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Ichthyosis: A condition characterized by a scaleness on the outer layer of skin.
Idiopathic: Describes a condition or disease whose causes are not yet known. 
Immune: Protected against disease.
Immune Globulin: A protein that functions as an antibody in the body's immune response.  Immune globulins are manufactured by certain white blood cells and found in body fluids and on mucous membranes.
Immune System: A complex system that depends on the interaction of many different organs, cells and proteins.  Its chief function is to identify and eliminate foreign substances such as harmful bacteria that have invaded the body.  The liver, spleen, thymus, bone marrow, and lymphatic system all play vital roles in the proper functioning of the immune system.
Immunity: The condition of being able to resist and overcome disease or infection.
Immunodeficiency: A defect in the functioning of the immune system.  It can be inherited or acquired, reversible or permanent.  Immunodeficiency renders the body more susceptible to illness of every type, especially infectious diseases. 
Immunology: The branch of medical science that deals with the functioning of the immune system. 
Immunotherapy: Treatment of disease by using techniques to stimulate or strengthen the immune system. 
Incubation period: The period of time between exposure to an infectious disease and the appearance of symptoms, during which the infection is developing.
Infection:  Invasion of the body tissues by disease-causing organisms such as viruses, protozoa, fungi or bacteria..
Infectious: Liable to be transmitted by infection.
Infestation: An invasion of the body by parasites such as insects, worms or protozoa.
Inflammation: A reaction to illness or injury characterized by swelling, warmth or redness.  It is the changes that occur in living tissues when invaded by germs; swelling, pain, heat.
Infusion: A drink made by steeping plants or plant extracts in hot water for 10 to 20 minutes, making it stronger than tea.
Inguinal:  Pertaining to the groin.
Inositol: A substance closely related to the B-vitamins that you need to make neurotransmitters and cell membranes.
Inositol hexaniacinate (IHN): A form of niacin that also contains inositol.
Insoluable fiber: Dietary fiber that is mostly cellulose from the cell walls of plants. Insoluble fiber absorbs water. 
Insomnia: An inability to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Insulin: The hormone, made and secreted by the pancreas. It is needed to carry glucose (sugar) into the cells so that the cell can create energy.  It thus regulates the metabolism of glucose (sugar) in the body.
Interaction: A phenomenon that occurs when two or more substances affect one another's activity or combine to create a different effect than any of them would have on its own.  Any substance introduced into the body can potentially interact with another substance or substances already present.  Drugs, foods, herbs, minerals and vitamins can all interact with one another.
Interferon: A protein produced by the cells in response to viral  infection that prevents viral reproduction and is capable of protecting uninfected cells from viral infection.  There are different types of interferon, designated alpha, beta and gamma.
Interuterine device (IUD): a device made of copper, plastic or other material that, inserted in the uterus, prevents conception (in most cases).
Intestinal flora: The "friendly" bacteria present in the intestines that are essential for the digestion and metabolism of certain nutrients.
Intolerance: Nutritionally, the inability to digest a particular food, usually due to lack of deficiency of certain nutrients. 
Intravenous (IV) infusion: The use of a needle inserted in a vein to assist in fluid replacement or the giving of medication.
Intrinsic factor: A special substance secreted by your stomach to allow you to absorb cobalamin from you food. Cobalamin is Vitamin B12. 
Iodine: An essential trace mineral needed to make thyroid hormones. 
Iron: An essential trace mineral needed to make hemoglobin. 
Irregularity: See constipation.
Ischemia: The condition of being starved for blood.  Ischemia affecting the heart or brain can cause a heart attack or stroke.
Isoflavones: Hormone-like substances found in soybeans.
IU: International Unit. A measure of potency based on an accepted international standard. Dosages of vitamin A and E supplements, among others, are usually measured in international units. Because this measurement of potency, not weight or volume, the number of milligrams in an international unit varies, depending on the substance being measured. 
IUD: See Interuterine device.
Jaundice: Increase in bile pigment in blood, causing yellow tinge to skin, membranes, and eyes; can be caused by disease of liver, gallbladder, bile system, or blood.
Jet lag: Fatigue and insomnia caused by traveling rapidly through several time zones.
Kreb's Cycle: The body's main way of releasing energy stored in chemical bonds, making that energy available for the body's energy needs. Carbohydrates are the main fuel, but fats and proteins may also be used.  Also called tricarboxylic acid cycle, or citric acid cycle. 
Lactase: An enzyme that converts lactose into glucose and glactose.  It is necessary for the digestion of milk and milk products. 
Lactating: Producing milk.
Lactation: Secretion of milk by breasts.
Lactic acid: An acid that results from anaerobic glucose metabolism.  It is present in certain foods, including certain fruits and sour milk (when milk becomes sour, this means that some of the lactose, or milk sugar, it contained has been converted into lactic acid).  Lactic acid is also produced in he muscles during anaerobic exercise. It is the buildup of lactic acid that causes muscle fatigue during strenuous activity.  Synthetic lactic acid is used in food products as a flavoring and preservative.
