Glossary of Food-Related Terms (Bb)
Basal metabolism -
Basal metabolism is the energy (calories) a body burns when completely at rest. Basal metabolism rate (BMR) is the level of energy needed to keep involuntary body processes going. These processes include heartbeat, breathing, generating body heat, perspiring to keep cool & transmitting messages to the brain. For a sedentary person BMR accounts for about 60-70 percent of daily energy expenditure; the remaining 30-40 percent is from physical activity and from body heat produced after a meal. Physical activity is responsible for as much as 50-60 percent of the total energy expenditure in people who include frequent aerobic activity into their lifestyles.
Basophils -
Blood cells which when connected to immunoglobulin E antibodies release histamine or other substances causing allergic symptoms.
Beta-carotene -
A type of carotenoid found in various fruits and vegetables which provide the health benefit of neutralizing free radicals that may cause damage to cells.
Beta glucan -
A soluble fiber in oats which provides the health benefit of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease by decreasing circulating blood cholesterol.
Bias -
Bias occurs when problems in study design lead to effects that are not related to the variables being studied. An example is selection bias which occurs when study subjects are chosen in a way that can misleadingly increase or decrease the strength of an association. Choosing experimental and control group subjects from different populations would result in a selection bias.
Biodegradable -
Describes any material that can be broken down by biological action (e.g., dissimilation, digestion, denitrification). The breakdown of material (chemicals) by microorganisms (bacteria, fungus, etc.).
Biological activity -
The effect (change in metabolic activity upon living cells) caused by specific compounds or agents. For example the drug aspirin causes the blood to thin that is to clot less easily.
Biological controls -
An integrated pest management method which includes the use of living organisms to reduce the extent of pest problems. This includes the use of beneficial or predatory insects such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps to control crop-destroying bugs.
Biopesticide -
A biopesticide is any material of natural origin used in pest control derived from living organisms such as bacteria, plant cells or animal cells.
Biotechnology -
The simplest definition of biotechnology is "applied biology." The application of biological knowledge and techniques to develop products. It may be further defined as the use of living organisms to make a product or run a process. By this definition, the classic techniques used for plant and animal breeding, fermentation and enzyme purification would be considered biotechnology. Some people use the term only to refer to newer tools of genetic science. In this context, biotechnology may be defined as the use of biotechnical methods to modify the genetic materials of living cells so they will produce new substances or perform new functions. Examples include recombinant DNA technology in which a copy of a piece of DNA containing one or a few genes is transferred between organisms or "recombined" within an organism.
Blind (single or double) experiment -
In a single blind experiment the subjects do not know whether they are receiving an experimental treatment or a placebo. In a double blind experiment neither the researchers nor the participants are aware of which subjects receive the treatment - until after the study is completed.
Body mass index (BMI) -
Method used for determining overweight and obesity in adults. BMI is a calculation that divides a person’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared (BMI = [kg/m²]. BMI can also be calculated in pounds and inches: BMI=[lbs/in²] X 703. The general guideline currently recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention is that individuals with a BMI of 25 to 29.9 are considered overweight and those individuals with a BMI greater than 30 are considered obese.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE is also known as "mad cow disease." It is a rare chronic degenerative disease affecting the brain and central nervous system of cattle. Cattle with BSE lose their coordination, develop abnormal posture and experience changes in behavior. Clinical symptoms take 4-5 years to develop followed by death in a period of several weeks to months unless the affected animal is destroyed sooner.
rBST (bovine somatotropin) -
Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) is virtually identical to a cow's natural somatotropin; a hormone produced in its pituitary gland that stimulates milk production. Treatment with rBST can increase a cow's milk production by 10 percent to 15 percent.
Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) -
One of the most common microorganisms used in biologically-based pesticides is the Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt bacterium. Several of the proteins produced by the Bt principally in the coating the bacteria forms around itself are lethal to individual species of insects. By using Bt in pesticide formulations target insects can be controlled using an environmentally benign biologically-based agent. Bt-based insecticides have been widely used by home gardeners for many years as well as on farms.
Bulimia Nervosa -
An eating disorder characterized by rapid consumption of a large amount of food in a short period of time with a sense of lack of control during the episode and self-evaluation unduly influenced by body weight and shape. There are two forms of the condition; purging and non-purging. The first type regularly engages in purging through self-induced vomiting or the excessive use of laxatives or diuretics. Alternatively, the non-purging type controls weight through strict dieting, fasting or excessive exercise.
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) -
A phenolic chemical compound used to preserve foods by preventing rancidity. It may also be used as a defoaming agent for yeast. BHA is found in foods high in fats and oils also in meats, cereals, baked goods, beer, and snack foods.
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) -
A phenolic chemical compound used to keep food from changing flavor, odor and color. It is added to foods high in fats and oils and cereals.
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