Health and Fitness Glossary
A complete glossary of health and fitness related terminology.
Human Growth Hormone Supplement
A
Abdominals: stomach muscles.
Adaptogen: a substance that strengthens bodily functions and increases resistance to stress.
Aerobic: means "requiring oxygen".
Amino Acids: a group of nitrogen contained compounds that are the building blocks that make up protein.
Anabolic: a state of growth in the body.
Anaerobic: means "without oxygen".
Anti-Catabolic: the prevention or halting of cellular breakdown.
Antioxidants: substances that prevent and/or impede cell destruction by free radicals.
Aphrodisiac: a substance that is capable of stimulating sexual desire.
Assimilation: the process in which food is absorbed and utilized by the body.
ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate): a high-energy molecule stored in muscle and other cell in the body as an energy source.
B
Biceps: front part of upper arm.
Bioavailability: the term used to describe the ease in which nutrients are absorbed.
BMR (Basic Metabolic Rate): the base number of calories required for optimal bodily functions.
Buffer: a substance that minimizes harmful effects.
C
Calves: the muscles located on the lower leg.
Catabolic: their bodily state where different parts of the anatomy are broken down to produce energy.
Chelating Agent: a substance that is often connected to a nutrient to increase the absorption of that nutrient.
Chest: the breast muscles covering the rib cage.
Coenzyme: a substance that assists with an enzyme's activity.
Cortisol: a hormone that is used during a catabolic state.
D
Deficiency: a lack of one or more nutrients.
Delts (Deltoids): shoulder muscles.
Denatured: a protein that has lost its natural structure.
Digestion: the breakdown of food into smaller molecules.
Diuretic: a substance that increases urine secretion.
E
Electrolytes: substances which when in solution, are capable of conducting electricity.
Enzyme: a protein catalyst that causes an activity in a living thing.
Equilibrium: a state of balance.
Ergogenic: a substance or practice that improves athletic performance.
Excretion: the process in which an orgasm rids itself of cellular waste.
F
Flavonoids: plant derived substances that have strong bioactive properties.
Free-Form Amino Acids: individual amino acids.
Free Radicals: highly reactive molecules that can cause cellular damage.
G
Glucose: the basic form of sugar that circulates in the bloodstream.
Glutes: muscles in your butt.
Glycemic Index: the measure of a foods impact on insulin levels.
Glycogen: the primary storage method of carbohydrate energy.
H
Hamstrings: rear thigh muscles.
HDL: the good type of cholesterol.
Hormones: bodily chemicals that regulate and perform various functions.
Hydrolysis: a process in which large complex molecules are broken into smaller molecules.
Hypnotic: another name for sleeping pill.
Hypoglycemia: low blood sugar levels.
Hypotensive: low blood pressure.
I
Isoflavones: a naturally occurring plant component that shares similarities with estrogen.
L
Lactic Acid: a substance that is the primary cause of muscle fatigue.
Lats (Latissimus Dorsi): the muscles in the back of the armpit and the side of the back that connect the arm to the back.
LDL: the bad cholesterol.
Lipolysis: the making of body fat.
Lipolytic: meaning "to disintegrate fat".
Lipotropic: substances that prevent or curtail the buildup of fat in the liver.
M
Macronutrients: large nutrients.
Malabsorption: the bad absorption of nutrients in the digestive tract.
Metabolic Rate: the measurement use to determine the rate in which stored energy is turned into working energy.
Metabolism: the process of utilizing nutrients.
Micronutrients: small nutrients.
Muscle Cell: a cell that can contract and return to its original length.
N
Neurotransmitter: a chemical that is released by a nerve ending and used to transmit messages from one nerve or cell to another.
Nitric Oxide: a type of neurotransmitter that can cause blood vessels to dilate.
Nitrogen: an element that distinguishes protein from all other nutrients. Required for growth.
Nutrient: food substance.
O
Osmosis: a filtering process.
Oxidation: the process of cellular decomposition and breakdown.
P
Peptide: two or more amino acids linked together.
Phytochemical: means "plant chemical".
Phytotherapy: using plants as medicines.
Polysaccharide: a complex carbohydrate, made when simple sugars bound together.
Precursors: substances from which other substances are formed in.
Pure: only one substance. No other substances present.
Q
Quads (Quadriceps): front thigh muscles.
R
Regeneration: a state of repair and growth of cells.
S
Secretion: a discharge of substances from cells.
Sensory Nerve: a nerve that carries a message.
Stacking: the combining of two or more compounds at once in an attempt to maximize results.
Sublingual: meaning "beneath the tongue".
Synergistic: the result that is created when two compounds "co-operate" with each other.
T
Tissue: a group of similar cells working together to perform a particular function.
Traps (Trapezius): a back muscle that connects from the base of the head to the middle of the back and the two shoulders.
Triceps: the muscles on the back part of upper arm.
U
Up-Regulate: means "increase".
Urea: waste product of the body.
Utilize: to make use of.
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