Lactobacilli:  Any of a number of species of bacteria that are capable of transforming lactose (milk sugar) into lactic acid through fermentation.  Lactobacilli are naturally present in the colon, and are sometimes referred to as "friendly" bacteria because they aid in digestion and fight certain disease-causing microorganisms.  The two species of lactobacilli most commonly available in supplement form are L. acidophilus and L. bifudus. 
Lactose: The official name for the sugar of milk. 
Laser: Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.  An instrument that focuses highly amplified light waves.  Lasers are used in surgical procedures, especially eye surgery.
Laxative: A substance that stimulates evacuati6n of the bowels.
Lecithin:  All living cell membranes are largely composed of lecithin. It is a nutritional substance containing fatty acids, glycerol, a phosphate group and choline. Its health value depends on its content of essential fatty acids and choline. Soybeans are the usual source of lecithin containing both essential fatty acids. Lecithin is part of the structure of membranes of cells and organelles. Organelles are the organs in a cell which carry our various kinds of biochemical functions. These include the mitochondria, lysosomes, vesicles, Golgi, nucleus and nucleolus.
Leukemia: Cancer of the blood-producing tissues, especially the bone marrow and lymph nodes, resulting in an over abundance of white blood cells. It can be either acute (most common in children) or chronic (most common in adults).  It is similar in certain respects to Hodgkin's disease.
Limbic system: A group of deep brain structures that, among other things, transmit the perception of pain to the brain and generate an emotional reaction to it.
Linoleic acid: An essential fatty acid found in many plants and fish. See article  Essential Fatty Acids (EFA)
Linolenic acid: An essential fatty acid found in many seeds, including corn. It is indispensable for life, and must be obtained from foods, thus essential.
Lipid: The chemists name for fats, oils, cholesterol, and other fatty substances. They are substances found in nature that are soluble in the same organic solvents as fats and oils are.  Important nutritional lipids include choline, gamma-linolenic acid, inositol, lecithin and linoleic acid. 
Lipofuscin: Age pigment in cells.
Lipoic acid: A vitamin-like substance you need to make energy in your mitochrondia. It's also a powerful antioxidant. 
Lipoprotein: Fatty substances (fats, oils, cholesterol, carotene, vitamin E) carried in and envelope made of protein and phospholipid (lecithin like) materials. Specifically it refers to the transport vehicles for fats and cholesterol in the blood and lymph fluids. Lipoproteins carry lipids (fats) between our intestine, liver, and body cells. 
Lipotropic: Any of a number of substances that help to prevent the accumulation of abnormal or excessive amounts of fat in the liver, control blood sugar levels, and enhance fat and carbohydrate metabolism.  Commonly used lipotropics include choline, inositol and methionine. 
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): Vehicles that transport fat and cholesterol via the bloodstream to the cells. An excess of these vehicles is said by medical dogma to be associated with cardiovascular disease, and thus called "bad" cholesterol. It is often called "bad" cholesterol because excess amounts in your blood can lead to health problems, including heart disease.
Lutein: Helps protect your eyes against free radicals. Lutein is found in dark-green leafy vegetables.
Lycopene: A carotene found in tomatoes. It's a very powerful antioxidant.
Lymph: A clear fluid derived from blood plasma that circulates throughout the body, is collected from the tissues, and flows through the lymphatic vessels, eventually retur4ning to the blood circulation.  Its function is to nourish tissue cells and return waste matter to the bloodstream.
Lymph nodes: Organs located in the lymphatic vessels that act as filters, trapping and removing foreign material.  They also form lymphocytes, immune cells that develop the capacity to seek out and destroy specific foreign agents.
Lymphadenopathy:  Enlargement of a lymph node or nodes as a result of a presence of a foreign substance or disease.  This condition is often referred to as "swollen glands". 
Lymphocyte: A type of white blood cell found in lymph, blood, and other specialized tissues, such as bone marrow and tonsils.  There are several different categories of lymphocytes.  These cells are crucial components of the immune system.  They are responsible for antibody production and direct attacks against invading organisms.   One of these lymphocytes, a subtype of the T-lymphocyte is the primary cell infected and destroyed by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Lymphokine:  Any of a group of substances produced by the cells of the immune system when exposed to antigens.  They are not antibodies, but rather perform such functions as stimulating the production of additional lymphocytes and activating other immune cells.  
Lymphoma: Cancer of the lymphatic tissues.
Lysine: An essential amino acid that may be helpful for treating herpes. 

Macrobiotics: A dietary approach adapted from Far Eastern philosophy whose basic purpose consists of balancing the yin and yang energies of food.  For the most part, the macrobiotic diet consists of whole grain cereals, millet, rice, soups and  vegetables, with beans and supplementary foods depending on the individual and the condition.  Different conditions are considered either yin or yang, so the macrobiotic program must be adapted to each individual.
Magnesium: A mineral you need for many body functions, including relaxing your muscles and digesting proteins.
