14 Nutrition Buzzwords – Explained
Hey Angels and Alphas,
With a plethora of buzzwords popping up day after day in the nutrition and weight loss world, you might be caught in a web of words that’s, to say the least, overwhelming.
Though there’s no one way to define what’s clean, healthy, or natural when it comes to the foods we eat, we can make an effort to learn some of the more popular terms and buzzwords that are gaining traction in the fitness world.
Today, we’re here to do exactly that. By exploring 14 of the most popular nutrition buzzwords that are gaining more and more prevalence in 2022.
Let’s get started.
#1 ANTIOXIDANTS
Antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and selenium not only delay, but prevent cell damage by removing or even calming the potentially dangerous agents naturally produced inside your body.
In a nutshell, they help protect your cells and play a key role in preventing a lot of chronic diseases. They’re abundantly present in veggies and fruits.
#2 CRUCIFEROUS
This refers to a family of vegetables, including cabbage, cauliflower, kale, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. In short, this describes anything in the family Brassicaceae, also known as Cruciferae. They’re called this way because their petals form the shape of a cross and they’re touted for their health benefits.
Some of those include a high antioxidant content, high fiber, and glucosinolates, which research has shown have a significant effect on some chronic diseases.
#3 GLUTEN-FREE
Gluten is a mixture of proteins that are naturally found in wheat and some grains. It’s found in any food that’s made from wheat, barley, or rye, as well as countless processed foods. Foods that have “gluten-free” on the label simply do not contain these proteins.
#4 KETO
Keto is the rising star in the diet world and it’s reminiscent of Atkins and other low or no-carb diets. Keto is a diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat, designed to put the body in a state of ketosis in which the body is forced to utilize fat and some amino acids for energy instead of carbs.
#5 MACRONUTRIENTS
Macronutrients refer to protein, carbohydrates, and fats. In other words, your “macros.” These big three macronutrient groups are essential and should not be eliminated from your diet in the long term.
#6 MICRONUTRIENTS
Micronutrients consist of vitamins and minerals. They make up the collection of micronutrients and play a critical role in keeping your body and metabolism functioning well.
#7 METABOLISM
Metabolism is an umbrella term used to describe all the chemical processes that keep the body alive and functioning. These processes require energy in the form of calories which is where the measure of calorie burn starts to gain importance.
#8 OMEGA-3’S
These are fatty acids that include alpha-linolenic acid naturally found in plant oils, as well as eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid. They’re both found in marine oils. They have been shown to play a vital role in brain function and metabolism.
#9 ORGANIC
Organic foods are foods that are grown without the use of synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. They also, by definition, cannot contain modified organisms. But organic doesn’t always mean healthy. Organic sugar is still, at the end of the day, a form of added sugar.
#10 PALEO
Paleo is a way of eating based on the early human days of hunters and gatherers. Followers of Paleo stick to plenty of fruits, veggies, meat, seafood, and nuts while eliminating most types of dairy, beans, and grains.
#11 PHYTONUTRIENTS
Phytonutrients are healthy compounds such as polyphenols and antioxidants that are naturally found in veggies and fruits. They’re simply nutrients that are found in plants. “Phyto” just means “plant.” All of them have different functions, and therefore, benefits. Many yet to be discovered.
Though this is not the only indicator, you might be clued in that some types of phytonutrients present as the different colors of certain fruits and veggies. Orange foods such as pumpkin and sweet potatoes are great sources of beta-carotene. Red foods such as watermelon are abundant in lycopene.
#12 PROBIOTICS
These healthy bacteria (or live cultures) populate your gut microbiome and even help promote digestive and immune health. You’ll find an abundance of probiotics inside kefir and yogurt, as well as other fermented foods such as kimchi and sauerkraut.
#13 PREBIOTICS
In simple words, prebiotics feed the good bacteria in your gut. These good bacteria helpers are usually found in foods such as bananas, asparagus, onions, garlic, honey, sunchokes, chicory, and more.
#14 SUPERFOODS
As of yet, superfoods have no clear definition. The term refers to foods that allow you to get the most nutrition per bite. Compared to some other foods, they deliver more antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Though you’ll see many powders and supplements claiming that they’re a “superfood”, everyday foods such as berries and avocados usually top the list.
