Because no federal rules legislate what constitutes a natural product, there is no clear regulated meaning of the term. The FDA doesn't define it, and the USDA's natural label doesn't verify that meat is hormone and antibiotic free. Until the FDA clearly defines natural and the USDA regulates it, look for the USDA certified organic label, which ensures specific standards are tightly regulated.

See Vitamin B3.

A characteristic of foods and beverages that provide vitamins, minerals, and other substances that contribute to adequate nutrient intakes or may have positive health effects, with little or no solid fats and added sugars, refined starches, and sodium. Ideally, these foods and beverages also are in forms that retain naturally occurring components, such as dietary fiber. All vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seafood, eggs, beans and peas, unsalted nuts and seeds, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and lean meats and poultry?when prepared with little or no added solid fats, sugars, refined starches, and sodium?are nutrient-dense foods. These foods contribute to meeting food group recommendations within calorie and sodium limits. The term ?nutrient dense? indicates the nutrients and other beneficial substances in a food have not been ?diluted? by the addition of calories from added solid fats, sugars, or refined starches, or by the solid fats naturally present in the food.

The process of the body using food to sustain life. (2) The study of food and diet.

A health supplement grown on molasses, sugar beets or wood pulp. A rich source of vitamin B12 and protein

Obesity refers to excess body fat. Because body fat is usually not measured directly, a ratio of body weight to height is often used instead. It is defined as BMI [see body mass index]. An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

Fats that are liquid at room temperature, oils come from many different plants and from seafood. Some common oils include canola, corn, olive, peanut, safflower, soybean, and sunflower oils. A number of foods are naturally high in oils, such as avocados, olives, nuts, and some fish. Federal dietary guidelines [found at http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines ] encourage Americans to replace solid fats with oils when possible.

These essential fatty acids, found in foods like wild salmon and flaxseed, improve heart health and may also help prevent and treat arthritis, diabetes, depression, certain types of cancer, skin disorders, eye diseases, Alzheimer's disease, menstrual pain and PMS.

In resistance training is the maximum amount of weight one can lift in a single repetition for a given exercise. One repetition maximum can be used for determining an individual's maximum strength. One repetition maximum can also be used as an upper limit, in order to determine the desired load for an exercise (as a percentage of the 1RM).

Produced without the use of synthetic chemicals. For more information, check out the excellent "10 Reasons to Buy Organic" overview from the Organic Consumers Association.

In his 2007 book The Spectrum, Dean Ornish details a guide to achieve any goal, be it weight loss or reversing chronic disease. Ornish is a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and the founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute; his method advocates responsible food choices, exercise, stress management, and seeking support from loved ones. All of this combines to have a positive impact on your health  and it's certainly hard to argue with that.

The most difficult part of the diet is its restriction of fat, which Ornish insists should be just 10 percent of daily calories. That's reasonable, but it may be hard to achieve if you're stepping straight over from a fast food-filled  'Western' diet. The book costs about $15.

Is a progressive bone disease that is characterized by a decrease in bone mass and density which can lead to an increased risk of fracture.

The Paleo Diet has gained a lot of traction in the last few years as Americans have begun to yearn for the simpler lifestyle once lead by the caveman. It's an easy leap: processed foods and carb-obsessed eating patterns weren't things that the cave dwellers had access to. Paleo Diet-enthusiasts say we should get back to our roots; if a caveman didn't eat it, you shouldn't either. No more refined sugar, dairy, legumes, or grains; your entire plate should be filled with meat, fish, poultry, fruits, and vegetables.

The diet hasn't been deeply researched, it's extremely restrictive, and health experts generally discourage eating so much red meat. Though there's no set exercise plan, Paleo dieters are encouraged to move as much as their hunter-gatherer ancestors.

A gland and an organ that makes enzymes to help the body break down and use nutrients in food. The pancreas also produces the hormone insulin and releases it into the bloodstream to help the body control blood sugar levels.

See Vitamin B5.