warning sign of a migraine headache, usually occurring an hour or two before the headache strikes. The aura if usually visual - many people see flashing lights or zigzag patterns.
Autoimmune disorder: Any condition in which the immune system reacts inappropriately to the body's own tissue and attacks them, causing damage and/or interfering with normal functioning.   Examples include diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic erythematosus.
Autologous transfusion: A transfusion of one's own blood that has been collected and kept for later use.
Avidin: A protein in egg white capable of inactivating biotin. 

Bacteria: A single-celled very tiny organism.  Some bacteria can cause disease; other "friendly" bacteria are normally present in the body and perform such useful functions as aiding digestion and protecting the body from harmful invading organisms.
Bariatrician: A weight-control doctor.
Benign:  Means "harmless" Used to refer to cells, especially cells growing in inappropriate locations, that are not cancerous.
Benign prostatic hyperthropy (BPH): A condition caused by an enlarged prostate gland, which presses on the urethra and causes a need to urinate frequently.
Beriberi: A deficiency disease caused by a lack of thiamin (a B vitamin, also called B1).
Beta-adrenergic blocking agent: A substance that blocks the transmission of stimuli thereby slowing down the rate of nerve response in the heart, and the heart rhythm itself. 
Beta-blocker: See beta adrenergic blocking agent above.
Beta carotene: The body easily converts carotene into Vitamin A. Beta carotene is a carotene found in abundance in many red- and orange-colored plant foods. While too much vitamin A can be toxic, beta carotene is non-toxic. The body stores carotene, and makes Vitamin A from it only as it needs vitamin A.
Beta-cryptoxanthin: The body easily converts carotene into Vitamin A. Beta-cryptoxanthin is a carotene found in some plant foods such as oranges and peaches.  It's also used to color butter.
BHA: Butylated hydroxyanisole; a preservative and antioxidant used in many products; insoluble in water; can be toxic to the kidneys. See butylated hydroxyanisole
BHT: Butylated hydroxytoluene; a solid, white crystalline antioxidant used to retard spoilage of many foods; can be more toxic to the kidney than its nearly identical chemical cousin BHA. See butylated hydroxytoluene.
Bile: A bitter, yellowish substance that is released from the liver into the intestines for the digestion of fats. 
Bile Acids: Made from cholesterol in the liver and stored in the gallbladder, bile acids help the body to break fats into smaller droplets. This exposes a larger surface area of fats to the action of fat-digesting enzymes, speeding up fat digestion.
Biofeedback:  A technique for helping an individual to become conscious of usually unconscious body processes, such as heartbeat or body temperature, so that he or she can gain some measure of control over them.
Bioflavonoids: Usually from orange and lemon rinds, these citrus-flavored compounds.  They are essential for the absorption of vitamin C.  Although they are not technically vitamins, they are sometimes referred to as vitamin P.  They are needed to maintain healthy blood-vessel walls are widely available in plants, citrus fruits, and rose hips.
Biopsy: To remove a bit of tissue from a living being for diagnosis.
Biotin: A B vitamin made in your body by friendly bacteria in your small intestine. It is needed for a lot of body processes that break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates into fuel for energy. It is sometimes called Vitamin H.
Blood-brain barrier:  A mechanism involving the capillaries and certain other cells of the brain that keeps many substances, especially water-based substances, from passing out of the blood vessels to be absorbed by brain tissue.
Blood cholesterol: All cholesterol in transit from bowel to liver and body cells, and all cholesterol returning from cells to liver to be turned into bile acids and discarded into our intestine.
Blood count:  A basic diagnostic test in which a sample of blood is examined and the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets is determined.  It is also the results of this test. 
Blood pressure: The pressure of the blood within the arteries, primarily maintained by contraction of the left ventricle. The left ventricles is a chamber of the heart that contracts pushing the blood into the arteries to the body. The right ventricle pushes the blood into the lungs.
Bond: see Chemical bond. 
Boron: An essential trace mineral needed for bone growth.
Bradycardia: Slow heart rate.
Bran: The thin inner husk of grains such as wheat, rice and oats. A good source of soluble and insoluble fiber as well as minerals and vitamins.
Bronchi: The two main branches of the trachea (windpipe) that lead to the lungs.
Butylated hyroxyanisole(BHA): an artificial preservative added to oils to slow down their deterioration; it replaces vitamin E, which is removed during oil processing.
Butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT): an artificial preservative added to oils to slow down their deterioration, it replaces vitamin E, which is removed during oil processing.
