Diabetes

A diesase characterized by abnormally high blood-sugar levels. 

Osteophorosis

A disease characterized by thinning bones

Nutrients

Components in food that the body needs to grow, develop, and repair itself.

Energy

The ability to do work, including building complex moleules. 

Macronutrients

Nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates and fats, that organisms must ingest in large amounts to maintain health. 

Essential Nutrient

A substance that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained preassembled from the diet, including certain amino acids and fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

Essential Amino Acids

Eight amino acids the human body cannot synthesize and must obtain from food. 

Enzyme

A protein that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction.

Activation Energy

The energy required for a chemical reaction to proceed.

Substrate

A compound or molecule that an enzyme binds to and on which it acts.

Active Site

The part of the enzyme that binds to substrates. 

Catabolic Reaction

Any chemical reaction that breaks down complex molecules into simpler molecules. 

Anabolic Reaction

Any chemical reaction that combines simple molecules to build more0complex molecule. 

Metabolism

All biochemical reactions occuring in an organism, including reactions that break down food molecules and reactions that build new cell structures. 

Insulin

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that reulates blood sugar. 

Complex Carbohydrate 

(Polysaccharide) 

A carbohydrate made of many simple sugars linked together, that is, a polymer of monosaccharides; examples are starch and glycogen. 

Starch 

A complex plant carbohydrate made of linked chains of glucose molecules; a source of stored energy. 

Glycogen

A complex animal carbhydrate made of linked chains of glucose molecules; a source of stored energy. 

Simple Sugar

(Monosaccharide)

A carbohydrate made up of a single sugar subunit; an example is glucose. 

Fiber

A complex pland carbohydrate that is not digestible by humans

Mineral

An inorganic chemical element required by organisms for normal growth, reproduction, and tissure maintenance; examples are calcium, iron, potassium, and zinc.

Cofactor

An inorganic substance, such as a metal ion, required to activate an enzyme. 

Coenzyme

A small organic molecule, such as a vitamin, required to actibate an enzyme

Vitamin

An organic molecule required in small amounts for normal growth, reproduction, and tissue maintnance. 

Micronutrients

Nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, that organisms must ingest in small amounts to maintain health.