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Nutrition for Nurses

Key Terms

Nutrition for NursesKey Terms

Key Terms

anticonvulsants
medications used to prevent or treat epileptic seizures; many anticonvulsants are also used to treat certain psychiatric conditions
Coenzyme Q10
a nutrient that the body produces and can be found in many foods; CoQ10 facilitates the conversion of food to energy and is a powerful antioxidant that can promote health in cardiovascular and neurologic conditions
cretinism
altered intellectual disability, small stature, and thickening of the facial features
gangliosides
glycosphingolipids that are highly available in a healthy nervous system and carry most of the sialic acid residues in the brain
hepatotoxicity
injury to the liver, or impaired liver function, due to the exposure to certain drugs, food additives, alcohol, solvents, some plants, and other environmental toxins
hippocampus
a brain structure located just below the ventricles of the brain that is a focal point for emotion, memory, and the autonomic nervous system
homocysteine
an amino acid that can be found in meat; high levels are associated with the development of heart and neurologic conditions
ketogenic diet
a diet that is high in fat with adequate protein and low in carbohydrates to produce ketosis; has been used successfully to treat certain neurologic conditions, such as pediatric epilepsy
Mediterranean diet
a diet that emphasizes foods that are plant based and contain healthy fats, such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and olive oil as the main source of fat
oxidative stress
an imbalance in the body’s production of free radicals and antioxidant defense that can set the stage for a variety of neurologic conditions
phospholipids
a type of fat (lipid) that also contains phosphorus
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