Malabsorption: Nutritionally, a defect in the absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract into the bloodstream. 
Malignant:  Literally, "evil".  Used to refer to cells or groups of cells that are cancerous and likely to spread. 
Mammography:  An x-ray examination of the breast.
Manganese: A trace mineral you need for many body functions, including blood clotting and digesting proteins. 
MAO Inhibitors: Abbreviation for monoamine oxidase inhibitors; a group of antidepressants that promotes an elevation of levels of amine messengers in the emotional regions of the brain. 
Marginal or subclincial deficiency: The early stages of a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
Megablastic or macrocytic anemia: Anemia from cobalamin deficiency.
Megavitamin therapy: Treatment of illness with massive amounts of vitamins.
Melanoma: A malignant tumor originating from pigment cells in deep layers of the skin. The most dangerous type of skin cancer. It can quickly spread to other parts of your body.  
Melatonin: A hormone made by your pineal gland. Melatonin regulates your sleep-wake cycle.
Menadione: The synthetic form of Vitamin K. Also called Vitamin K3.
Menaquinone: The form of Vitamin K made in your intestines by friendly bacteria. Also called Vitamin K2.
Menopause: The cessation of the female monthly periods, caused by a sharp decrease in the production of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.  Menopause usually occurs between age 45 and 50, or following the removal of the female reproductive organs.  
Metabolism: The chemical reactions inside your cells that create energy and make life possible.  This includes the production of cellular energy, the synthesis of important biological substances, and the degradation of various compounds. 
Metabolite: A substance produced as a result of a metabolic process. 
Metabolize: To undergo change by physical and chemical processes. 
Methionine: An essential sulfer-containing amino acid.
Micellized:   Used to describe the breaking up of fat soluble vitamins into tiny droplets for improved absorption.
Microgram:  A measurement of weight equivalent to 1/1000 of a milligram.
Migrane: A very severe headache usually felt on just one side of your head. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and cold hands and feet.
Milligram:  A measurement of weight equivalent to 1/1000 of a gram (a gram is equal to approximately 1/28 of an ounce).
Mineral: Any of several basic elements, including metals. In the body, about 20 minerals are required for biochemical life functions.  Minerals are inorganic substances that are required by the body in small quantites.
Minimum Daily Requirement (MDR): Also called Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA); for those essential nutrients for which and RDA has been set by government committees, it is the amount of each of these essential nutrients required daily to prevent the symptoms of deficiency in a normal, healthy person.
Mitochondria: Tiny, rod-shaped structures found in all your cells. They function as miniaturized power plants where glucose is converted to energy, with the help of oxygen and a group of enzymes. They are involved in protein synthesis and lipid metabolism.
Molecule: Two or more atoms held together by means of a pair of electrons shared between them.
Moybdenum: An essential trace mineral important for making some enzymes and for normal growth and development. 
MRI: (Magnetic resonance imaging): A technique used in diagnosis that combines the use of radio waves and a strong magnetic field to produce detailed images of the internal structure of the body.
Mucilage: Soluble fiber found in beans, seeds, grains and nuts.
Mucous membranes:  Membranes that line the cavities and canals of the body that communicate with the air.   Examples include the membranes lining the inside of the mouth, nose, anus and vagina.
NAC (N-acetyl cysteine): A form of the amino acid cysteine.
Narcotic: A central nervous system depressant which, in moderate doses, relieves pain and produces sleep; in large doses it can produce unconsciousness or even death; can be addicting. 
Naringin: A flavoinoid found in citrus fruits.
Naturopathy: A form of health care that uses diet, herbs, and other natural methods and substances to cure illness.  The goal is to produce a healthy body state without the use of drugs by stimulating innate defenses.
Nausea: Stomach discomfort with the feeling of a need to vomit. 
Neural tube defect (NTD): A birth defect that happens when the growing brain, spinal cord, and vertebrae (the bones of the spine) of an unborn baby don't develop properly during the first month of pregnancy.
Neuron:  Nerve cell.
Neuropathy:  A complex of symptoms caused by abnormalities in motor or sensory nerves.  Symptoms include tingling or numbness, especially in the hands or feet, followed by gradual, progressive muscular weakness.  see Neuropathy
Neurotransmitter: A chemical the body makes to transport messages along your nerves and among your brain cells. The body makes a number of different neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.
Niacin: A B vitamin also known as Vitamin B3.
Niacinamide: Another name for niacin.
Nicotinamide: Another name for niacin.
Nicotinic Acid: Another name for niacin.
Nitrites: Used as fixatives in cured meats; can combine with natural stomach and food chemicals to cause dangerous cancer-causing agents called nitrosamines.
Nonessential amino acid: One of the 11 amino acids you can get from your food and make in you body from the nine essential amino acids. 
Nonheme iron: The iron found naturally in plant foods such as spinach and whole grains.
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes: The most common type of diabetes. It happens when your cells become resistant to insulin, a hormone made in your pancreas. Insulin is need to carry glucose into your cells to be used to make energy. This form of diabetes usually begins in adults over age 40, and is most common after age 55.
