Category: Terms

an·ti·gen (ăn′tĭ-jən) also an·ti·gene (-jēn′) noun: A substance that when introduced into the body stimulates the production of an antibody. Antigens include toxins, bacteria, foreign blood cells, and the cells of transplanted organs. Source: www.thefreedictionary.com/antigen

An antibody is a protein produced by the body’s immune system when it detects harmful substances, called antigens. Examples of antigens include microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses) and chemicals. Antibodies may be produced when the immune system mistakenly considers healthy tissue a harmful substance. This is called an autoimmune disorder. Each type of antibody […]

Amino acid Twenty percent of the human body is made up of protein. Protein plays a crucial role in almost all biological processes and amino acids are the building blocks of it. A large proportion of our cells, muscles and tissue is made up of amino acids, meaning they carry out many important bodily functions, […]

Acetylcholine: A neurotransmitter released by nerves that is essential for communication between the nerves and muscles. Source: www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=23278

Tannins are naturally occurring plant polyphenols. Their main characteristic is that they bind and precipitate proteins. They can have a large influence on the nutritive value of many foods eaten by humans and feedstuff eaten by animals. Tannins are common in fruits (grapes, persimmon, blueberry, etc.), in tea, in chocolate, in fruit dish.legume forages (trefoil, […]

Retinopathy noun: ret·i·nop·a·thy \ˌre-tə-ˈnä-pə-thē\ plural: ret·i·nop·a·thies Definition: any of various noninflammatory disorders of the retina including some that cause blindness Source: www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retinopathy

Probiotic [proh-bahy-ot-ik] noun 1. a usually dairy food or a dietary supplement containing live bacteria that replace or add to the beneficial bacteria normally present in the gastrointestinal tract. 2. a bacterium in such a food or dietary supplement. Source: dictionary.reference.com/browse/probiotic

hu·mec·tant (hyo͞o-mĕk′tənt) noun: A substance that promotes retention of moisture. adjective: Promoting retention of moisture. Source: www.thefreedictionary.com/humectant

vasodilator /vaso·di·la·tor/ (‘-di-la´ter) 1. causing dilatation of blood vessels. 2. a nerve or agent that does this. Source: medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/vasodilator

Diuretics, sometimes called water pills, help rid your body of salt (sodium) and water. They work by making your kidneys put more sodium into your urine. The sodium, in turn, takes water with it from your blood. That decreases the amount of fluid flowing through your blood vessels, which reduces pressure on the walls of […]