A label's Daily Value (DV) percentage is the FDA's recommended daily consumption level based on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet. Whether it is an upper or lower limit varies depending on nutrients. The DVs for fat, cholesterol, and sodium are upper daily limits.

Daily Values are the dietary reference values that are used on all current U.S. Nutrition Facts labels. For many nutrients, DVs will exceed your actual minimum needs, since they conservatively allow for the minimum needs of more demanding conditions, such as pregnancy or lactation. Most DVs are derived from Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) and other recommendations made by the Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine (IOM).

Milk and its derivatives, such as cheese and butter. Generally this term is not used to include eggs, which are considered a separate group.

The DASH Diet was developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and is a simple guide to smart eating: emphasize the foods you know are good for you and cut back on calorie- and fat-laden sweets and red meat, while also keeping an eye on salt consumption (which the majority of Americans consume way too much of).

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Eating Plan exemplifies healthy eating. It was designed to increase intake of foods expected to lower blood pressure while being heart healthy and meeting Institute of Medicine (IOM) nutrient recommendations. It is available at specific calorie levels. It was adapted from the dietary pattern developed for the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) research trials. In the trials, the DASH dietary pattern lowered blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol levels, resulting in reduced cardiovascular disease risk.

The DASH Eating Plan is low in saturated fats and rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as fiber and protein. It also is lower in sodium than the typical American diet, and includes menus with two levels of sodium, 2,300 and 1,500 mg per day. It meets the Dietary Reference Intakes for all essential nutrients and stays within limits for overconsumed nutrients, while allowing adaptable food choices based on food preferences, cost, and availability.

A person who partly follows a vegetarian diet, but eats some meat and fish occasionally.

A person with this disease has blood glucose, or sugar, levels that are above normal levels. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Diabetes occurs when the body does not make enough insulin or does not use the insulin it makes.

Over time, having too much sugar in your blood may cause serious problems. It may damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves, and may cause heart disease and stroke. Regular physical activity, weight control, and healthy eating may help you control your diabetes.

You should also follow your health care provider's advice and, when asked to, monitor your blood sugar level and take prescribed medication. [Also see gestational diabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes.]

What a person eats and drinks. Any type of eating plan.

Cholesterol found in foods of animal origin, including meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Plant foods, such as grains, vegetables, fruits, and oils do not contain dietary cholesterol.

Is only found in plant foods. It is the part of plants not digested in the stomach and small intestine. A lot of the dietary fibre consumed is digested by bacteria in the large intestine. There are two different types of fibre:

a) Soluble fibre can help lower blood cholesterol levels by removing cholesterol from the intestinal tract. Major sources of soluble fibre include fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, oats, legumes and psyllium husks.

b) Insoluble fibre acts as a stool softener and helps prevent constipation. It is found in breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds and nuts.

See Daily Values.

Also called salt, sodium helps your nerves and muscles work properly. Table salt is made up of sodium and chloride. Your kidneys control how much sodium is in your blood, releasing it when needed and flushing out any excess. If too much sodium builds up in your blood, this may raise your blood pressure.

High blood pressure is linked to serious health problems. Federal dietary guidelines http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/ recommend that most people limit their intake of sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day (less than 1 teaspoon of salt).

These extremely toxic chemicals are associated with cancer of the stomach, sinus lining, liver, and lymph system. Chlorine-bleached and rayon-containing products, such as some conventional tampons, may contain trace amounts. The main dietary culprits are animal fat, according to the FDA.

DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid recommended for heart and "brain health" and for a "healthy pregnancy". Find it in fatty fish, algae, and organ meats or in supplement form.

The length of time in which an activity or exercise is performed. Duration is generally expressed in minutes.

Is an abnormal amount of lipids (e.g. cholesterol and/or fat) in the blood. This is often due to diet and lifestyle and can be reversed by eating healthy and marinating regular physical activity and exercise.