Key Term
absorption
the process in which blood or lymph capillaries pick up the digested nutrients
bland diet
consists of easily digested foods that do not irritate the digestive tract
calorie - controlled diets
include both low calorie and high calorie diets
peristalsis
a rhythmic wavelike motion of the muscles
soft diet
similar to the regular diet, but foods must require little chewing and be easy to digest
anorexia nervosa
a psychological disorder in which a person drastically reduces food intake or refuses to eat at all
body mass index
a calculation that measures weight in relation to height and correlates this with body fat
overweight
a body weight that is 10 to 20 percent greater than the average recommended weight for a person’s height, or a BMI from 25 to 29.9
protein diets
include both low-protein and high protein diets
therapeutic diets
modifications of the normal diet and are used to improve specific health conditions
antioxidants
organic molecules that help protect the body from harmful chemicals called free radicals
bulimarexia
a psychological disorder in which a person alternatively binges and then induces vomiting or uses laxatives to get rid of food that has been eaten
carbohydrates
major source of readily usable human energy
proteins
the basic components of all body cells
underweight
a body weight that is 10 to 15 percent less than the average recommended weight for a person’s height, or a BMI less than 18.5
atherosclerosis
condition in which arteries are narrowed by the accumulation of fatty substances on their inner surfaces
bulimia
a psychological disorder in which a person alternately binges (eats excessively) and then fasts, or refuses to eat at all; in some cases, a person will exercise excessively after binging
obesity
a form of malnutrition caused by excess food consumption
regular diet
a balanced diet usually used for the patient with no dietary restrictions
vitamins
organic compounds that are essential to life
basal metabolic rate
the rate at which the body uses energy just for maintaining its own tissue, without doing any voluntary work
calorie
a source of energy
cellulose
the fibrous, indigestible form of plant carbohydrate
sodium-restricted diet
also called low-sodium or low-salt diets
wellness
a state of good health with optimal body function