| Word |
Definition |
| Antioxidants |
A substance, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, or Beta Carotene, thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of free-radicals. |
| Bio-diesel |
Bio-diesel is a type of bio-fuel made by combining vegetable oil with alcohol and can be directly substituted for diesel as a stand-alone fuel. |
| Bio-fuel |
Fuel derived from plants or waste. |
| Carbon Neutral |
If a product, in its life-cycle, emits as much carbon dioxide as it absorbs from the atmosphere, it is carbon neutral. Plant-derived fuels have the potential to be carbon neutral because the plants that they are derived from absorb carbon dioxide. |
| Carotene |
An orange-yellow to red crystalline pigment found in animal tissue and certain plants, such as carrots and red palm oil. It is converted to vitamin A in the liver. |
| Cholesterol |
A soft, waxy substance that used to manufacture hormones, bile acid, and vitamin D. It is present in all parts of the body, including the nervous system, muscle, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. It is found naturally in animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. |
| Fat |
Fat is an energy source for the body. There are three types of fat; saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Intake of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help reduce blood cholesterol when substituted for saturated fats in the diet. |
| Free Radicals |
An atom or group of atoms that has at least one unpaired electron and is therefore unstable and highly reactive. In animal tissues, free radicals can damage cells and are believed to accelerate the progression of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and age-related diseases. |
| Ghee |
A semi-fluid clarified butter that originated in India. |
| HDL |
High-density lipoproteins are good because they carry cholesterol to the liver, where it is expelled from the body. |
| Hydrogenation |
Liquid vegetable oils are often hydrogenated or chemically combined with hydrogen to turn them into solids like margarine. |
| LDL |
Low-density lipoproteins are considered bad because they eventually clog up arteries when we consume too much cholesterol. |
| Lipids |
Another term for fats that are in our blood and tissue. |
| Lipoproteins |
Lipoproteins carry cholesterol through the body. There are two types of lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). LDLs are considered bad because they eventually clog up arteries when we consume too much cholesterol. HDLs are good because they carry cholesterol to the liver, where it is expelled from the body. |
| Monounsaturated Fat |
Monounsaturated fat is found in canola oil, olives and olive oil, nuts, seeds, and avocados. Eating food that has more monounsaturated fat instead of saturated fat may help lower cholesterol and reduce heart disease risk. However, monounsaturated fat has the same number of calories as other types of fat, and may still contribute to weight gain if eaten in excess. |
| Orang-utan |
The orang-utans are two species of great apes known for their intelligence, long arms and reddish-brown hair. They are currently found only in rainforests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. |
| Palm Kernel Oil |
Palm kernel oil is obtained from the crushing of palm kernel, the inner part of palm oil fruit. It is a light yellow liquid at room temperature which is mainly used in oleochemical industries and speciality fats. |
| Palm Oil |
Oil derived from the outer pulp of the palm oil fruit, which is very high in carotene and Vitamin E. |
| Polyunsaturated Fat |
An unsaturated fat that is liquid at room temperature. Polyunsaturated fats are found in corn, soybean, and safflower oils, and many types of nuts. |
| Saturated Fat |
A fat that is solid at room temperature. Saturated fat is found in high-fat dairy products (like cheese, whole milk, cream, butter, and regular ice cream), ready-to-eat meats, the skin and fat of chicken and turkey and lard. They may contribute to weight gain if eaten in excess. Eating a diet high in saturated fat also raises blood cholesterol and risk of heart disease. |
| Trans-fat |
Most trans-fats consumed today are industrially created by partially hydrogenating plant oils. Hydrogenation solidifies liquid oils and increases the shelf life and the flavour stability of oils and foods that contain them. |
| Vanaspati |
A purified hydrogenated vegetable oil that is similar to margarine and usually fortified with vitamins A and D. Also used to prepare ghee. |
| WWF |
World Wide Fund For Nature started off as World Wildlife Fund and still actively works on environmental and wildlife conservation and research programmes around the globe. |