The Picture of Health: Nutrition - Middle School

If you need some food for thought, review this list of terms related to nutrition and diet. Whether you're interested in learning about carbohydrates, vitamins, or digestion, this list is full of words to whet your appetite.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. anemia
    a deficiency of red blood cells
  2. appetite
    a feeling of craving something
  3. ascorbic acid
    a vitamin found in fresh fruits and vegetables
  4. balanced
    being in a state of proper equilibrium
  5. basal metabolic rate
    the rate at which heat is produced by an individual in a resting state
  6. body mass index
    a measure of someone's weight in relation to height
  7. calcium
    a white metallic element that burns with a brilliant light
  8. calorie
    unit of heat raising 1 gram of water by 1 degree centigrade
  9. carbohydrate
    an essential component of living cells and source of energy
  10. celiac disease
    an inability to tolerate wheat protein (gluten)
  11. cholesterol
    a substance in the blood that can cause heart disease
  12. deficiency
    the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable
  13. diabetes
    a disease characterized by high glucose levels in the blood
  14. diet
    the usual food and drink consumed by an organism
  15. digestion
    the process by which the body breaks down food
  16. eating disorder
    a disorder of the normal eating routine
  17. fat
    a soft greasy substance occurring in organic tissue
  18. fat-soluble
    soluble in fats
  19. fiber
    coarse, indigestible plant food low in nutrients
  20. folic acid
    a B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproduction
  21. food additive
    an additive to food intended to improve its flavor or appearance or shelf-life
  22. food allergy
    allergic reaction to a substance ingested in food
  23. fortify
    add nutrients to
  24. fructose
    a simple sugar found in honey and in many ripe fruits
  25. glucose
    a monosaccharide sugar that has several forms
  26. HDL cholesterol
    the cholesterol in high-density lipoproteins
  27. hunger
    a physiological need for food
  28. insulin
    a glucose-regulating hormone produced in the pancreas
  29. iron
    a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element
  30. lactose
    a sugar that occurs only in milk
  31. lactose intolerance
    congenital disorder consisting of an inability to digest milk and milk products; absence or deficiency of lactase results in an inability to hydrolyze lactose
  32. LDL cholesterol
    the cholesterol in low-density lipoproteins
  33. lipid
    oily, insoluble organic compound that's a component of cells
  34. malnutrition
    a state of poor nourishment
  35. metabolism
    the organic processes that are necessary for life
  36. micronutrient
    a substance needed only in small amounts for normal body function (e.g., vitamins or minerals)
  37. mineral
    a solid inorganic substance occurring in nature
  38. moderation
    the trait of avoiding excesses
  39. multivitamin
    a pill or tablet containing several vitamins
  40. niacin
    a B vitamin essential for the normal function of the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract
  41. nutrient
    any substance that can be metabolized to give energy
  42. nutrition
    the scientific study of food and drink
  43. obesity
    the condition of being excessively overweight
  44. pasteurization
    partial sterilization of foods at a temperature that destroys harmful microorganisms without major changes in the chemistry of the food
  45. phytochemical
    a chemical substance obtained from plants that is biologically active but not nutritive
  46. potassium
    a light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite
  47. processed
    subjected to a special treatment
  48. protein
    an organic compound essential to living cells
  49. riboflavin
    a B vitamin that prevents skin lesions and weight loss
  50. serving
    an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal
  51. sodium
    a silvery soft waxy metallic element of the alkali metal group; occurs abundantly in natural compounds (especially in salt water); burns with a yellow flame and reacts violently in water; occurs in sea water and in the mineral halite (rock salt)
  52. soluble
    capable of being dissolved in some solvent
  53. sucrose
    a complex carbohydrate found in many plants and used as a sweetening agent
  54. supplement
    a quantity added
  55. thiamine
    a B vitamin that prevents beriberi
  56. variety
    noticeable heterogeneity
  57. vegan
    a person who does not eat any animal products
  58. vegetarian
    someone who eats no meat or fish
  59. vitamin
    an organic substance essential to normal metabolism
  60. vitamin A
    any of several fat-soluble vitamins essential for normal vision; prevents night blindness or inflammation or dryness of the eyes
  61. vitamin B
    originally thought to be a single vitamin but now separated into several B vitamins
  62. vitamin C
    a vitamin found in fresh fruits and vegetables
  63. vitamin D
    a fat-soluble vitamin that prevents rickets
  64. vitamin E
    a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body
  65. vitamin K
    a fat-soluble vitamin that helps in the clotting of blood
  66. water-soluble
    soluble in water
Created on Wed Feb 01 09:43:41 EST 2017 (updated Wed Mar 29 16:08:46 EDT 2017)

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