Nutrition and Fitness Glossary
Nutrition and Fitness Glossary
Adipose tissue:
Connective tissue in which fat is stored.
Amino Acids:
A class of organic compounds known as the building blocks of protein.
Anabolic Androgenic Steroids:
Synthetic deprivation of the male sex hormone testosterone.
Anatomical Position:
Standing erect, with feet and palms facing forward.
Anterior:
Anatomical term meaning toward the front. Opposite of posterior.
Atrophy:
A decrease in cross sectional size of a muscle.
Axis of Rotation:
Imaginary line or point about which an object rotates.
Basal Metabolic Rate:
The energy expended by the body at rest to maintain normal function. Relative to lean body mass.
BCAA:
Branched-chain amino acids
Biological Value:
The amount of protein nitrogen that is retained from a given amount of nitrogen that has been digested and absorbed.
Calorie:
Amount of heat required to raise 1 kg of water to one degree C; used to express the fuel or energy value of food or the output of the organism.
Carbohydrates:
A chemical compound made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Carbohydrates are the chief source of energy for all body functions and anaerobic muscular exertions.
Cardiovascular Endurance Capacity:
The term used to define overall body endurance or stamina.
Catabolism:
The tearing down or destruction of body tissue.
Cholesterol:
A fat-like substance found in all animals fats, bile, skin, blood and brain tissue. Cholesterol is also necessary for the synthesis of endogenous hormones.
Complete protein:
A protein containing all the essential amino in amounts adequate for human use.
Concentric:
Muscle action in which the tension developed causes visible shortening of the muscle. Positive work is performed.
Eccentric:
Muscle action in which tension is developed in the muscle and the muscle lengthens. Negative work is performed.
Ectomorph:
Body type characterized by a light build and slight muscular development.
Endomorph:
Body type characterized by a heavy rounded build, often with a marked tendency towards obesity or being overweight.
Energy:
The capacity to do work.
Essential Fatty Acid:
Fatty Acid that the body cannot manufacture and that may cause nutritional deficiency if not supplied through the diet and/or supplementation.
Essential Nutrient:
A nutrient that must be provided in the diet because the body cannot produce it.
Fat soluble Vitamins:
Vitamins, which can only be absorbed through the small intestine and in the presence of fat.
Fat:
An essential nutrient providing energy and energy storage.
Fatigue:
A state of increased discomfort and decreased efficiency resulting from prolonged or excessive exertion.
Fatty Acid:
Building blocks of fat. Nutrient for the production of energy during prolonged low intensity activity.
Flexibility:
The range of movement of a specific joint or a group of joints, influenced by the associated bones and bony structures, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Fructose:
Fruit sugar
Glucose:
The simplest form of sugar in which a carbohydrate is assimilated in the body: blood sugar.
Glycogen:
The form in which carbohydrates are stored in the body.
Hyperglycemia:
Elevated levels of glucose, or sugar, in the blood.
Hypertrophy:
Enlargement or overgrowth of an organ or part due to an increase in the size of its constituent cells.
Insulin:
A hormone produced by the pancreas, which helps to control blood glucose levels and carbohydrates metabolism.
Intensity:
In weight training, the load or percentage of the maximum lifting capacity is lifted with each repetition.
Isometric:
Condition during which movement is produced.
Lactic Acid:
A temporary product of aerobic glucose metabolism.
Lean Body Mass:
Body weight minus body fat; composed of muscle, bone and other nonfat tissue.
Lipid:
Fat, or fat-like, substance.
Lipoprotein:
A molecule that is a combination of protein and lipid; lipoproteins are the transporters of cholesterol in the bloodstream.
Maximum Heart Rate:
The fastest heart rate possible under normal maximal exercise conditions.
Mesomorph:
Husky body type, with muscular build.
Metabolism:
The total of the energy-production and absorbing processes in the body; the energy used by the body.
Mineral:
An inorganic substance which acts as a catalyst in many endogenous biological reactions, such as muscle contraction, nerve transmissions, digestion, metabolism and the utilization of nutrients in foods.
Nutrient:
A substance necessary to maintain life, health and the reproduction in an organism.
Obesity:
A percent of body fat greater than 25% for males or 30% females.
Osteoporosis:
A decrease in bone density.
Posterior:
Anatomical term meaning towards the back. Opposite of anterior.
Protein:
An essential nutrient made up of amino acids. Building block for tissues. A complete protein for humans must have 22 amino acids. 1 gm=4kcals.
Recruitment:
The gradual increase to a maximum in a reflex, when a stimulus of unaltered intensity is prolonged.
Repetition:
The number of times a motion for an exercise is completed.
Saturated fat:
A fatty acid with no double bonds and is solid at room temperature. Saturated fat is found primarily in animal products and is a major risk factor for heart disease.
Sets:
The number of times a group of exercises is performed.
Testosterone:
Male sex hormone
Thermic Effect of Food:
An increase in energy expenditure due to an increase in cellular exercise associated with the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of food.
Unsaturated Fat:
Vegetable fats usually contain little or no cholesterol.
Vitamin:
An organic substance which occurs in varying quantities in specific foods and is necessary for proper growth and maintenance of health.
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