The amount of a food served or eaten in one occasion. A portion is not a standard amount. The amount of food it includes may vary by person and occasion [see serving size].

Potassium is a mineral found in a lot of foods. Good sources include leafy green vegetables, vine fruits (such as tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant and pumpkin), and root vegetables (such as potatoes with skins). Potassium is also moderately abundant in beans and peas, tree fruits (such as apples, oranges and bananas), milks and yoghurts, and meats. Potassium helps with muscle and nervous system function. It also plays a role in helping the body maintain the balance of water in the blood and body tissues.

These soluble fiber and antioxidant compounds support probiotic numbers in your gut. By encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract, prebiotics make probiotics more effective. They can also enhance calcium and magnesium absorption. Some prebiotic-rich food options are whole-wheat products, fresh herbs, peanuts, barley, beans, bananas, asparagus, cherries, eggplant, peas, onions, tea, and oats. See also Probiotics and Synbiotics.

See High Blood pressure.

Preservatives keep foods fresh and inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeasts, or molds. Look for products with natural preservatives, like rosemary, vitamin E, vitamin C, citrus, honey and essential oils, which replace synthetic ingredients to maintain food's freshness. Vitamin E may appear on labels as alpha tocopherol and vitamin C under the name ascorbic acid. Preservatives like sulfites can cause allergic reactions, and others like BHT and BHA may be carcinogenic in high doses Nitrites, used to preserve meats like ham, bacon, salami, and hot dogs, have been linked to cancer. The 'American Institute for Cancer Research' recommends eliminating all nitrite-preserved meats from your diet to avoid harmful preservatives. And note that even naturally preserved meats contain nitrates and nitrites.

These strains of beneficial bacteria reestablish healthy intestinal flora in the human body. By taking up room and resources in the digestive tract, probiotics protect the digestive tract from unhealthy microbes. Common strains include Bifidobacteria infantis and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Look for cultured foods, like yogurt, cheese, tofu, and cottage cheese, or incorporate probiotics into your diet with supplements. See also Prebiotics and Synbiotics.

All meat or poultry products preserved by smoking, curing, salting, and/or the addition of chemical preservatives. Processed meats and poultry include all types of meat or poultry sausages (bologna, frankfurters, luncheon meats and loaves, sandwich spreads, viennas, chorizos, kielbasa, pepperoni, salami, and summer sausages), bacon, smoked or cured ham or pork shoulder, corned beef, pastrami, pig?s feet, beef jerky, marinated chicken breasts, and smoked turkey products.

The process of increasing the intensity, duration, frequency, or amount of activity or exercise as the body adapts to a given activity pattern.

A substance used by bees in the construction of the hive. Propolis is sometimes incorporated into health and beauty products.

One of the nutrients that provide calories to the body. Protein is an essential nutrient that helps build many parts of the body, including blood, bone, muscle, and skin. Protein provides 4 calories per gram and is found in foods like beans, dairy products, eggs, fish, meat, nuts, poultry, and tofu.

See Essential Amino Acids.

A term commonly used to refer to the movement of a joint from full flexion to full extension.

Vegan who only consumes foods not heated above 115F, believing that foods lose nutrients when heated.

One of many abbreviations found on food and supplement labels, Reference Daily Intake replaces USRDA, which is the reference value for vitamins, minerals, and protein in voluntary nutrition labeling. The actual values (with the exception of protein) remain the same.

The average daily dietary intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97 to 98%) healthy individuals in a particular life stage and sex group.