Prebiotics: Found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans,
and seeds, they’re plant fibers that are the key food source for
your gut bacteria. Because they help microbes grow, prebiotics
have been likened to fertilizers for your gut.
Probiotics: Strains of bacteria, living organisms, that you add to
the current residents in your gut when you eat foods that contain
them
Saturated fat: Solid at room temperature, saturated fat raises
bad cholesterol (LDL) and good cholesterol (HDL), but high intake
overall is associated with higher risk of heart disease
Trans fat: A type of fat that was recently banned in the US but
has historically been in our food supply as the artificial form of
partially hydrogenated oils. Typically solid at room temperature,
it raises bad cholesterol (LDL) and promotes blood clot formation,
which can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Trans fat is also tied
to insulin resistance—a precursor to diabetes—and a host of
other health issues.
USDA: US Department of Agriculture
Water footprint: In this context, the amount of water used to grow,
process, and deliver a food product to us
WHO: World Health Organization
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