Norepinephrine: A hormone produced by the adrenal medulla, similar to epinephrine, and used chiefly as a vasoconstrictor. 
Nucleic acid: Any of a class of chemical compounds found in all viruses and plant and animal cells.  Ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contain the genetic instructions for every living cell, are two principal types.
Nutraceutical: A food- or nutrient-based product or supplement designed and/or used for a specific clinical and/or therapeutic purpose.
Nutrient: A substance that is needed by the body to maintain life and health. 
Obesity: Excessive stoutness. 
Occult blood test: A test that detects the presence of blood in bodily excretions such as stool, sputum, or urine.  It is most often used in screening for cancer. 
Oil: A liquid fat. 
Omega-3 fatty acids: A family of related fatty acids essential to human health, but lacking in most western diets. Another name for linolenic fatty acids, found in plants and cold water fish.   See article Essential Fatty Acids
Omega-6 fatty acids: A family of related fatty acids essential for human health. They are amply supplied in the Western diet. A balance of Omega-3 and Omega-6 leads to optimum health. Omega-6 is another name for linoleic fatty acids. 
Omega 6:3 balance: The balance of Omega-6 to Omega-3 that leads to optimum health. Most Western diets are between 10 and 20 to 1 in favor of Omega 6, far too high in Omega 6, which encourages overproduction of postaglandins with negative effects on health. A therapeutic Omega-6:Omeaga 3 balance for Western diets is about 1:2.   See article Essential Fatty Acids
Oncologist: A cancer specialist.
Oncology: The medical specialty dealing with cancer.
OPCs: Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins, flavonoids found in many plants and red wine. OPC supplements are usually made from grape seeds or pine bark.
Ophthalmia: Inflammation of eye. 
Ophthalmic: Pertaining to eyes.
Optimum: Most effective. In nutrition, it is the daily dose of a nutrient or nutrient combination that results in the most effective biochemical and metabolic functioning of the organism.
Organelle: Literally, a little organ. In the cell, various kinds of biochemical "machinery' that carry out different specialized cell functions. Mitochondria, lysosomes, vesicles, Golgi, nucleus, and nucleolus are organelles.
Organic: A term used to describe foods that are grown without the use of synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides and hormones.  Organic farming treats the soil so that the crops are grown naturally with a high content of nutrients.  Non-Organic farming treats the crop and not the soil supplying the crop with less nutrients.   
Orthomolecular: The right molecule used for the right treatment; doctors who practice preventive medicine and use vitamin therapies are known as orthomolecular physicians. This treatment uses vitamins, minerals and other supplements to treat the underlying causes of illness. The word means of the right molecule. In nutrition it is the maintenance of health and the treatment of disease by varying the concentrations of substances normally present in the body (vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, enzymes, hormones).
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration. 
Osteomalacia: Soft, weak bones in adults caused by a shortage of Vitamin D. Osteopathy: A system of medicine based on the belief that the body is a vital mechanical organism whose structural and functional integrity are coordinated and interdependent, and that disturbances in the musculoskeletal system can therefore cause disorders elsewhere in the body.  Because of this philosophy, although osteopaths can prescribe drug and perform surgery, they are more likely to recommend physical therapy or musculoskeletal manipulation as the treatment of first choice.
Osteoporosis:  A disorder in which minerals leach out of the bones, rendering them progressively more porous and fragile.  Bones break easily because they are thin, porous, and brittle; A condition characterized by porous (softening or increasingly brittle) bones.  Osteoporosis has several related causes, but too little calcium in the diet plays a big part in causing it.
Oxalates: Organic chemicals found in certain foods, especially spinach, which can combine with calcium to form calcium oxalate, an insoluble chemical the body cannot use.
Oxidation: A chemical reaction in which oxygen reacts with another substance, resulting in a chemiical transformation. Many oxidation reactions result in some type of deterioration or spoilage. 
Oxidize: The addition of oxygen, subtraction of hydrogen, or addition of electrons to a substance often accomplished by a release of energy. 

PABA: An abbreviation for Para-aminobenzoic acid; a member of the B-complex, it makes up part of the folic acid molecule.
Palmirate: Water-soluble vitamin A. 
Pantothenic acid: One of the B vitamins. Pantothenic acid is found in every food.
Pap test: Microscopic examination of cells collected from the vagina and cervix to test for signs of cancer. 
Parasite: Any animal or plant that lives inside or on the body of another animal or plant and obtains nourishment from it. 
Partially hydrogenated: An oil in which some but not all double bonds have been destroyed by adding hydrogen to the fatty acid molecules under pressure and high temperatures in the presence of a nickel-aluminum catalyst. A semi-solid plastic fat results. Many chemical changes take place in the fatty acid molecules during this process.
Pectin: Soluble fiber fond in the skins and rinds of plant foods.
Pellagra: A deficiency disease caused by a serious lack of niacin.
Peptic: Pertaining to the digestive tract.