B-Vitamins: A group of related water-soluble vitamins. They all pull together to keep you healthy.
You need each and every one of them. (See Definitions of the vitamin name for what they do).
B1 - Thiamin
B2 - Riboflavin
B3 - Niacin
B5 - Pantothenic Acid
B6 - Pyridoxine
B7 - Biotin
B9 - Folic Acid
B12 - Cobalamin
Calciferol: Another name for Vitamin D. A colorless, odorless crystalline material, insoluble in water; soluble in fats; a synthetic form of vitamin D made by irradiating ergosterol with ultraviolet light. 
Calcifidol: Another name for Vitamin D2; the form of Vitamin D you get from foods or supplements.
Calcitrol: Yet another name for Vitamin D2, the form of Vitamin D you get from food or supplements.
Calcium: The most abundant mineral in your body, needed to build bones and teeth, make some hormones and enzymes, make your muscles contract, and other functions.
Calcium gluconate: An organic form of calcium.
Capillary: A minute, very tiny blood vessel (there walls are about one cell thick) that allow the exchange of nutrients and wastes between the bloodstream and the body's cells.  The capillaries connect the arteries and veins.
Capsanthin: A xanthophyll found in red peppers. 
See also: xanthophyll, carotenes
Carbohydrate: Any one of the many organic substances, almost all of them of plant origin, that are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and serve as a major source of energy in the diet.
Carbon chain: carbon atoms linked to one another in a chain by bonds formed when atoms share electrons.
Carcinogen: A cancer-causing substance, it is anything that is capable of inducing cancerous changes in cells and/or tissues.  
Cardiac:  Pertaining to the heart.
Cardiac arrhythmia:  An abnormal heart rate or rhythm.  Irregular heart beats caused by disturbances in discharge of cardiac impulses.
Cardiovascular: Pertaining to heart and blood vessels.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD): collective term for diseases of the heart and arteries. CVD includes arteriosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, strokes, heart attacks, high blood pressure, peripheral arterial disease, emboli, heart failure, heart enlargement, elevated cholesterol and triglycerides, abnormal blood clotting, and other conditions.
Carnitine: An amino acid useful for people with heart disease.
Carotene: An orange-yellow pigment occurring in many plants and capable of being converted into vitamin A in the body. 
Casein: The protein in milk that has become the standard by which protein quality is measured. See also: Carotenes, xanthophylls.
Carotenoids: Orange- or red-colored substances found in many fruits and vegetables such as carrots. See also: carotenes, xanthophylls.
Cartilage: The super-smooth, tough tissue attached to the ends of your bones. IT forms joints and cushions the bones.
Catechins: Antioxidant flavonoid found in tea. See also: flavonoid.
Catabolism: The metabolic change of nutrients or complex sub-stances into simpler compounds, accompanied by a release of energy.
Catalyst: A substance that modifies, especially increases, the rate of chemical reaction without being consumed or changed in the process. A catalyst is a molecule that facilitates a specific chemical reaction that would not otherwise take place. Most catalysts in the body are protein enzymes.
Cataract: Clouding of the lens of the eye, whi0ch prevents clear vision.
Catecholamines: Epinephrine and norepinephrine; biologically ac-active amines derived from the amino acid tyrosine; produce marked effects on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, metabolic rate, temperature, and smooth muscle.
CAT scan: Computerized x-ray scanning procedure used to create a three dimensional picture of your body, or part of your body, for the purpose of detecting abnormalities.  Stands for Computerized Axial Tomography scan)
Cauterization: A technique used to stop bleeding that involves applying electric current, a laser beam, or a chemical directly to a broken blood vessel.
Cell:  A very small but complex organic unit consisting of a nucleus, cytoplasm, and a cell membrane.  All living tissues are composed of cells 
Cell membrane: a double layer of fatty material (phospholipids) and proteins that surround each living cell in all organisms. 
Cellulose:  An indigestible carbohydrate found in the outer layers of fruits and vegetables.  It aids in intestinal elimination and has no nutrimental value.
Cerebral:  Pertaining to the brain. 
Cerebral : Poor blood circulation to the brain, causing senility, memory loss, and depression.
Cervix: The neck-shaped structure leading from the vagina to the uterus.
Cervical dysplasia: Abnormalities in the cells of the cervix. These abnormalities can eventually lead to cervical cancer.
Chelation:  A chemical process by which a larger molecule or group of molecules surround or enclose a mineral atom.  A process by which mineral substances are changed into easily digestible form by binding them chemically to an amino acid or other harmless substance. Chelation helps your body absorb minerals better.
