Absorption
The process in which blood or lymph capillaries pick up the digested nutrients.
Anorexia nervosa
A psychological disorder in which a person drastically reduces food intake or refuses to eat at all
Antioxidants
Organic molecules that help protect the body from harmful chemicals called free radicals
Atherosclerosis
A condition in which arteries are narrowed by the accumulation of fatty substances on their inner surfaces
Basal metabolic rate
The rate at which the body uses energy just for maintaining its own tissue, without doing any voluntary work
Bland diet
Consists of easily digested foods that do not irritate the digestive tract
Body mass index
A calculation that measures weight in relation to height and correlates this with body fat
Bulimarexia
A psychological disorder in which a person alternately binges and then induces vomiting or uses laxatives to get rid of food that has been eaten
Bulimia
A psychological disorder in which a person alternately binges and then fasts, or refuses to eat at all
Calorie
A unit used to measure the amount of heat produced during metabolism
Calorie-controlled diets
Include both low-calorie and high-calorie diets
Carbohydrates
A major source of readily usable human energy
Cellulose
The fibrous, indigestible form of plant carbohydrate
Cholesterol
A sterol lipid found in body cells and animal products
Diabetes mellitus
Metabolic disease caused by an insufficient secretion or use of insulin, leading to an increased level of glucose (sugar)
Diabetic diet
Used for patients with diabetes mellitus; also called a carbohydrate-controlled diet
Digestion
The process by which the body breaks down food into smaller parts, changes the food chemically, and moves the food through the digestive system
Essential nutrients
Composed of chemical elements found in food; used by the body to perform many different body functions
Fat-restricted diets
Limit fats to less than 50 grams daily
Fats
Organic compounds
Fiber diets
Usually classified as high fiber or low fiber
Hypertension
High blood pressure; may be caused by an excess amount of fat or salt in the diet
Lipids
Organic compounds
Liquid diets
Include both clear and full liquids
Low-cholesterol diet
Restricts food that contains cholesterol and usually limits fats to less than 50 grams daily