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There are 309 entries in this glossary.
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Term Definition
Pescetarian

Term sometimes used to describe people who eat fish but no meat.

Phenylalanine

See Essential Amino Acids.

 

Phosphate

See Phosphorus.

 

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is an essential mineral that is usually found in nature combined with oxygen as phosphate. Most phosphate in the human body is in bone, but phosphate-containing molecules (phospholipids) are also important components of cell membranes and lipoprotein particles, such as good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol. Small amounts of phosphate are engaged in biochemical reactions throughout the body.

Phylloquinone

See Vitamin K.

 

Physical Activity

Any form of exercise or movement. Physical activity may include planned activities such as walking, running, strength training, basketball, or other sports. Physical activity may also include daily activities such as mowing the lawn, washing the car, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and walking the dog. Federal guidelines on physical activity recommend that adults get at least 150 minutes (30 minutes a day, 5 days a week) of moderate-intensity physical activity for general health benefits. Adults who wish to lose weight or maintain weight loss may need more physical activity, such as 300 minutes (60 minutes a day, 5 days a week). Children should get at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity daily.

 

Physical Fitness

The ability to carry out daily tasks with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue, and with ample energy to enjoy leisure-time pursuits and respond to emergencies. Physical fitness includes a number of components consisting of cardiorespiratory endurance (aerobic power), skeletal muscle endurance, skeletal muscle strength, skeletal muscle power, flexibility, balance, speed of movement, reaction time, and body composition.

Phytoestrogens

Plant chemicals that have a similar structure to that of the human hormone oestrogen and which behave like weak oestrogens in the body.? They are found in a variety of foods including soy drinks, soy yoghurt, soy flour, soybeans, roasted soy nuts, lentils, tofu, tempeh, miso, textured vegetable protein (TVP), chickpeas, broad beans and linseed meal.

Phytonadione

See Vitamin K.

 

Phytosterol

Phytosterol is any plant-derived sterol. (See Sterol.)

 

Plant Sterols

These plant membrane components resemble the chemical structure of animal cholesterol and appear naturally in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, cereals, legumes, and vegetable oils. Plant sterols can reduce bad cholesterol, according to the 'International Food Information Council' and are added to packaged foods for heart-health benefits.

 

Polyphenols

This antioxidant is present in berries, acai, oranges, dry legumes, chocolate, and plant derived beverages, including tea, pomegranate juice, and red wine. Polyphenols, the most abundant antioxidant in our diets, may help prevent cardiovascular diseases, cancers, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative diseases, and diabetes mellitus, reports the 'American Journal of Clinical Nutrition'.

 

Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates, made up of multiple sugar molecules. Examples of polysaccharides include cellulose, starch, and dextrin.

Polyunsaturated Fat

This type of fat is liquid at room temperature. There are two types of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs): omega-6 and omega-3. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in liquid vegetable oils, such as corn oil, safflower oil, and soybean oil. Omega-3 fatty acids come from plant sources?including canola oil, flaxseed, soybean oil, and walnuts?and from fish and shellfish.

 

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (Pufas)

Fatty acids that have two or more double bonds and are usually liquid at room temperature. Primary sources are vegetable oils and some nuts and seeds. PUFAs provide essential fats such as?n-3 and?n-6 fatty acids.