Chelation therapy:  The introduction of certain substances into the body so that they will chelate, and then remove, foreign substances such as lead, cadmium, arsenic and other heavy metals.  Chelation therapy can also be used to reduce or remove calcium-based plaque from the linings of the blood vessels, easing the flow of blood to vital organs and tissues. 
Chemical bond: Atoms held together by sharing electrons with one another to form molecules. Two shared electrons, one each from two atoms, constitute a chemical bond between those atoms.
Chemotherapy: Treatment of disease by the use of chemicals (such as drugs), especially the use of chemical treatments to combat cancer. 
Chiropractic: A system of healing based on the belief that many disorders result from misalignment (called subluxation) of the spinal vertebrae and other joints.  Chiropractors primarily treat illnesses by using physical manipulation techniques to bring the body into proper alignment and thus restore normal health and functioning.
Chlorophyll: The pigment responsible for the green color of plants.  It can be taken as a supplement as a source of magnesium and trace elements. 
Chloride: A mineral needed to control blood pressure and for other body functions. It is an electrolyte.
See also: electrolyte.
Cholecalciferol: The form of Vitamin D you make in your body from sunshine. Also called Vitamin D3.
Cholesterol: A complex fatty substance with many important functions in the body. The body uses to make cell membranes, the sheaths that cover your nerves, and hormones, among other things. It can be made in our body or supplied through food of animal origin.   It is a necessary part of cell membranes and helps to transport and the absorption of fatty acids.  Excess cholesterol, however, is a threat to your health because oxidized cholesterol (cholesterol combined with free radicals produced as a waste product of metabolism) may damage and be deposited in artery linings. (See Free Radicals and Article Free Radicals and Antioxidants)
Choline: A substance closely related to the B vitamins. It is involved in the metabolism of fats and in nerve function.
Chromium: A trace mineral needed to help you use glucose in your cells. 
Chronic: Of long duration; continuing; constant.
Chronic illness:  A disorder that persists or recurs over an extended period of time, often for life.  Chronic illnesses can be relatively harmless such as hay fever or as serious as multiple sclerosis.
Chylomicron: Fat and cholesterol carrying vehicle, made in our intestinal walls and transported by the lymphatic system into our bloodstream. It is the body's way of getting digested food fats into the bloodstream for distribution to the trillions of cells that need these fats. 
Circadian rhythm: Your body's 24-hour internal clock.
Cirrhosis: A chronic liver disease characterized by dense or hardened connective tissue, degenerative changes or alteration in structure.
Citric acid: An organic acid found in citrus fruits. 
Clotting factors: Substances that are present in your blood and are important to  help it clot and stop bleeding.
CNS: Central nervous system.
Cobalamin: A B vitamin, also known as Vitamin B12.
Cobalt: An essential trace mineral used to make cobalamin.
Cobalt 60: A radioactive form of the element cobalt that is widely used in radiation therapy.
Co-carcinogen: An agent that acts with another to cause cancer.
Coenzyme: A substance, usually a vitamin or mineral, that works with an enzyme to enable the enzyme to perform its function in the body.  Coenzymes are necessary in the utilization of vitamins and minerals. 
Coenzyme Q: A coenzyme your mitochondria (a structure found in each cell where glucose is converted into energy) needs to produce energy. Supplements can be a very helpful for people with heart failure. 
Cold pressed:  A term used to describe food oils that are extracted without the use of heat in order to  preserve nutrients and flavor. 
Cold sores: Lesions, particularly in and around the mouth, caused by herpes simplex virus.
Colic:  Sharp abdominal pains that result from spasm or obstruction of certain organs or structures, especially the intestines, uterus, or bile ducts. 
Colitis: Inflammation of the large intestine.
Collagen: A protein used to make the connective tissue that holds your cells together and makes up your bones, tendons, muscles, teeth, skin, blood vessels, and every other part of you.
Colonoscope: An instrument for examining the colon.
Coma: Complete loss of consciousness.
Complete Protein: A source of dietary protein that contains a full complement of the eight essential amino acids. 
Complex Carbohydrates: A type of carbohydrate that, owing to its chemical structure, releases its sugar into the body relatively slowly and also provides fiber.  The carbohydrates in starches and fiber are complex carbohydrates.  Also called polysaccharides. 
Complication: A secondary infection, reaction, or other negative events that makes recovery from illness more difficult and/or longer. 
Compress: a cloth soaked in an infusion or decoction and pressed against the skin. 
