Chapter Four

• Anaemia


  A condition characterised by a reduced ability of the body to deliver enough oxygen to the cells due to a lack of healthy red blood cells
• Cartilage


  Connective tissue that protects and cushions the joints, and provides structure and support to various body tissues
• Cell membrane


  The outer layer of a cell that provides the structural support for the cell and allows nutrients, gases and waste into and out of the cell
• Cholesterol


  A type of fat required for optimal functioning of the body that in excess can lead to a range of health concerns including the blocking of the arteries (atherosclerosis). It can be 'bad' low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or 'good' high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
• Cultural factors


  The set of beliefs, moral values, traditions, language and laws (or rules of behaviour) held in common by a nation, a community or other defined group of people
• Dental caries


  Decay of teeth caused by a breakdown in the tissues that make up the tooth
• Discretionary foods


  Foods and drinks not necessary to provide the nutrients the body needs, but that may add variety. However, many of these foods are high in kilojoules and are therefore described as energy dense.
• Food insecurity


  The 'limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the limited ability to acquire foods in socially acceptable ways' (VicHealth, 2016)
• Fortified


  When a nutrient has been artificially added to food to increase its nutritional value
• Glycaemic index (GI)


  A scale from 0 to 100 indicating the effect on blood glucose of foods containing carbohydrates
• Haemoglobin


  A component of blood, largely consisting of iron and protein, that transports oxygen throughout the body
• Halal


  Permissible by Muslim law, particularly in relation to how meat is slaughtered
• Hard tissue


  Tissue in the body that forms hard substances such as bones, teeth and cartilage
• Kilojoule (kJ)


  A unit for measuring energy intake or expenditure
• Kosher


  Describes food (or premises in which food is sold, cooked, or eaten) satisfying the requirements of Jewish law
• Macronutrient


  Nutrient that is required by the body in large amounts (for example, protein, carbohydrates, fats)
• Metabolism


  A collection of chemical reactions that takes place in the body's cells. Metabolism converts the fuel in the food we eat into energy.
• Micronutrient


  Nutrient that is required by the body in small amounts (for example, minerals and vitamins)
• Orthorexia


  Eating disorder characterised by an excessive preoccupation with eating 'healthy' food
• Osteoporosis


  A condition characterised by a reduction in bone mass that makes bones more likely to break and fracture
• Pasteurisation


  A process that kills microbes (mainly bacteria) in food and drink, such as milk, juice and canned food
• Peak bone mass


  The maximum bone mass (i.e. density and strength) reached in early adulthood
• Political factors


  The decisions and actions taken by government and non-government agencies on issues, including those relating to healthcare, health policies and health funding
• Protective nutrient


  Any nutrient that acts to protect a person from a certain condition
• Risk nutrient


  Any nutrient that increases the chances of developing a certain condition
• Role model


  A person whose behaviour can be emulated by others, especially by younger people
• Social factors


  Aspects of society and the social environment that impact on health and wellbeing
• Soft tissue


  Organs and tissues in the body that connect, support or surround other structures. They include skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, collagen and organs.
• Sterilisation


  The procedure of making an object free of live bacteria or other microorganisms
• Stevia


  A shrub native to tropical and subtropical America, the leaves of which may be used as a calorie-free substitute for sugar
• Vegan


  A type of vegetarianism that excludes foods of animal origin, including eggs and dairy