GLUCOSE.A simple sugar that results from the
breakdown of carbohydrates. Glucose circulates in
the blood and is the main source of energy for the
body.GLUTEN.An elastic protein found in wheat and
some other grains that gives cohesiveness to bread
dough. Some people are allergic to gluten and cannot
digest products containing wheat.GLYCEMIC INDEX (GI).A system devised at the
University of Toronto in 1981 that ranks carbohy-
drates in individual foods on a gram-for-gram basis
in regard to their effect on blood glucose levels in the
first two hours after a meal. There are two commonly
used GIs, one based on pure glucose as the reference
standard and the other based on white bread.GLYCEMIC LOAD (GL).A more practical ranking of
how an amount of a particular food will affect blood
glucose levels. The glycemic index (GI) is part of the
equation for determining ranking.GLYCERIN.A sweet syrupy alcohol obtained from
animal fats. It is often used in cough syrups and other
liquid medications to give them a smooth texture.GLYCEROL.The central structural component of
triglycerides and phospholipids. It is made naturally
by animals and plants; the ratio of atoms in glycerol is
three carbons, eight hydrogens, and three oxygens.GLYCOGEN.The storage form of glucose found in
the liver and muscles.GULF WAR SYNDROME (GWS).A disorder charac-
terized by a wide range of symptoms, including skin
rashes, migraine headaches, chronic fatigue, arthritis,
and muscle cramps, possibly related to military service
in the Persian Gulf war of 1991. GWS was briefly
attributed to the troops’ high consumption of bev-
erages containing aspartame, but this explanation
has been discredited.H
HDL CHOLESTEROL. High-density lipoprotein;
‘good’ cholesterol that helps protect against heart
disease.HEALTHY EATING INDEX (HEI).A measure of diet
quality that assesses conformance to federal dietary
guidance.HEART ATTACK.A heart attack occurs when blood
flow to the heart muscle is interrupted. This deprivesthe heart muscle of oxygen, causing tissue damage or
tissue death.
HEART DISEASE.Any disorder of the heart or its
blood supply, including heart attack, atherosclerosis,
and coronary artery disease.
HEAT EXHAUSTION.A mild form of heat stroke,
characterized by faintness, dizziness, and heavy
sweating.
HELICOBACTER PYLORI. A spiral-shaped Gram-
negative bacterium that lives in the lining of the sto-
mach and is known to cause gastric ulcers.
HEMATEMESIS.The medical term for bloody vomitus.
HEMODIALYSIS.Type of dialysis to clean wastes
from the blood after the kidneys have failed: the
blood travels through tubes to a dialyzer, a machine
that removes wastes and extra fluid. The cleaned
blood then goes back into the body.
HEMORRHAGIC.Relating to escape of blood from
the vessels. Bleeding.
HEMORRHOID.Swollen and inflamed veins around
the anus or rectum.
HERB.A plant used in cooking or for medical
purposes. Examples include Echinacea and ginseng.
HERBIVORE.An animal whose diet consists primar-
ily or entirely of plant matter. Herbivorous animals
include deer, sheep, cows, horses, elephants, giraffes,
and bison.
HIATUS HERNIA.A protrusion of part of the sto-
mach through the diaphragm to a position next to the
esophagus.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.Blood pressure is the force
of the blood on the arteries as the heart pumps blood
through the body. High blood pressure, or hyperten-
sion, is a condition where there is too much pressure,
which can lead to heart and kidney problems.
HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN (HDL).Often referred
to as good cholesterol. This takes cholesterol away
from the cells and back to the liver, where it’s broken
down or excreted.
HIGH-INTENSITY SWEETENER. Another term for
nonnutritive sweetener, used because these substances
add sweetness to food with very little volume.
HIGHLY ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (HAART).
The major form of pharmacological treatment for
HIV since 1996. HAART is a combination of several
different antiretroviral drugs selected for patients on
an individual basis. It is not a cure for HIV infectionGlossary