Congenital: Condition existing at birth, but not necessarily  inherited.. 
Constipation: Having fewer bowel movements than normal or having stools that are hard, dry, and difficult to pass. Also called irregularity.
Contraceptive: Tending to prevent conception, or a device, substance, or method used to prevent pregnancy.
Contusion: A bruise: an injury in which the skin is not broken.
Convulsion: A seizure characterized by intense, uncontrollable contraction of the voluntary muscles that result from abnormal cerebral stimulation. 
Copper: An essential trace mineral needed to make enzymes important for your blood vessels and nerves.
Corticosteroid: Any of various steroid substances obtained from the adrenal gland.
Corticosterone: An adrenal cortex hormone that influences the me-metabolism of carbohydrates, potassium, and sodium; essential for normal absorption of glucose.
Cortisone: An adrenal gland hormone; also used as an anti-inflammatory agent.
Coryza:  The nasal symptoms of the common cold. 
Crohn's disease: A serious inflammatory disease of the large intestine.
Cross-link: Bones that make tissues more rigid leading to aging.
Cruciferous: Literally "cross-shaped".  A term used to refer to a group of vegetables- including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, and rutabagas - that have the characteristic cross-shaped blossoms. 
Cyanocobalamin: The form of Vitamin B12, used in vitamin pills.
Cysteine: A sulfur-containing nonessential amino acid. A nonessential amino acid is one of the 11 amino acids you can get from your food or make in your body from the nine essential amino acids. An essential amino acid is one you must get from your food. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. 
Cystoscope: Instrument used to examine the urinary bladder.

Decoction: a water extract of bark or roots prepared at a low boil for 10 to 20 minutes - stronger than an infusion.
Deficiency disease: Illness caused by a deficiency of a vitamin. Classic deficiency diseases include scurvy and beriberi. Absence of one or more of the 50 substances essential to normal functioning of human cells, tissues and organs. 
Degenerative disease: loss of the capacity of cells, tissues and organs to function normally. Causes include deficiency of essential nutrients, presence of interfering substances, excess of substances or imbalance in the relative concentration of substances.
Dehydration: A condition resulting from an excessive loss of water from the body.
Demulcent: A substance that soothes inflamed mucous membranes.
Dermatitis: An inflammation of the skin; a rash.
Dermis: The layer of skin that lies underneath the epidermis. Blood and lymphatic vessels and the glands that secrete perspiration and sebum (oils) are all found in the dermis.
Desiccated: Dried; preserved by removing moisture.
Detoxification: The process of reducing the buildup of various poisonous substances from the body.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone): A hormone made in your adrenal glands from cholesterol (See also: steroid hormone). You body converts DHEA into other hormones. 
Diabetes: Inability to use glucose for fuel in your cells, sometimes because you no longer make the hormone insulin but more often because your cells have become resistant to insulin. Non insulin dependent diabetes ifs the most common type of diabetes. It happens when your cells become resistant to insulin, a hormone made in your pancreas. This form of diabetes usually begins in adults over age 40, and is most common after age 55.  See Diabetes
Diabetic neuropathy: Neuropathy is a disease or abnormality of the nervous system. Diabetic neuropathy is a complication of diabetes that causes numbness, tingling and pain in the nerves of the feet and legs; it sometimes spreads to the nerves of the arms and trunk. See Neuropathy
Diarrhea: Frequent passing of loose, watery stools.
Diastolic pressure: Your blood pressure when your heart is at rest between beats - the lower number in your blood pressure reading. See also: Systolic pressure.
Dicalcium phosphate: A filler used in pills that is derived from purified mineral rocks and is an excellent source of calcium and phosphorus.
Dietary fiber: The indigestible parts - mostly cell walls - of plant foods. Unprocessed food contains fiber, processed foods do not. Insoluble fiber has the ability to absorb water which keeps your stools soft and easy to pass, so you have regular bowel movements. Soluble fiber dissolves in water to form a soft gel which helps lower your blood cholesterol, removes wastes and toxins from your body, and help you control your blood sugar if you have diabetes. They help eliminate bile acids and cholesterol from the body. 
Digestive: Improving digestion.
Diluents: Fillers; inert material added to tablets to increase their bulk in order to make them a practical size for compression. 
Diosgenin: A phytoestrogen (hormone-like hormones found in plant foods) that is found in Mexican wild yam root. It resembles the female hormone progesterone and was used to make the first birth control pills.
Disorientation: The loss of a normal relationship to one's surroundings: the inability to comprehend time, people, and place.