Peptid: A small protein made from a very short chain of amino acids - usually only two or three.
Pernicious anemia: Anemia caused when your stomach stops making intrinsic factor and you stop being able to absorb cobalamin from your food.
Peroxide value (PV): a measure of the rancidity in oils.
pH: Potential of hydrogen.  A scale used to measure the relative acidity or alkalinity of substances.  The scale runs from 0 to 14.  A pH of 7 is considered nuetral; numbers below 7 denote increasing acidity and numbers above 7 denote increasing alkalinity.
Pharyngitis:  Sore throat.
Phenylalanine: An essential amino acid.
Phenylketonuria (PKU): An inherited disorder caused by a lack of an enzyme necessary to convert the amino acid phenylalanine into another amino acid, tyrosine, so that excesses can be eliminated from the body.  A buildup of excess phenylalanine in the blood can lead to neurological disturbances and mental retardation.
Phosphatide: See phospholipid.
Phosphatidyicholine (PC): A fatty substance made from choline that the body needs to make the walls of the cells.
Phospholipid: a class of fatty compounds found in membranes. Lecithin is the best-known example.
Phosphorus: The second most abundant mineral in your body, used to make your teeth and bones and for many metabolic processes. 
Photosensitivity: Sensitivity to light.
Phytochemical: Any one of many substances present in fruits and vegetables that have various health-promoting properties.   Some phytochemicals appear to protect against certain types of cancer. 
Phytoestrogens: A hormone-like compounds found in plant foods, especially soybeans.
Phylloquinone: A form of Vitamin K found in plant foods. Also called Vitamin K1.
Piles:  Another word for Hemorrhoid
Pineal gland: A small gland found inside the brain.
It produces melatonin and regulates your internal clock.
Pituitary: A gland located at the base of the brain that secretes a number of different hormones. Pituitary hormones regulate growth and metabolism by coordinating the actions of other endocrine glands. 
PKU (phenylketonuria): A hereditary disease caused by the lack of an enzyme needed to convert an essential amino acid (phenylalanine) into a form usable by the body; can cause mental retarda-tion unless detected early.
Placebo: A pharmacologically inactive substance, primarily used in experiments to provide a basis for comparison with pharmacologically active substances.
Plaque:  A unwanted deposit of a certain substance on tissues, often with the potential to cause some type of health problem.  The buildup of  the fatty deposits of cholesterol and other substances that build up inside your arteries and block them is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease.  Plaque deposits on the teeth can lead to gum disease.  Alzheimer's disease is associated with the accumulation of characteristic plaques in brain tissue.  
Plastic: Synthetic materials used for packaging; those used for oils may cause contact derivatives in sensitive individuals; contrary to marketing hype, they are neither biodegradable nor truly recyclable. As a result dark glass is preferable for oil packaging.
Platelet: Small, colorless disks in circulating blood, which aid in blood clotting. Platelets become more sticky (form clots easier) when we consume hard or hydrogenated fats, and less sticky (form clots less readily) when we consume Omega-3 fatty acids. Less stick platelets protect against heart attacks and strokes.
Polyethylene: A type of plastic used as packaging material for dry goods. Amber glass is preferable material for oils because of environmental concerns and unanswered health questions. Many plastics are toxic.
Polymerize: The process of forming complex or giant molecules by linking together many smaller units. Our body lacks the capacity to metabolize such molecules easily. 
Polyunsaturated fats: Highly nonsaturated fats from vegetable sources; tend to lower blood cholesterol. The item includes both natural, health-enhancing as well as unnatural, health-destroying kinds.
Potassium: An electrolyte mineral needed to control your blood pressure and regulate your heartbeat.
Poultice: A soft, moist mass of herbs, oils, medicine, etc., spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to relieve congestion or pain.
Precancerous lesion: Abnormal tissue that is not malignant, but that maybe in the process of becoming so. 
Precursor: A substance out of which another substance is made by chemical modification. This is a natural occurrence in the body - such as DHEA being the precursor of different steroids including estrogen. 
Predigested protein: Protein that has been processed for fast assimilation and can go directly to the bloodstream.
Preformed Vitamin A: The vitamin A found in animal foods such as egg yolks. Your body can used preformed Vitamin A as soon as you eat it.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): A nutrition-related degenerative condition affecting women before the onset of the monthly period. Water retention, bloating, mood swings, and behavioral difficulties are often involved.
Preservative: Any of a large number of possible compounds that slow down chemical deterioration. 
Prodrome:  Another word for Aura.
Progesterone: A female steroid hormone.
Prognosis: A forecast as to the likely course and/or outcome of a disorder or condition. 
Prostaglandins: Hormone like substances your body makes from fatty acids. They control many activities in your body, in the regulation of cell activity. Over 30 prostaglandins are known. They influence the secretion of hormones and enzymes, and are important in regulating the inflammatory response, blood pressure, and blood clotting time. 
Prostrate gland: A small male organ wrapped around the urethra. The prostate makes some of the fluids found in semen.
