adaptogen: A harmless natural product that improves the body’s overall physiological functions through a wide range of biochemical actions.

amyloid: A protein that is deposited in tissues under abnormal conditions such as those associated with Alzheimer.s disease. Beta-amyloid is a compound derived from amyloid and is the principal component of the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer's sufferers.

angiogenesis: The formation of new blood vessels.

anorectic: An agent that suppresses the appetite.

antibody: Any of a large number of proteins that act against specific antigens during an immune response.

antigen: A substance foreign to the body that stimulates a cellular or antibody response by the immune system.

antioxidant: A substance that inhibits oxidation; especially those oxidant reactions promoted by free radicals.

apoptosis: The main type of genetically programmed cell death. It is usually a normal, ordered process that generally confers health advantages to multicellular organisms.

atheroma: Abnormal fat deposits in an artery.

atherogenesis: The process that involves the development of atheromatous plaques.

atherosclerosis: A disease process characterized by atheroma and fibrosis of the arterial endothelium. It is one of the causes of arteriosclerosis.

arteriosclerosis: A disease process characterized by abnormal thickening and hardening of the arterial walls with associated loss of elasticity that has several known causes.

carcinogen: A cancer causing agent.

carcinogenic: Capable of causing cancer.

cardiovascular disease: Although technically this term refers to any disease that affects the heart and blood vessels, it is usually used to refer to those diseases related to atherosclerosis (arterial disease) that can cause heart attacks and certain types of strokes.

chelation: The use of a substance to bind with a metal so that it loses its toxic effect and/or is excreted from the body.

cholesterol: A chemical present in cell membranes and body fluids that also functions as a precursor molecule to hormones and other compounds but, when associated with high levels of LDL, may cause atherosclerosis.

COX-2: A type of cyclo-oxygenase enzyme commonly associated with inflammation.

cyclo-oxygenase: An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins and is involved in the inflammatory cascade. associated with the pain and inflammation connected with arthritis and other diseases.

cytokine: A class of proteins produced, mainly by cells of the immune system, to regulate the functions of the immune system.

endogenous: Something produced by the body itself - see exogenous.

endothelium: The layer of cells lining the interior surface of all blood vessels. The endothelial layer is involved in the control of blood pressure, blood clotting, atherosclerosis, inflammation and atherogenesis.

epidemiology: The scientific study of factors affecting the health and illness of individuals and populations, and which serves as the foundation for determining relevant preventive and therapeutic interventions.

exogenous: An agent of influence from outside the body - see endogenous.

fatty acids: Types of naturally occurring and synthetic lipid compounds.

flavonoids: a group of polyphenol, antioxidant compounds that include many plant pigments; the subtypes of which include flavonols, flavones, flavanals, isoflavones and anthocyanadins

free radical: A reactive endogenous or exogenous molecule containing one or more unpaired electrons that can damage cells, proteins and DNA by altering their chemical structures.

functional food: Any food claimed to have health-promoting and/or disease preventing properties beyond the function of supplying basic nutrients.

glycemic index (GI): The GI is a ranking system for carbohydrates based on how quickly they are absorbed into the blood stream. Foods with a high GI are absorbed rapidly while those with a low GI are absorbed slowly and, as the latter are associated with lower insulin demands, they are generally considered healthier sources of carbohydrates than those with a high GI.

HDL (High Density Lipoprotein or "good cholesterol"): A lipoprotein that consists of a high proportion of protein with small amounts of triglyceride and cholesterol, high levels of which are associated with a decreased risk of developing atherosclerosis.

homeostasis: The characteristic whereby our body regulates and protects its internal environment in order to maintain a stable condition by means of interrelated biochemical mechanisms.

hormesis: A dose response phenomenon whereby a substance that in a high dose inhibits (or is toxic to) a biological process, in a much smaller dose will stimulate (or protect) that same process. Radiation is an agent that demonstrates the property of hormesis.