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| A-Z NUTRITION GLOSSARY: |
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GABA
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| Gamma Aminobutyric Acid or GABA for short has been studied in many health arenas and continues to impress researchers with it’s balancing effects on the brain. GABA is actually an amino acid classified as the most important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain because it suppresses over-excitation. It acts as a balancer for the brain and helps induce relaxation and sleep. |
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Garcinia Cambogia
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| Garcinia Cambogia is a pumpkin like fruit rich in a substance called hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA is widely known for its powerful ability to block the conversion of sugars and starches into fats. Studies show that the weight loss benefits of garcinia cambogia are maximized when used in conjunction with other herbs and natural ingredients. |
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Garlic Extract
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Garlic Extract in medical studies have shown that garlic can lower cholesterol, prevent dangerous blood clots, reduce blood pressure, prevent cancer, and protect against bacterial and fungal infections. Known scientifically as Allium sativum, garlic contains more than 100 biologically useful chemicals, including substances with such strange names as alliin, alliinase, allicin, S-allylcysteine, diallyl sulfide, allyl methyl trisulfide.
Garlic ranks highly among foods that help prevent disease, largely due to its high content of organosulfur compounds and antioxidant activity. |
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Ginger
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Ginger root is a medicinal herb used primarily for the treatment of Dyspepsia (discomfort after eating), which includes the symptoms of bloating, heartburn, flatulence, and nausea. It is also considered helpful as a preventative for motion sickness and as a digestive aid. Ginger is a common and delicious spice traditionally used to improve digestion and prevent nausea. These properties result from helping bowel movements and relaxing the muscles controlling the digestive system. Ginger is considered an adjuvant in many Ayurvedic formulas which enhances absorption and prevents gastrointestinal side effects.
In some traditional systems it is credited with the ability to treat arthritis, fevers, headaches, and toothaches. It may have the ability to lower blood cholesterol and aid in preventing internal blood clots. It is often taken to help combat colds, coughs, and the flu. Ginger is a common and delicious spice traditionally used to improve digestion and prevent nausea. These properties result from helping bowel movements and relaxing the muscles controlling the digestive system. Ginger is considered an adjuvant in many Ayurvedic formulas which enhances absorption and prevents gastrointestinal side effects. |
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| Ginseng |
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Ginseng is also known as Anchi ginseng, Canadian ginseng, North American ginseng, Ontario ginseng, P. quincefolium, red berry, ren shen, sang, tienchi ginseng, Wisconsin ginseng. American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) is a species of ginseng native to eastern North America. It is a perennial dicot of the family Araliaceae.
The plant's forked root and leaves were traditionally used for medicinal purposes by Native Americans. Since the 1800s, the roots have been collected by "'sang hunters," and sold to Chinese or Hong Kong traders, who often pay very high prices for particularly old wild roots. American Ginseng was formerly particularly widespread in the Appalachian region (and adjacent forested regions such as Pennsylvania and New York State), but due its popularity the wild plant has been overharvested, and is thus rare in most parts of the United States. It is also grown commercially, under artificial shade, in fields in Wisconsin and Minnesota, and usually harvested after three to four years when ripe. The root of American ginseng is light tan and gnarled.
Its resemblance to the human body may have led herbalists to the folkloric belief that ginseng could cure all ills. In fact the word "panax" from Panax Ginseng means all illness, and ginseng has been used across the ages in many different cultures as a "cure-all". American Ginseng increases overall vitality and longevity, benefits insomnia, and helpful in removing toxins from the body. |
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Glucosamine
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| Glucosamine is an amino sugar that is an important precursor in the biochemical synthesis of glycosylated proteins and lipids. Glucosamine is also commonly used as a treatment for osteoarthritis. Since glucosamine is a precursor for glycosaminoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans are a major component of joint cartilage, supplemental glucosamine may help to rebuild cartilage and treat arthritis. See Joint-Science for more information. |
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Glycemic Index (GI)
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| The Glycemic Index is a dietary index that's used to rank carbohydrate-based foods. The Glycemic Index predicts the rate at which the ingested food will increase blood sugar levels. |
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Glycemic Load (GL)
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| Glycemic Load is equal to the Glycemic Index of a food times the number of grams of carbohydrates in the serving of food that's being eaten. Glycemic Load is believed to correlate more directly to blood sugar level changes than Glycemic Index. |
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Glycine
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| Glycine is an amino acid often used for its ability to act as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, which can balance brain activity and normalize its functions. |
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Grape Seed Extract
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Grape seed extract is a natural plant substance that has a concentrated source of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC). These anti-oxidants help protect cells from free radical damage and also promotes healthy circulation. Grape Seed Extract is rich in polyphenols, a compound that's high in antioxidants. Studies have shown oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) to be more powerful antioxidants than vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene.
Before Grape seed extract was discovered, the best sources of antioxidants came from vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene; however, these sources were not powerful enough to fight the free radicals and are also excreted by the body within a short time of ingestion. Grape seed extract, on the other hand, has been shown to remain in the body for as long as 72 hours, and is 20 times more potent than vitamin C, and 50 times more stronger than Vitamin E. |
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Green Tea Extract
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| Green Tea is one of nature’s superfoods, leading the list of thousands of top 10 foods to add to your diet for a plethora of benefits. Studies show green tea as a natural fat burner and metabolism booster (that does not increase heart rate). Nutritional experts around the world recommend green tea for cancer patients, heart disease, HIV infections, urinary tract infections, and many other conditions. |
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Gugul Lipid Extract
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| (Guggul Lipid Extract) Gugul Lipid, the lipid extract of gum guggul, has been marketed in India for the past 15 years as a lipid-lowering agent. Initial experiments with rats produced significant decreases in both LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The active compounds in gugulipid believed to be responsible for the cholesterol-lowering properties are two steroids: E- and Z-guggulsterone. These two steroids constitute about 2 percent by weight of gum guggul. |
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