Glossary of Food-Related Terms (Cc)

Glossary of Food-Related Terms (Cc)

Caffeic acid -

A type of phenol found in various fruits and vegetables which has antioxidant like activities that may reduce the risk of degenerative diseases, heart disease and eye disease.

Caffeine -

Caffeine is a naturally-occurring substance found in the leaves, seeds or fruits of over 63 plant species worldwide and is part of a group of compounds known as methylxanthines. The most commonly known sources of caffeine are coffee and cocoa beans, cola nuts and tea leaves. Caffeine is a pharmacologically active substance and depending on the dose and can be a mild central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine does not accumulate in the body over the course of time and is normally excreted within several hours of consumption.

Calcium -

A mineral that builds bones and strengthens bones, helps in muscle contraction and heartbeat, assists with nerve functions and blood clotting. Teens 18 years and younger should strive to consume about 1,300 milligrams per day. Individuals 50 years and older need about 1,200 milligrams per day. Everyone else should strive for about 1,000 milligrams per day. Milk and other diary foods such as yogurt and most cheeses are the best sources of calcium. In addition, dark green leafy vegetables, fish with edible bones, and calcium fortified foods supply significant amounts.

Calorie -

A calorie is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of one milliliter (ml) of water at a standard initial temperature by one degree centigrade (1°C). It is also the general term for energy in food used synonymously with the term energy.

Carbohydrate -

Carbohydrates are organic compounds that consist of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. They vary from simple sugars containing from three to seven carbon atoms to very complex polymers. Only the hexoses (sugars with six carbon atoms) and pentoses (sugars with five carbon atoms) and their polymers play important roles in nutrition. Carbohydrates in food provide 4 calories per gram.
Plants manufacture and store carbohydrates as their chief source of energy. The glucose synthesized in the leaves of plants is used as the basis for more complex forms of carbohydrates. Classification of carbohydrates relates to their structural core of simple sugars, saccharides. Principal monosaccharides that occur in food are glucose and fructose. Three common disaccharides are sucrose, maltose and lactose. Polysaccharides of interest in nutrition include starch, dextrin, glycogen and cellulose.

Carcinogens, natural and synthetic -

The basic mechanism involved in the entire process of carcinogenesis - from exposure to the organism to expression of tumors - are qualitatively similar, if not identical, for the synthetic and naturally occurring carcinogens. Consequently, both naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals can be evaluated by the same epidemiologic or experimental methods and procedures.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -

The CDC composed of 11 Centers; Institutes and Offices. Aim to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury and disability. The Center is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Carrageenan -

A compound extracted from Irish moss (a type of seaweed) that is used in puddings, milk shakes and ice cream to stabilize and keep color and flavor even.

Catechins -

A type of flavonoid found in tea which provides the health benefits of neutralizing free radicals and possibly reducing the risk of cancer.

Cellulose -

A complex carbohydrate that constitutes the chief part of the cell walls of most plants. A component of dietary fiber and cellulose is indigestible by humans.

Cholesterol (dietary) -

Cholesterol is not a fat but rather a fat-like substance classified as a lipid. Cholesterol is vital to life and is found in all cell membranes. It is necessary for the production of bile acids and steroid hormones. Dietary cholesterol is found only in animal foods. Abundant in organ meats and egg yolks; cholesterol is also contained in meats and poultry. Vegetable oils and shortenings are cholesterol-free.

Cholesterol (serum or blood) -

High blood cholesterol is a risk factor in the development of coronary heart disease. Most of the cholesterol that is found in the blood is manufactured by the body in the liver at a rate of about 800 to 1,500 milligrams a day. By comparison the average American consumes 300 to 450 milligrams daily in foods.

Cholesterol (different types) -

Blood cholesterol is divided into three separate classes of lipoproteins: very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which contains most of the cholesterol found in the blood and high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
LDL seems to be the culprit in coronary heart disease and is popularly known as the "bad cholesterol." By contrast HDL is increasingly considered desirable and known as the "good cholesterol."

Chromosome -

Thread-like components in the cell that contain DNA. They make proteins. Genes are carried on the chromosomes.

Clinical trials -

Clinical trials undertake experimental study of human subjects. Trials may attempt to determine whether the finds of basic research are applicable to humans or to confirm the results of epidemiological research. Studies may be small with a limited number of participants or they may be large intervention trials that seek to discover the outcome of treatments on entire populations. The "gold standard" clinical trials are double-blind, placebo-controlled studies which employ random assignment of subjects to experimental and control groups unknown to the subject or the researcher.

Confounding variable or confounding factor -

A "hidden" variable that may cause an association which the researcher attributes to other variables.

Collagen hydrolysate -

A functional component of gelatin which may help improve some symptoms associated with osteoarthritis.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) -

A type of fatty acid found in cheeses and some meat products which may provide the health benefits of improving body composition and decreasing the risk of certain cancers.

Continuing Survey of Food Intake of Individuals (CSFII) -

A part of the National Nutrition Monitoring System which was the first nationwide dietary intake survey designed to be conducted annually. The survey is conducted by the USDA.

Control group -

The group of subjects in a study to whom a comparison is made in order to determine whether an observation or treatment has an effect. In an experimental study it is the group that does not receive a treatment. Subjects are as similar as possible to those in the test or treatment group.

Controlled experiment -

In this type of research, study subjects (whether animal or human) are selected according to relevant characteristics and then randomly assigned to either an experimental group or a control group. Random assignment ensures that factors known as variables which may affect the outcome of the study are distributed equally among the groups and therefore could not lead to differences in the effect of the treatment under study. The experimental group is then given a treatment (sometimes called an intervention) and the results are compared to the control group which does not receive treatment. A placebo or false treatment may be administered to the control group. With all other variables controlled, differences between the experimental and control groups may be attributed to the treatment under study.

Correlation -

An association or when one phenomenon is found to be accompanied by another. A correlation does not prove cause and effect. Correlation may also be defined statistically.

Crop residues -

Plant materials remaining from the former crop that are left on the soil surface after planting form crop residues. Crop residues reduce soil erosion, air and surface water pollution, conserve soil moisture and improve the soil by adding organic matter.

Crustacean -

Any of the various aquatic arthropods including lobsters, crabs, shrimps and barnacles. Characteristically have segmented bodies, chitinous exoskeletons and paired, jointed limbs.

Cultural controls -

An integrated pest management method which includes annual crop rotation to discourage pests and weed production.

Cyclamate -

A sweetener which is 30 times sweeter than sucrose, calorie free and heat stable and works synergistically with other sweeteners. It is approved for tabletop use in Canada and more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa. Since 1970, however the use of cyclamate has been banned in the United States on the basis of a study that suggested that cyclamates may be related to the development of bladder tumors in rats. Although 75 subsequent studies have failed to show that cyclamate is carcinogenic, the sweetener has yet to be reapproved for use in the United States.