Directory

À la carte (ordering method)

Individually priced items listed on a restaurant menu that can be ordered separately according to your preference. The term literally means “according to the menu” and it’s the opposite of a buffet. When dining out on the MTHI plan, I suggest that you ...

À la minut (cooking method)

Cooked to order. I suggest that you ask your waiter if it’s possible to order à la minut to avoid food allergens (for example, Please hold the sugar in that shake or Can I have a salad instead of a potato?). *

AA

See Arachidonic acid.

Acemannan (type of fibre)

A type of mannan fibre that is particularly abundant in Aloe spp. gel. Acemannan has immunostimulating properties and it plays a big role in the healing properties of aloe plants. This lubricating fibre is also antiviral, anti-cancer, and gut-healing. ...

Acesulfame potassium (artificial sweetener)

Also known as acesulfame-K, Sunette, Sweet One, food additive number E950. A synthetic sweetener that measures two hundred times sweeter than table sugar and is commonly used in chewing gum, dry beverage mixes, instant coffee and tea, puddings, and nonda ...

Acetic acid (acidity regulator)

Also known as ethanoic acid. Acetic acid is the compound that gives vinegar its flavor and odor.

Acne (inflammatory skin disorder)

A skin disease characterized by comedones (black and white heads) and pustules (pimples) on the face, arms, back, and/or chest. It occurs when skin pores become clogged with oil (sebum), dead skin cells, and bacteria. *

Adaptive immune system

A branch of the immune system that facilitates the recognition and memory of antigens the body has already been exposed to, thus enhancing the immune response in future encounters. The information acquired by the immune system's memory cells isn't innate ...

ADD

See Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

ADHD

See Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Advanced glycation endproduct (AGE; damaged protein, fa...

A protein, fat, or nucleic acid that has been rendered dysfunctional after a sugar moiety (usually glucose or fructose) randomly binds to it. AGEs are implicated in a variety of chronic inflammatory degenerative diseases, particularly cardiovascular an ...

Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis)

Also known as aduki bean, red bean, red mung bean. Small, digestible, reddish-brown beans, often used in East Asian cuisines. Macrobiotic dietary practitioners were the first to introduce the beans to North America. They're versatile and can be used in ...

AFA

See Aphanizomenon flos-aquae.

Agar (gelling agent, stabilizer, thickener)

Also known as agar-agar, Ceylon moss, China grass, Japanese isinglass. A gelatinous, soluble fiber extracted from marine red algae (Phylum Rhodophyta), agar is used to thicken soups, drinks, puddings, and desserts. It's a vegan substitute for gelatin. Co ...

Agave syrup (natural sweetener)

Also known as agave nectar. Agave (Agave spp.) are succulent plants native to the southern U.S.A., Caribbean, and Central and South America. South American Indigenous peoples have traditionally used agave to make various products, including tequila and a ...

AGE

See Advanced Glycation Endproduct.

Al dente (cooking method)

An Italian term that translates literally as "to the tooth", it describes a way of cooking pasta or vegetables in which firmness is retained and overcooking is avoided. Vegetables should remain fresh and crispy, while pasta should retain a slight resista ...

Albumen (protein)

The water-soluble protein in egg whites.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativum)

Part of the pea (Fabaceae/Leguminosae) family, alfalfa is rich in minerals and plant enzymes. When the seeds are sprouted, they produce a crisp plant stem about four centimeters long that's used as a vegetable in salads or stir-fries. *

Algae (plant-like organisms)

The term commonly refers to some seaweeds as well as Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Commercially cultivated forms marketed as nutritional supplements include AFA (Aphanizomenon flos-aquae), chlorella, dunaleilla, spirulina. See also Agar, Aphanizomeno ...