A
A
- 🫐Antioxidants
- Compounds found in many plant foods (like berries, leafy greens, and nuts) that help protect cells in the body from everyday wear. "Eating the rainbow" is a simple way to get a variety of them.
- 💧Added sugars
- Sugars added during processing or cooking (as opposed to sugars naturally present in fruit or milk). Public-health guidance generally suggests keeping added sugars modest. See reading nutrition labels.
B
B
- 📏BMI (Body Mass Index)
- A rough height-to-weight ratio used as a population-level screening number. It's a limited measure for individuals because it doesn't distinguish muscle from fat. Treat it as one data point, not a verdict.
- 🦠Basal metabolic rate
- The energy your body uses at rest just to keep you alive — breathing, heartbeat, and so on. It makes up most of the calories a person burns in a day and varies by age, body size, and other factors.
C
C
- 🍞Carbohydrates
- One of the three macronutrients, and the body's preferred everyday fuel. Found in grains, fruit, beans, and starchy vegetables. Quality matters: whole-food sources tend to come with fiber and nutrients.
- 🥦Cross-contamination
- When foods accidentally transfer substances (like allergens or bacteria) to each other. Mostly a food-safety concept, relevant when preparing meals for people with allergies.
D
D
- ☀️Vitamin D
- A fat-soluble vitamin the body can make when skin is exposed to sunlight; it's also in a few foods. It supports bone health among other roles. Many people get little from sunlight, depending on where they live and the season.
- 🥛Dietitian vs. nutritionist
- "Registered dietitian" is a protected title with specific training and credentials. "Nutritionist" isn't regulated everywhere, so qualifications can vary widely. For individual advice, a credentialed professional is the safer choice.
E
E
- ⚡Electrolytes
- Minerals in the body (like sodium, potassium, and magnesium) that help balance fluids and support nerve and muscle function. You get them from a normal, varied diet; intense exercise or heat can change needs.
- 🧪Empty calories
- An informal term for foods and drinks that supply energy (calories) with little nutritional payoff — often sugary drinks and heavily processed snacks. Enjoying them sometimes is fine; they just shouldn't dominate the plate.
F
F
- 🥬Fiber
- A type of carbohydrate the body can't digest, found in plants. It supports digestion and helps meals feel satisfying. Most people get less than commonly recommended. Read more in the role of fiber.
- 🥑Fats (dietary)
- An essential macronutrient that helps absorb certain vitamins and supports many body functions. Sources like olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fish are widely encouraged as part of a varied eating pattern.
- 🔥Free radicals
- Unstable molecules the body produces during normal processes and in response to things like pollution. The body has natural defenses; this is the context in which "antioxidants" are often discussed.
G
G
- 🌾Glucose
- A simple sugar and the body's main fuel, carried in the blood. It mainly comes from digesting carbohydrates, and the body works to keep blood levels within a healthy range.
- 🧫Glycemic index
- A ranking of how much individual carbohydrate foods raise blood glucose. It can be interesting, but real meals mix foods, so its everyday usefulness is limited compared with simply choosing whole-food carbs.
H
H
- 💧Hydration
- Having enough water in the body to function well. Needs vary by person, climate, and activity. A practical guide is in how hydration affects energy.
- 🍽️Hunger cues
- Body signals (stomach growling, low energy, trouble focusing) that suggest it's time to eat. Tuning into them is a core part of mindful eating.
M
M
- 🔥Macronutrients
- The three nutrients the body needs in larger amounts: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Each plays different roles. See understanding macronutrients.
- ⚙️Metabolism
- The set of chemical processes that keep the body running, including converting food into energy. It's not a single dial you can turn, despite what marketing claims.
- 🧘Mindful eating
- Bringing attention to the experience of eating — hunger, taste, fullness — without judgment. It's an awareness practice, not a diet. See mindful eating basics.
- 🧂Minerals
- Inorganic nutrients like iron, calcium, and potassium that the body needs in small amounts for various functions. A varied, food-first eating pattern usually covers them.
N
N
- 🔬Nutrients
- Substances in food the body uses for energy, growth, and repair — grouped into macronutrients (needed in larger amounts) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).
- 🥗Nutrient density
- How many nutrients a food packs relative to its energy (calories). Vegetables, fruit, beans, and whole grains score highly, while heavily processed snack foods tend to score low.
P
P
- 🍗Protein
- A macronutrient made of amino acids, used for building and repairing tissues and for many body functions. Found in meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, dairy, and some grains.
- 🧪Phytonutrients
- Beneficial compounds produced by plants (often behind their colors and flavors). They're one reason eating a variety of plant foods is encouraged; you don't need to memorize their names.
- 🍽️Portion size
- How much of a food you actually serve yourself, which is different from a "serving size" on a label. Being aware of portions can be more useful than weighing everything.
R
R
- 🔁Refined grains
- Grains that have been processed to remove the bran and germ (like white flour), which also removes some fiber and nutrients. Whole grains retain these parts.
- 🍚Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
- The daily intake level of a nutrient considered enough to meet the needs of most healthy people. A useful reference, not a strict target for any one individual.
S
S
- 😴Sleep hygiene
- Everyday habits that support good sleep — consistent timing, a cool dark room, limiting screens before bed. See sleep and daily energy.
- 🥤Serving size
- The reference amount of a food listed on its nutrition label, used to standardize the numbers. It may not match the portion you actually eat.
- 📈Satiety
- The feeling of being satisfied and no longer hungry after eating. Protein, fiber, and water-rich foods tend to support satiety, which can make meals feel more filling.
W
W
- 🌾Whole grains
- Grains that keep all three of their original parts — bran, germ, and endosperm — so they retain more fiber and nutrients. Examples: oats, brown rice, whole-wheat, quinoa.
- 💧Water intake
- The fluids you get from drinks and food. There's no single number that fits everyone; thirst, climate, and activity all play a role.
This glossary offers brief, general definitions for everyday reading. It is educational content, not medical advice. For questions about your individual nutrition or health, consult a qualified healthcare professional.