GLOSSARY
Select acronyms and key terms whose meanings are easy to mix up
or forget
AICR: American Institute for Cancer Research
BPA: Bisphenol A, a harmful industrial chemical found in many
single-use plastics, the lining of some canned goods, and store
register receipts, among other things
CAFOs: Confined animal feeding operations
Carbon footprint: In this context, the amount of greenhouse gases
(GHG), especially carbon dioxide, emitted to grow, process, and
deliver a food product to us
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
EPA: US Environmental Protection Agency
FDA: US Food and Drug Administration
Gut microbiome: The community of microbes that inhabits each of
our intestinal tracts
HCAs: Heterocyclic amines, potentially carcinogenic compounds
generated from grilling (the char on grilled meat)
HDL cholesterol: “Good” cholesterol
HFCs: Hydrofluorocarbons, the chemicals that chill refrigerators
and air conditioners and are powerful contributors to global
warming
LDL cholesterol: “Bad” cholesterol
Monounsaturated fat: Liquid at room temperature, it lowers
LDL and can raise HDL in certain cases. For a healthy diet,
make most of the fat consumed monounsaturated, along with
polyunsaturated fat.
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