Diuretic: A drug or herb that makes your kidneys produce more urine. It increases flow of urine from the body. Diuretics remove water - and also some minerals and vitamins - from your body.  Anything that increases urine flow.
DNA: (Deoxyribonueleic acid) A substance in the cell nucleus that genetically contains the cell's blueprint and determines the type of life form into which a cell will develop; It is the nucleic acid in chromosomes that is part of the chemical basis for hereditary characteristics. This is the genetic material that carries the instructions for most living organisms. 
Docosahexenoic acid (DHA) Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish. 
Dopamine: A compound that increases blood pressure. 
Dysmenorrhea: Painful or difficult menstruation. 
Dyspepsia:  Disturbed digestion; indigestion. 

Echocardiogram: A diagnostic test that uses ultrasound to detect structural and functional abnormalities of the heart. 
Edema:  Retention of fluid in the tissues that results in swelling. Excessive accumulation of tissue fluid.
EDTA: (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) An organic molecule used in chelation therapy.
EEG: (Electroencephalogram) A test used to measure brain wave or electrical  activity of the brain.
Eicosapentenoic acid (EHA): Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish. .
EKG (or ECG): (Electrocardiogram) A test that monitors the heart function by tracing the conduction of electrical impulses associated with heart activity.
Electrolytes: Minerals that dissolve in water and carry electrical charges. In your body, potassium, sodium, and chloride are the electrolyte minerals. They are named this because they are capable of conducting electrical impulses.  It is the form in which most minerals circulate in the body.
Electron: Part of an atom. The nucleus is the center of an atom and the electrons are little particles that revolve around the nucleus similar to how the earth revolves around the sun.  The nucleus of an atom has a positive charge and the electron a negative charge. If there are more negative electrons than the positive charge of the atom it is part of, it will react with other atoms to form bonds which result in molecules. Molecules are combined atoms and do different things than the single atom. 
Elemental calcium: The actual amount of usable calcium in a supplement. It's usually given on the label as a percentage of the total calcium in the supplement.
ELISA: (Enzyme-linked immunoadsorbant assay) A test that determines the presence of a particular protein, such as a an antibody, be detecting the presence of an enzyme that is linked to that protein.
Elixir: An alcohol-based medication.
Embolus: A loose particle of tissue, a blood clot, or a tiny air bubble that travels through the bloodstream and, if it lodges in a narrowed portion of a blood vessel, can block blood flow. 
Emulsify: To break fats into smaller droplets by the action of detergents such as lecithin.
Emulsion: A combination of two liquids that do not mix with each other, such as oil and water, one substance is broken into tiny droplets and is suspended within the other.  Emulsification is the first step in digestion of fats.
Endemic: Native to or prevalent in a particular geographic region.  Often used to describe diseases. 
Endocrine gland: A gland, such as your thyroid or testes, which makes hormones.
Endocrine system: The system of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.  Endocrine glands include the pituitary, thyroid, thymus, and adrenal glands, as well as the pancreas, ovaries, and testes. 
Endogenous: Produced from within the body.
Endorphin: One of a number of natural hormone like substances found primarily in the brain.  One function of endorphins is to suppress the sensation of pain, which they do by binding to opiate receptors in the brain.
Endoscope: Instrument for examining the interior of a hollow organ.
Enteric: Pertaining to the small intestines. 
Enteric coated: A tablet coated so that it dissolves in the intestine, not in the stomach (which is acid).
Enteritis: Inflammation of the intestines, particularly the small intestines.
Enzyme: A protein substance found in living cells that brings about chemical changes; necessary for digestion of food. Enzymes initiate or speed up chemical reactions in your body. The enzyme that is used in the reaction is not itself changed.
Epidemic: An extensive outbreak of a disease, or a disease occurring with an unusually high incidence at certain times and places. 
Epidermis: The outer layer of skin.  
Epilepsy: Convulsive disorder.
Epinephrine: Produced by the adrenal medulla and other tissues, it~ has also been synthesized and is used as a vasoconstrictor, heart stimulant, and to relieve asthmatic attacks.
Epithelial tissue: The tissue that covers the internal and external surfaces of your body. Your skin, the linings of your eyes and nose, you entire digestive tract, your lungs, your urinary tract, and your reproductive tract are all epithelial tissue. 
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV): A virus that causes infectious mononucleosis and that may cause other health problems as well, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
Ergocalciferol: The form of Vitamin D you get from foods or supplements. Also called Vitamin D2.
Erythema: Reddening, especially of the skin.