Protein: An organic substance made from hydrogen, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen. The body needs protein to live; most of your body is made of it. Proteins are made from strings of amino acids.   tissues.  Biological substances such as hormones and  enzymes are composed of protein.  The body makes the specific proteins it needs for growth, repair and other functions from protein in the diet. 
Proteolytic enzymes: Enzymes that break down dietary proteins, yet do not attack the proteins that make up the normal cells in your body.   Proteolytic enzymes may have value in fighting cancer and other diseases.   Cancer cells have a type of protein coating; theoretically, if this coating is destroyed by proteolytic enzymes, the body's white blood cells would be able to attack the cancer cells, and destroy them.
Prothrombin: The most important clotting factor. The body needs Vitamin K to make it.
Provitamin: A vitamin precursor; a chemical substance necessary to produce a vitamin.
Pruritus: Itching.
Psoriasis: A skin condition characterized by silver-scaled red patches.  See Article Psoriasis
Psychosis: Type of insanity in which one loses almost complete touch with reality.
Psyllium powder: Soluble fiber made from the husks of plantago seeds and sold as a fiber supplement.
Pteroylglutamic acid or pteroylmonoglutamate: Scientific name for folic acid. 
PUFA: Polyunsaturated fatty acid.
Pulmonary: Pertaining to the lungs.
Purulent:  Containing or causing the production of pus. 
Pycnogenol: A type of OPC made form pine bark. See also OPC.
Pyridoxal: Another name for pyridoxine.
Pyridoxine: A B vitamin also known as Vitamin B6.
Quercetin: An antioxidant flavonoid found in onions.
Quinones: Brightly colored organic substances found in all living plants and animals. 
Radiation: Energy that is emitted or transmitted in the form of waves. The term is often used to refer to radioactivity; however, radioactivity is a specific type of radiation that comes from the decay of unstable atoms. 
Radiation therapy: A type of treatment, most often used for cancer, that involves the use of ionizing radiation, including Roentgen rays, radium, or other radioactive substances to destroy specific areas of tissue.  It is also called radiotheraphy.
RAST: (Radioallergosorbent test) A blood test that measures levels of specific antibodies produced by the body's immune system, used to test for allergic reactions. 
RDA: (Recommended Dietary Allowances)  The amount of a vitamin or other nutrient that should be consumed daily in order to prevent nutritional deficiency.   It does not take into account the increased requirement during pregnancy, breast-feeding, infancy, growth, adolescence, athletic activity, hard physical labor, healing, convalescence, aging, disease, stress, or individual biochemical differences.   It is established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 
Rectum: The last portion of the digestive tract.
Red blood cell: A blood cell that contains a red pigment hemoglobin and transports oxygen and carbon monoxide in the bloodstream. 
Refined: Refers to processed sugars, starches, and fats and oils. Essential substances are removed from foods, and thus refined substances rob the body of its stores of these essential nutrients, leading to deficiency diseases and degeneration. In terms of health, refined means 'deficient' and 'nutrient-impoverished'.
Remission: Lessening or reversal of the signs and symptoms of disease. This term is used mainly when referring to serious and/or chronic illnesses.
Renal: Pertaining to the kidneys. 
Resveratrol: A flavonoid found in red wine. It may help lower cholesterol and prevent blood clots. 
Retina: The thin, light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of your eye.
Retinoid, retinol, retinaldehyde, or retinoic acid: Different names for the same thing: preformed Vitamin A.
Retrovirus: A type of virus that has RNA as its core nucleic acid and contains an enzyme called reverse transcriptase that permit the virus to copy its RNA into the DNA of infected cells, in effect taking over the cells' genetic machinery.  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, is a retrovirus.  Retroviruses are also known to cause certain types of cancer in animals, and are suspected of causing forms of leukemia and lymphoma in humans. 
Rhinitis: Inflammation of the lining of the nose. 
Ribonucleic acid (RNA): See RNA
Rickets: Crippling bone deformities in children caused by a shortage of Vitamin D.
RNA: (Ribonucleic acid) A complex protein which carried coded genetic messages from the DNA in the cell nucleus to our cells where the messages are translated  to synthesize proteins. 
Rose hips: A rich source of vitamin C; the nodule underneath the bud of a rose called a hip, in which the plant produces the vitamin C we extract. 
Rutin: A substance extracted from buckwheat; part of the C-complex. It is a flavonoid found in citrus fruits, buckwheat, berries and red wine. It's helpful for improving circulation in small blood vessels.
SAM (S-adenosylmethionine): A form of the amino acid methionine.
Saturated fatty acids: Usually solid at room temperature; higher proportions found in foods from animals sources; tend to raise blood cholesterol levels. They are not good for the body. They are called saturated because every possible position on the carbon atoms in its structure are taken up by hydrogen by having a hydrogen atom attached to it. Saturated meaning unable to hold or contain more; full.
