This nutrient glossary defines and describes the key vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids critical to human health and functioning. With complex nutritional biochemistry pathways, distilling the fundamentals aids comprehension. This nutritional reference guide aims to achieve that purpose.
Our glossary covers all 13 vitamins and describes the difference between fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K versus water-soluble B-complex and vitamin C. Each vitamin's essential functions, benefits, natural food sources, deficiencies, recommended dosages, and interactions will be summarized.
Key minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc will receive dedicated entries on their absorption, metabolism, health impacts, and regulation. Tables within each nutrient reference may showcase their abundant food sources.
The glossary will also outline essential fatty acids like the omega groups. For example, the health effects of omega-3 alpha-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic fatty acids differ. So do omega-6 linoleic versus arachidonic acids. Their anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular, neurological, and other benefits will be compared.
This easy-access guide and nutrient glossary aims to enlighten students, researchers, health professionals, and the general public on the fundamentals of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids central to wellness. Condensing volumes of research into an authoritative yet understandable resource is the glossary’s ultimate purpose.