Essential: A term for nutrients needed for building and repair that cannot be manufactured by the body, and that therefore must be supplied in the diet.  At present, there are some forty-two essential nutrients.
Essential Amino Acid: One of the nine amino acids you must get from your food as the body does not make it.
Essential Fatty Acid: A fat you must get from your food. See article on Essential Fatty Acids.
Essential nutrient: Any of about 45 nutrients that are known to be necessary to the body structure and physical health. 20 or 21 minerals, 13 vitamins, 8 to 11 amino acids and 2 essential fatty acids must come from food, since the body cannot manufacture them out of other factors.
Essential Factor: Any of about 50 principles known to be necessary for health. In addition to the 45 essential nutrients, as source of calorie energy, water, oxygen, and light are included.
Essential Oil: A scented plant oil used in many herbal medications.
Estrogen: The main female hormones made by the ovaries and uterus.
Excipient: Any inert substance used as a dilutent or vehicle for a drug.
Excision: Surgical cutting away and/or removal of tissue.
Exogenous: Derived or developed from external causes.
Expectorant: A substance that makes mucus easier to cough up.

Fat: Those substances that are hard at room temperature because they contain mostly saturated fatty acids.
Fat soluble: Capable of dissolving in the same organic solvents as fats and oils.
Fat Soluble vitamins: A vitamin that dissolves in fat and can be stored in your body's fatty tissue. Vitamin A, E & K are fat soluble.
Fatty acid: Any one of many organic acids from which fats and oils are made.
Fatty degeneration: Fat-related interference with normal biological functions, commonly found in arteries, around tumors, and in liver and other internal organs. 
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS): The developmental effect of maternal consumption on children: wide spaced eyes, mental retardation, motor problems, emotional liability.
FDA: Food and Drug Administration. A government agency charged with controlling the safety of foods and drugs. Has come under fire for biased enforcement favoring drugs over nutrients. 
FBS: Fasting blood sugar.  The level of glucose present in a blood sample drawn at least eight hours after the last meal.
Fiber:  The indigestible portion of plant matter.  Fiber is an important component of a healthy diet because it is capable of binding to toxins and escorting them out of the body. 
Fibrin: An insoluble protein that forms the necessary fibrous net-work in the coagulation of blood.
Flatulence: Excessive amounts of gas in the stomach or other part of the digestive tract. 
Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD): A riboflavin-containing enzyme needed by your mitochrondria to release energy. 
Flavin mononucleotide (FMN): A riboflavin-containing enzyme needed by your mitrochondria to release energy.
Flavonoid: Substances found in fruits and vegetables. Flavonoid give these foods their color and taste.
Flax: An ancient plant whose seed oil is the richest source the fatty acid linolenic acid which is rare in foods. It also contains protein, minerals, and vitamins. It is a rich source of mucilage and fiber, which help the body eliminate cholesterol and help prevent reabsorption of toxic wastes from the large intestine. Flax is also the richest known source of lignans, which have anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer properties. Its oil is used in natural programs for the reversal of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, premenstrual syndrome, inflammatory conditions, arthritis, etc.  See Omega Oils & Omega Bars
Flea seeds: See Psyllium powder.
Fluoride: A trace mineral that helps prevent tooth decay.
Folacin: another name for folic acid.
Folate: The natural form of folic acid found in foods.
Folic Acid:  The synthetic form of one of the B vitamins.
Fortified milk: Milk that has Vitamin D and (sometimes) Vitamin A added to it.
FOS: See fructooligosaccharides.
Free form amino acids: Amino acid supplements in their pure form, sold as a powder.
Free radicals: An atom or group of atoms that is highly chemically reactive because it has at least on unpaired electron.  Because they join so readily with other compounds, free radicals can attack cells and can cause a lot of damage in the body.  It is a molecular fragment with a single unpaired electron which, wanting to be paired, steals electrons from other pairs. Free radical reactions occur normally in biological processes, but are normally handled by the body's reserve of antioxidants. Example of the destructiveness -  Because they are highly reactive chemical fragments that can produce an irritation of artery walls which will start the arteriosclerotic process if no antioxidants are present. .  See article Antioxidants.
Free radical chain reaction: Uncontrolled free radical reaction that is damaging to biological processes.
Free radical scavenger: A substance that removes or destroys free radicals.
Fructooliosaccharides (FOS): Natural sugars found in honey, garlic and artichoke flour that help nourish desirable bacteria in your large intestine.