Saturation: With regard to fats, the term "saturation" refers to the chemical structure of the fatty acid molecule, specifically the number of hydrogen atoms present.  Fat molecules that cannot incorporate any additional hydrogen atoms are said to be saturated; those that could incorporate one additional hydrogen atom are referred to as monounsaturated; and those that could incorporate two or more additional hydrogen atoms are referred to as polyunsaturated. 
Scratch test: A procedure in which a small amount of a suspected allergen is applied to a lightly scratched area of skin to test for an allergic reaction.
Scurvy: A deficiency disease caused by prolonged lack of Vitamin C in the diet.
Sebum: The oily secretion produced by glands in the skin.
Secondary infection: An infection that develops after and is made possible by the presence or effect of a previous infection, inflammation, or other condition, but that is not necessarily directly caused by it.
Seizure: A sudden, brief episode characterized by changes in consciousness, perception, muscular motion, and/or behavior.  A convulsion is a type of seizure. 
Selenium: An essential trace mineral needed to make glutathione and to help Vitamin E work more effectively.
Sequestrant: A substance that absorbs ions and prevents changes that would affect flavor, texture, and color of food; used for water softening. 
Serotonin: A neurotransmitter found principally in the brain that is considered essential for relaxation, sleep, and concentration.   See also neurotransmitter. 
Serum: The fluid portion of the blood.
Simple carbohydrates: A simple sugar. It is a type of carbohydrate that, owing to its chemical structure, is rapidly digested and absorbed into the blood stream.  Glucose, fructose and lactose are examples, as well as sucrose (table sugar). Simple carbohydrates are absorbed into the blood stream rapidly; consumption may lead to hypoglycemia, diabetes, and cardiovascular problems as well as obesity. They also inhibit immune function.
Sodium: An electrolyte mineral needed to control your blood pressure and the amount of water in your body.
Soluble fiber: Dietary fiber that dissolves in water to form a soft gel.
Soporific: Producing sleep.
Sorbic acid: An organic acid used as a food preservative.
Starch: Glucose molecules hooked together into branching chains by plant cells. Digested and absorbed slowly, starches supply energy at the rate at which the body uses it.
Steroid: One of a group of fat-soluble organic compounds with a characteristic chemical composition.  A number of different hormones, drugs, and other substances - including cholesterol - are classified as steroids.
Steroid hormones: The sex hormones and hormones of the adrenal cortex. These hormones are made in your adrenal glands from cholesterol.
Steroids: A family of cortisone-like medications; prescribed when adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormone cortisone; also used for treatment of swellings, allergic reactions, and other conditions.
Stool: Human solid waste; feces.
Stroke: A attack in which the brain is suddenly deprived of oxygen as a result of interrupted blood flow.  If it continues for more than a few minutes, brain damage and even death may result.
Sublingual: Literally, "under the tongue". Sublingual medications and supplements often look like tablets or liquids meant for swallowing, but they area designed to be held in the mouth while the active ingredient is absorbed into the bloodstream through the mucous membranes. 
Sugar: A substance containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and belonging therefore to the chemical group of carbohydrates.
Superoxide dismutase (SOD): An enzyme made in our body that neutralizes free radicals that could otherwise cause damage to cells.
Supersaturated fatty acids: Another name for Omega-3 fatty acids, that distinguishes them from Omega-6 fatty acids. 
Symptom: An alteration in normal feeling or functioning experienced as a result of a bodily disorder. 
Syncope: Temporary loss of consciousness; fainting.
Syndrome: A group of signs and symptoms that together are known or presumed to characterize a disorder.
Synergy: An interaction between two or more substances in which their action is greater when they are together than the sum of their individual actions would be.
Systemic: Pertaining to the entire body.

T cell: A type of lymphocyte that is a crucial part of the immune system.
Teratogen: An agent that causes malformation of a developing embryo or fetus.
Tertiary butyhydroquinone (TBHQ): An artificial preservative for oils, which replace natural vitamin E and carotene, which are removed during oil processing.
Therapy, alternative: The treatment of disease by means other than conventional medical, pharmacological and surgical techniques. 
Thrombocytopenia (TCP): A low number of platelets in the blood.
Throbmus: An obstruction in a blood vessel.
Thrush: A fungal infections caused by Candida albicans that is characterized by small whitish spots on the tongue and the insides of the cheeks. It occurs most often in infants and in persons with a weakened immune systems.
Topical: Pertaining to the surface of the body.
Toxicity: The quality of being poisonous.  Toxicity reactions in the body impair bodily functions an/or damage cells.
Toximolecular medical practice: The use of substances foreign to the body in the treatment of disease. This practice rests on the fact that synthetic, toxic (drug) molecules can be patented.
Toxin: A poison that impairs the health and functioning of the body.
Trace element: A mineral required by the body in extremely small quantities.
Trans-fatty acid: A fatty acid in which the hydrogen atom on the carbon chain atoms involved in a double bond are situated on opposite sides of the molecule.
Tremor: Involuntary trembling. 
