- amino acid pool
- molecules of essential and nonessential amino acids regulated by the liver and available for use by the body
- bioavailability
- the ability of an organic substance to enter the circulation and produce an active effect
- carbohydrates
- large food category that includes starches, cellulose, and sugars
- complex carbohydrates
- long chains of monosaccharides such as those found in starch
- disaccharides
- compounds containing two monosaccharide molecules
- glucose
- simple monosaccharide that is an important energy source and is found in carbohydrates
- glycemic index
- system that ranks foods on a scale from 1 to 100 based on their effect on blood glucose levels
- glycemic load
- method of indicating the amount of carbohydrate contained in a specified serving of a particular food and its impact on blood glucose
- glycogen
- stored form of glucose
- high-density lipoprotein
- molecule comprising lipids and proteins; it removes cholesterol from the blood
- low-density lipoprotein
- molecule comprising lipids and proteins; it transports cholesterol throughout the bloodstream
- monosaccharide
- sugar molecule that cannot be further metabolized
- polypeptides
- linear organic molecules consisting of many amino acid residues bonded together in a chain, forming part or all of a protein
- proteolysis
- enzymatic breakdown of proteins or peptides into amino acids
- triglycerides
- compounds formed from glycerol and three fatty acid groups; the main constituents of natural fats and oils
- ultraprocessed foods
- foods altered by commercial techniques, usually by adding five or more artificial substances
- whole foods
- foods that have been processed or refined as little as possible and are free from additives and other artificial substances