Fructose: A natural sugar occurring in fruits and honey; called fruit sugar; often used as a preservative for foodstuffs and an intravenous nutrient.
Functional medicine: Functional medicine works to restore your body to its proper functioning with vitamins, minerals and other supplements. 
Fungus: One of a class of organisms that includes yeasts, mold, and mushrooms. A number of fungal species, such as candida albicans, are capable of causing severe disease in immune system weakened hosts.
Gallstones: Stone like objects found in gall bladder and its drainage system.
Gamma linoleic acid (GLA): Omega-6 fatty acid found in evening primrose oil and borage seed oil.
Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach lining.
Gastroenteritis: Inflammation of the mucous lining of the stomach and the intestines.
Gastrointestinal: Pertaining to the stomach, small and large intestines, colon, rectum, liver, pancreas and gallbladder.
GBAS: Generally Recognized As Safe; a list established by Congress to cover substances added to food.
Genetic: Inherited.
Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums surrounding the teeth.
Ginkgo biloba: An herbal extract containing many flavonoids. It can be helpful in cases of cerebral insufficiency.
Gland: An organ or tissue that secretes a substance(s) for use elsewhere in the body rather than for its own functioning. 
Glaucoma: Disease of the eyes in which the pressure of the fluid in the eye increases
Globulin: A type of protein found in the blood.  Certain globulins contain disease-fighting antibodies. 
Glucosamine: An amino acid sugar found in the shells of shrimp and lobsters. Glucosamine supplements can be helpful for arthritis.
Glucose: A simple sugar that is the principal source of energy for the body's cells. Blood sugar; a product of the body's assimilation of carbohydrates and a major source of energy. It is the form of sugar circulating in the blood stream and the form into which all sugars and starches are converted in the small intestine before being absorbed. 
Glucose tolerance factor (GTF): a combination of chromium, niacin (vitamin B3), and amino acids. Found in brewer's yeast, GTF improves the body's ability to metabolize glucose.
Glutamic acid: An amino acid present in all complete proteins; usually manufactured from vegetable protein; used as a salt substitute and a flavor-intensifying agent.
Glutamine: An amino acid that constitutes, with glucose, the major nourishment used by the nervous system. It is useful for intestinal problems.
Glutathione: Your body's most abundant natural antioxidant enzyme. See also antioxidant.
Gluten: A protein found in many grains, including wheat, rye, barley and oats.
Glycogen: Glucose molecules hooked together in long chains -A polysaccharide (complex carbohydrate)- that is the main form in which glucose is stored in the body, primarily in the liver and muscles.  It is converted back into glucose as needed to supply energy.  It is also called "animal starch".
Goiter: A swollen thyroid gland forming a lump in your neck. It's caused by a shortage of iodine.
Gout: Upset in metabolism of uric acid, causing inflammation of joints, particularly in the knee or foot.

Hair Analysis: A method of determining the levels of minerals, including both toxic metals and essential minerals, in the body by measuring the concentrations of those minerals in the hair.  Unlike mineral levels in the blood, those in the hair reflect the person's status over several preceding months.  
Half Life: The time it takes for half the amount of a drug to be metabolized or inactivated (disappear from the bloodstream) by the body (an important consideration for determining the amount and frequency of drug dosage).
Hallucination: False perception having no relation to reality and not accounted for by any exterior stimuli; may involve one, all, or any combination of the senses.
Heart failure: A condition occurring when your heart is damaged or weak or can't pump blood efficiently.
Heavy metal: A metallic element whose specific gravity (a measurement of mass as compared with the mass of water or hydrogen) is greater than 5.0.  Some heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, are extremely toxic.
Hematocrit: The percentage of blood (by volume) that is composed of red blood cells. 
Hematoma: A bulge or swelling that is filled with blood. Hematomas are usually the result of a blunt injury or other trauma that causes a blood vessel under the skin the break. 
Heme iron: The iron found in hemoglobin.
Hemicellulose: An indigestible carbohydrate resembling cellulose, found in plant cells walls, that absorbs water.
Hemoglobin: The iron-containing pigment in the blood that is responsible for the transport of oxygen.
Hemorrhage: Profuse or abnormal bleeding.
Hemorrhoids: Itchy or painful mass of swollen (dilated) veins in swollen anal tissue. Also called piles. 
Hepatic:  Pertaining to the liver. 
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver. It can result from infection or exposure to toxins. 
Herbal therapy: The use of herbal combinations for healing or cleansing purposes. Herbs can be used in tablet, capsule, tincture, or extract form, as well as in baths and poultices.