Triglyceride (TG): A molecule of fat or oil. This is the form in which fatty acids are stored in the body's fat tissues and in the seeds of plants.  It is the primary type of lipid in the diet.  It is a compound consisting of three fatty acids plus glycerol.
Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue that serves no function.  Tumors are usually categorized as either benign or malignant (cancerous).
Type A personality: A personality that tends to be impatient and aggressive. Persons with Type A personalities tend to have stronger stress reactions, and may be more susceptible to cardiovascular disease.
Type B personality: A personality that tends to be relaxed and patient, and less reactive to stress.  Those with type B personalities may be less prone to develop stress-related illnesses such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
Ultrasound: Ultra-high-frequency sound waves.  Ultrasound technology is used in a number of different medical diagnosis and treatment tools. 
Ultraviolet (UV): The skin-burning part of the sun's spectrum.
Unrefined (crude): In its natural state; not altered, nutrient-rich.
Unsaturated fat: Any of a number of dietary fats that are liquid at room temperature. Unsaturated fats come from vegetable sources and are good sources of essential fatty acids.
Unsaturated fatty acid: A fatty acid with one or more double bonds between carbons in the chain. See article Essential Fatty Acids. 
Urticaria: Hives.
USRDA: United States Recommended Daily Allowances. Vasodilator: A drug that dilates (widens) blood vessels.
Vaccine:  A preparation administered to achieve immunity against a specific agent by inducing the body to make antibodies to that agent.  A vaccine may be a suspension of living or dead microorganisms, or a solution of an allergen or viral or bacterial antigens. 
Vascular: Pertaining to the circulatory system.
Vegan: Someone who eats no animal foods.
Vegetarian: Someone who doesn't eat meat. Some vegetarians limit or don't eat other animal foods as well. 
Vein: One of the blood vessels that returns the blood from the body tissues to the heart. 
Venom: A poisonous substance produced by an animal, such as certain snakes and insects. 
Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL): Vehicles made in the liver for transporting fats and cholesterol.
Virus: Any of a vast group of minute, often disease-causing, structures composed of a protein coat and a core of DNA and/or RNA. Because they are incapable of reproducing on their own (they must reproduce inside the cell of an infected host), viruses are not technically considered living organisms.  Unlike bacteria, viruses are not affected by antibiotics.
Visualization: A technique that involves consciously using the mind to influence the health and functioning of the body. Also called creative visualization.
Vital signs: Basic indicators of an individual's health status, including pulse, breathing, blood pressure, and body temperature.
Vitamin: An organic compound essential for normal health. One of the approximately fifteen organic substances that are essential in small quantities for life and health. The body cannot make them from other substances. . You must get all your vitamins from outside your body - from the foods your eat and from any supplements you take. Food processing removes much of the content of these essential nutrients and therefore cause deficiency, deterioration, and degeneration of cells, tissues, organs, and human health. 
Vitamin A: A fat-soluble vitamin needed for healthy epithelial tissues (covers internal and external surfaces of your body), eyes, growth, bone formation, and immunity.
Vitamin C: A water-soluble vitamin needed to make the body's connective tissue and for many other functions. Vitamin C is also a powerful and abundant antioxidant.
Vitamin D: A fat-soluble vitamin that the body makes from sunshine on your skin and also gets from some foods. It's needed to build healthy bones and to regulate the amounts of calcium in your blood.
Vitamin E: A fat-soluble vitamin that is a powerful antioxidant. An essential vitamin found in seed oil. It is required by the body to prevent the destruction of membrane fatty acids by oxidation. See Article Antioxidants 
Vitamin K: A fat-soluble vitamin needed to help the blood clot.
Vitamin P: Vitamin P is another name for Bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids are also active in preserving the structures of capillaries, have an antibacterial effect and promote circulation. It is indicated in the production of bile, lowering blood cholesterol levels and in the prevention and treatment of cataracts. You can check my glossary fo
Water-soluble: Vitamins that dissolve in water and can't be stored in your body. The B vitamins and Vitamin C are water-soluble.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome: Nerve damage caused by low thiamin levels from years of alcoholism.
White blood cell: A blood cell that functions in fighting infection and in wound repair.
Wild Yam: A tuberous plant found in the tropics. The roots contain a natural form of the female hormone progesterone. Wild yam cream or tincture can be helpful for relieving menopause symptoms.
Withdrawal: The process of adjustment that occurs when the use of a habit-forming substance to which the body has become accustomed is discontinued. 
Xanthophylls: Carotenoids found in dark-green leafy vegetables. See also Lutien, Zeaxanthin.
Xerosis: A condition of dryness. 
Yeast: A type of a single-celled fungus.  Certain types of yeast can cause infection, most commonly in the mouth, vagina, or gastrointestinal tract.  Common yeast infections include vaginitis and thrush.
Zeaxanthin: A carotenoid found in dark-green leafy vegetables. It helps protect your eyes from free radicals. 
Zein: Protein from corn. 
Zinc: A mineral needed to make many enzymes and hormones.
Zyme: A fermenting substance.
                         

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