Glossary of PureMinerals Terms

A

Antioxidant: a substance such as a vitamin that removes potentially damaging oxidizing agents from the body such as radicals.

Avidin: a biotin-binding protein produced in the oviducts of chickens and deposited in the whites of their eggs, making up 0.05% of the total egg protein. Cooking an egg destroys the avidin. 

C

Chromanol ring: a bicyclic heterocycle formed by ring-closure from a substituted quinone. Rings with isoprene side chains are the basis of natural biological compounds, such as tocopherols and tocotrienols (vitamin E).

Coenzyme Q10: a substance that helps convert food into energy. It's found in almost every cell in the body. A powerful antioxidant.

Co-factor: a substance other than the substrate whose presence is indispensable for the activity of an enzyme.

E

Emulsification: the dispersal of two or more immiscible liquids (such as oil and water) into a semi-stable mixture. The stabilizer is the emulsifier or surfactant.

Enzyme: a protein functioning as a biological chemical catalyst to speed up biochemical reactions.

F

Fat: a source of essential fatty acids the body can't make. It helps the body absorb vitamins A, D, and E, which are fat-soluble, and can only be absorbed with the help of fats.

Fatty acid: the building blocks of fat in our bodies and food. During digestion, the body breaks down fats into fatty acids, which are absorbed into the blood and transported to tissues that need them.

G

Glycogen: the polysaccharide form of glucose made of many connected glucose molecules serving as the primary energy source in the human body. It comes from the carbohydrates we eat.

H

HDL cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,or “good” cholesterol. It absorbs LDL cholesterol in the blood and carries it to the liver, which flushes it from the body. High levels of HDL cholesterol can lower the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Hypoglycemia: the condition when the blood sugar (glucose) level drops too low.

I

Inflammation: the process by which the immune system recognizes and deals with harmful stimuli and begins the healing process.

K

Kidney stones: hard, pebble-like stones of various shapes and sizes made of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate that form in one or both kidneys. Early treatment will prevent permanent damage.

L

LDL cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or “bad” cholesterol. It makes up most of the body's cholesterol. High levels raise the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Lycopene: a tetraterpene and a carotene compound with antioxidant properties present in red and pink fruits, such as tomatoes, watermelons, and pink grapefruit.

M

Metabolism: the chemical processes in living organisms necessary to maintain life.

Monoglutamate: Any salt or ester of glutamic acid with a single glutamate residue.

O

Oxalate: a salt or ester of oxalic acid, ethanedioic acid, (COOH)₂. Oxalate (ethanedioate) is a natural colorless anion with the formula C₂O₄²⁻ found in some foods. A common oxalate salt is sodium oxalate (Na₂C₂O₄), and several esters such as dimethyl oxalate (C₂O₄(CH₃)₂).

Omega-3: Omega-3 fatty acids are healthy fats that seem to  support heart health by helping to lower triglycerides levels.

R

Retinopathy: disease of the small retinal blood vessels at the back of the eye. Opticians use an ophthalmoscope to see signs of it.

S

Substrate: the substance on which an enzyme acts.

V

Vitamin: an organic compound needed in tiny amounts in the diet because the body can't make it. It is short for vital amine.