Hernia: A condition in which part of an internal organ protrudes, inappropriately, through an opening in the tissues that are supposed to contain it.
Herpes: A group of viruses. Herpes simplex type 1 causes cold sores. Herpes simplex type 2 causes genital herpes. Herpes zoster causes chick pox and shingles. 
Hesperidin: Part of the C-complex. It is a flavonoid found in citrus fruits. It is helpful for improving circulation in small blood vessels.
High Blood Pressure: Blood pressure - the pressure of your blood against your arteries as your heart beats and contracts - that is too high. Also called hypertension. See also diastolic pressure; systolic pressure.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL): One of the vehicles found in the bloodstream that carries fats and cholesterol. It returns excess cholesterol from cells to the liver. The liver changes cholesterol into bile fats, and pours them into the intestine to aid in fat digestion on their way out of the body. It's often called "good" cholesterol because it can help removed LDL cholesterol from your blood. LDL is low-density lipoprotein and is considered "bad" cholesterol. (See also Low density lipoproteins)
Holistic treatment: Treatment of the whole person.
Histamine: A chemical released by the immune system that acts on various body tissues.  It has the effect of constricting the smooth bronchial tube muscles, dilating small blood vessels, allowing fluid to leak from various tissues, and increasing the secretion of stomach acid.  See Allergies
HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus.  The virus that causes AIDS.
Hodgkin's Disease: A type of lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system)
Homeopathy: A medical system based on the fact that "like cures like". this is, that illness can be cured by taking a minute does of a substance that, if taken by a healthy person, would produce symptoms like those being treated.  Homeopathy employs a variety of plant, animal and mineral substances in very small doses to stimulate the body's natural healing powers and to bring the body back into balance. 
Homeostasis: The body's physiological equilibrium.
Homocysteine: An amino acid formed when other amino acids in your blood are broken down by normal body processes. Too much homocysteine in your blood can cause heart disease. Folic acid breaks down the homocysteine and prevents a toxic buildup.  Adding B6, B12 & folate that can be absorbed by the body will change the homocysteine into cysteine which is used to make the master antioxidant Glutathione.  See good source of these vitamins at the neuropathy page as these vitamins are also used for this. 
Hormone: A chemical messenger you body makes to tell your organs what to do.
It regulates many bodily functions.  Hormones regulate many activities, including your growth, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose levels and sexual characteristics. Hormones are formed in endocrine organs and transported by body fluids to activate other specifically receptive organs.
Host: An organism in or on which another organism lives and from which the invading organism obtains nourishment.  
Human papillomavirus (HPV): A sexually transmitted virus that causes venereal warts which can cause cervical dysplasia (abnormal of tissue) and cancer of the cervix. 
Humectant: A substance that is used to preserve the moisture content of materials.
Hyaluronic acid: An organic acid known as the most effective natural skin moisturizer. It is present in human skin, and is able to hold 500 times its own weight in water.
Hydrochloric Acid: A normally acidic part of the body's gastric juice.  It is a strong, corrosive inorganic acid that is produced in the stomach to aid in digestion. 
Hydrogenation: A chemical process by which liquid oils are turned into plastic or hard fats by bombarding the oil molecules with hydrogen atoms. It breaks the double bonds in fatty acids and forms bonds with hydrogen instead thereby saturating carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms.  This destroys the nutritional value of the oil and does not occur in nature.  See also Essential Fatty Acid article and  Saturated Fats definition.
Hydrolyzed: Put into water-soluble form by hydrolysis which is a breakdown of molecules by (enzyme-controlled) addition of a water molecule.
Hydrolyzed protein chelate: Water-soluble and chelated for easy assimilation.
Hypercalcemia: The presence of abnormally high amounts of calcium in the blood.
Hyperhomocysteinemia: The medical term for too much homocysteine in the blood
Hypertension: High blood pressure. Generally hypertension is defined as a regular resting pressure over 140/90.  See also high blood pressure.
Hyperthyroidism: An under active thyroid gland.
Hypervitaminosis: A condition caused by an excessive ingestion of vitamins.
Hypoallergenic: Having a low capacity for inducing hypersensitive (allergic) reactions. 
Hypocalcemia: The presence of abnormally low amounts of calcium in the blood.
Hypoglycemia: Low blood sugar.
Hypotension: Low blood pressure
Hypothalamus: A portion of the brain that regulates many aspects of metabolism, including body temperature and the hunger response. 
Hypovitaminosis: A deficiency disease owing to an absence of vita-mins in the diet.

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