A glossary of health terminology: Q to U

Eating and living healthy doesn't have to be complicated. Here's an easy glossary to refer to of terminology from Q to U.

In your quest to eat and live healthy, there might be some words you come across that you may not recognize. Here are a couple — starting with the letter "Q" — and the definition for each one.

Quercetin: It's a plant pigment that's found in red onions, apples, grapes, red wine, berries, St. John's wort, Gingko biloba, American elder and more. This flavonoid helps your body get healthier by reducing the risk of cancer, cataracts and cardiovascular disease.

Resveratrol: Polyphenols, which are a group of plant compounds, count this phytochemical as one of its members. It can display antioxidant properties, like helping your body improve its cholesterol levels, reduce the risk for stroke and cancer, ward off atherosclerosis and perhaps slow down aging. It's found in large quantities in the skin of red grapes.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA): You can find this substance in every single cell in your body, as it takes the information found in DNA and translates it into instructions your cells use to determine which proteins it needs to synthesize.

Salicylates: The fancy way of describing these are as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but you likely known them in forms like aspirin. It's used as a painkiller and preservative and occurs naturally in nature, so those with salicylate sensitivities or allergies may want to steer clear of citrus fruits, berries, tomato sauce and mint flavouring.

Salmonella: This bacterium is a frequent culprit of food poisoning.

Saturated fat: They're so-called because instead of having double bonds between the carbon molecules, these fats are saturated with hydrogen molecules. It's not a hard-and-fast rule, but you can usually tell a saturated fat if it's a solid at room temperature, like with meat fat and full-fat dairy products. Some saturated fats that are liquids at room temperature include palm oil and coconut oil. Generally, increasing your consumption of saturated fats tends to lead to an increased risk of heart disease, some cancers and other diseases.

Serotonin: It's one of the many chemicals in your brain that sends signals across nerve cells, with this one being responsible for sleep patterns, pain perception and the secretion of pituitary hormones.

Sucrose: This sugar is made up of two parts, glucose and fructose, and comes from sugar cane and sugar beets and is most commonly known as "sugar" or "table sugar". In foods, you can find it in honey, fruits and vegetables.

Sulforaphane: Also known as "broccoli extract", this sulfur compound is thought to increase the activity of cancer-fighting enzymes in your body, reduce tumour growth, block carcinogens from starting cancer and fight hormone-related cancer. As said in its name, you can find it in broccoli, as well as in other cruciferous vegetables or as a supplement.

Sulfur compounds: When you look at the sulfur-containing phytochemicals in garlic and the onion family, they're together known as sulfur compounds. They're thought to help cancer-fighting enzymes in your body to a stronger job.

Tannins: They do an excellent job at detoxifying and scavenging free radicals, which can be harmful for your body. If you stock up on the tannins found in cranberries, you can help your body protect against urinary tract infections. Blueberries, blackberries, grapes, lentils, tea and wine are also good sources of tannins.

Toxin: This general term refers to a substance that has a detrimental effect on your body when it's introduced to your system.

Trans fatty acids: When you come across fats that are hydrogenated so they're fairly solid at room temperature, it's likely a trans fat. Having too much of these tends to be bad for your body because it raises the level of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and lowers the level of "good" (HDL) cholesterol. If you want to avoid trans fats, cutting out margarines, shortening, commercial frying fat and junk snacks are a good way to go.

Triglycerides: It's the most common form of dietary and body fat you'll come across, but having levels that are too high can lead to heart disease. Your body converts leftover calories into triglycerides, so monitoring your daily caloric intake can be one way to keep levels of them down at healthy amounts.

Tryptophan: You're probably most familiar with it as being that ingredient in turkey that makes you feel sleepy, but there's a lot more to tryptophan than that. It's an essential amino acid that your body converts into the B vitamin niacin, and helps to stimulate the release of serotonin.

Uric acid: When your body breaks down a substance called purine, uric acid is formed. It's essentially a waste product from your body metabolizing protein and happens all the time, but having too many uric acid crystals leads to the painful condition gout.

Deciphering what fancy words mean doesn't have to be complicated or difficult, especially when it relates to your health.