This is the primary fuel used by cells to generate the biochemical reactions essential for life.
The glands located on the top of the kidneys that are responsible for the production of stress-related hormones, such as cortisol, DHEA, and adrenaline.
The body's ability to process oxygen. It is a combination of lung capacity, the size of the capillaries, the pumping action of the heart, and transfer of oxygen from red blood cells to target tissues.
Exercise with a low enough intensity to facilitate adequate oxygen transfer to the muscle cells so that no buildup of lactic acid is observed. This type of exercise is useful for reducing insulin levels and lowering blood glucose.
This is the short-chain omega-3 fatty acid commonly found in the diet. Common sources include flaxseed and soy oils. Unfortunately the metabolism of ALA into the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, is very inefficient in humans.
These are the building blocks of protein. There are eight essential amino acids the body cannot make and, therefore, must be included in the foods you eat.
Exercise at an intensity that exceeds the ability to supply oxygen to the muscle cells leading to the buildup of lactic acid. Anaerobic exercise stimulates the synthesis of both growth hormone and testosterone.
The use of nutritional interventions to increase anti-inflammatory eicosanoids while simultaneously decreasing the production of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids.
This is the 20-carbon length long-chain omega-6 fatty acid that is the immediate precursor of many eicosanoids that increase inflammation. Egg yolks, fatty red meat, and organ meats are rich sources of arachidonic acid.
This is the marker of the balance of the precursors of pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory eicosanoids. The higher the AA/DGLA ratio, the less anti-inflammatory eicosanoids will be produced.
The ratio is determined from levels of these long-chain omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in the plasma phospholipids. The AA/EPA ratio provides a precise measurement of the balance of eicosanoid precursors in a patient. The higher the AA/EPA ratio, the greater the levels of silent inflammation.
The primary source of energy for the brain. Elevated blood glucose levels cause diabetes and accelerate aging.
The reduction of calories that maintains adequate levels of protein and essential fats while also supplying adequate amounts of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).
The hormone released from the adrenal glands in response to stress or low blood glucose. Its primary mode of action in the times of stress is to shut down eicosanoid synthesis. Its synthesis in the adrenal gland requires the second messenger, cyclic AMP.
A second messenger that begins the biological response initiated by a hormone. Cyclic GMP is the second messenger induced by nitric oxide.
A condition in which blood glucose is not well controlled. Type I diabetics make no insulin, whereas Type II diabetics are characterized by the overproduction of insulin, but the inability of the target cells to respond to the insulin.
This is the essential fatty acid precursor of arachidonic acid. The eicosanoids derived from DGLA have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which are opposed to pro-inflammatory properties of eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid (AA). Adequate inhibition of the delta-5 desaturase will increase the levels of DGLA relative to AA in individual cells.
This is the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that critical for brain function. DHA is ultimately derived from EPA. DHA is found in high concentrations in neural tissues.
Eicosanoids are hormones derived from 20-carbon essential fatty acids. These fatty acids are AA, DGLA, and EPA. These hormones control inflammation. It is balance of eicosanoids that comes from long-chain omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids that ultimately determines a person’s state of wellness. The 1982 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded for understanding the role of eicosanoids in human disease.
This is the 20-carbon length long-chain omega-3 fatty acid that that inhibits the formation of arachidonic acid (AA). Fish oils are the richest source of EPA.
These are fatty acids that the body can’t produce and must be part of the diet. There are two classes of essential fatty acids: omega-3 and omega-6. These differ by the positions of the double bonds within the fatty acids. This positioning determines their three-dimensional structure in space, and hence the type of eicosanoids that can be made from them.
A group of three steroid hormones that convey female characteristics and control fertilization. The production of estrogen is stimulated by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which uses cyclic AMP as its second messenger.
Any molecule that contains an unpaired electron. Free radicals are unstable and will extract electrons from other biological molecules, which generates more free radicals.
This is the immediate metabolic product of linoleic acid. This fatty acid is found in certain foods (such as oatmeal), edible oils (such as borage oil) and also found in human breast milk. GLA is rapidly metabolized into DGLA and potentially into AA depending on the activity of the delta-5 desaturase enzyme.
The hormone from the pancreas that causes the release of stored carbohydrate in the liver to restore blood glucose levels. Glucagon uses the second messenger cyclic AMP to exert its biological action.
The only simple carbohydrate that circulates in the bloodstream. Glucose is the primary fuel used by the brain. It can also be stored in the liver and muscles in a polymer form known as glycogen.
The ability of muscle cells and the liver to remove glucose from the bloodstream. As you age, glucose tolerance decreases.
The "good" cholesterol that helps remove cholesterol from cells. If insulin levels go up, then HDL levels go down. The lower your HDL level, the more likely you are to suffer cardiovascular complications.
Biological compounds that communicate information at a distance. Hormones require specific receptors to begin their biological action and use second messengers to initiate the cellular process that uses that information.
Insulin in secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas to lower blood sugar levels. The carbohydrate content of a meal primarily stimulates insulin secretion. It is essentially a storage hormone that drives macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) into cells for immediate use or long-term storage. High levels of insulin activate the delta-5 desaturase enzyme thus increasing AA levels.
The total body weight minus the fat mass. Lean body mass consists of water, bones, collagen, and muscle.
This short-chain omega-6 fatty that can be converted into arachidonic acid by way of intermediates such as gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo gamma linolenic acid (DGLA). Linoleic acid is the most common dietary form of all essential fatty acids.
Any food that contains calories and, therefore, can generate hormonal responses. Protein, carbohydrate, and fat are macronutrients.
Vitamins and minerals that have no caloric value and little direct impact on hormonal response.
The type of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in protein and most seed oils. This type of fat can generate both "good" and "bad" eicosanoids.
This describes the percentage of your total weight that is composed of fat. The higher your percentage of body fat, the greater the likelihood of chronic disease, such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes.
A new class of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids derived from EPA and DHA that is induced by conformational in the cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzyme induced by low dose aspirin.
The form of fat found in various lipoproteins in the bloodstream. High levels of triglycerides are usually indicative of high levels of insulin. The ratio of TG/HDL is a powerful indicator of insulin levels and is strongly predictive of future cardiovascular events.