Glossary of Terms

Glossary of Terms

Absorption
The uptake of one substance into the structure or matrix of another substance. For instance, fiber gets thick and gelatinous and absorbs waste material as it passes through the colon.

Adsorption
The process by which the surface of a material physically grabs another material and holds it. For instance, bentonite contains charged particles that adsorb heavy metals and other toxic substances.

All 5 fiber types
The five primary types of dietary fiber are cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, gums and lignin.

Antioxidant
A compound which reduces or prevents free radical or oxidative damage.

Assimilation
The process of nutrients passing through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream and then to the cells where the nutrients are used by the body.

Bentonite clay
Bentonite is volcanic clay with exceptionally strong detoxifying properties. High quality bentonite contains a high percentage of the clay type called montmorillonite.

Bile acids
Bile is made in the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and secreted into the small intestine to help in the digestion of fats.

Bioavailability
The ability of nutrients to be digested, assimilated and used by the body, rather than passing through the body undigested.

Carbohydrates
Sugars and starches. Dietary fiber is required to be listed as part of the carbohydrates in the Supplement Facts nutrition panel on product labels, even though fiber is not digested in the small intestine as are most sugars and starches.

Chelate
Made up of a compound, such as an amino acid, bound to a metallic ion. Often minerals are chelated so the body can better assimilate them.

Cellulose
Cellulose is a major component of plant cell walls, and is considered a type of insoluble dietary fiber.

Colon
The colon, or large intestine, is the last section of the digestive system. The colon is 5 to 6 feet long, and holds waste material and toxins until they are eliminated from the body. The colon is also the home for trillions of bacteria, both beneficial and harmful. It is important to maintain a healthy colon to ensure the overall health of the body.

Detoxification
The process of removing toxins. Primary detoxifying pathways in the body are through the liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, respiratory system, skin and colon.

Dietary fiber
The portion of foods that is not digested by enzymes in the small intestine, but passes through to the colon.

Diverticulosis
Diverticulosis refers to the existence of pouches in the colon wall, but without inflammation associated with diverticulitis. Diverticulosis is very common in older adults. The pouches normally can be kept from becoming inflamed by eating a high fiber diet or consuming fiber supplements.

Folic acid
An important B-vitamin. It helps protect against birth defects and also helps lower elevated homocysteine levels to help protect the heart and circulatory system.

Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. agency responsible for overseeing food safety, dietary supplement safety, and drug safety and effectiveness.

FOS
FOS stands for fructo-oligosaccharides, which are a type of sugar that is not digested in the small intestine. FOS passes through to the colon and is used as a food source by beneficial bacteria such as bifidus and acidophilus.

Gluten
A type of protein in wheat and several other grains, gluten contributes to the texture of raised breads. It is a highly allergic protein for many people, particularly people with celiac sprue disease.

Sylvester Graham
A 19th century reformer who stressed the importance of eating whole grains for health. Graham flour, and through that the Graham cracker, are named after him.

Gums
One of the 5 types of dietary fiber, gums are considered a type of soluble fiber. Gums such as acacia gum and guar gum are used in foods and in dietary supplements.

Hemicellulose
One of the 5 types of dietary fiber, hemicellulose can be either a soluble fiber or an insoluble fiber, depending on its food source and structure within the food. Some types of hemicellulose, such as psyllium husks, have a tremendous water holding capacity.

Insoluble fiber
Insoluble fiber is not soluble in water. It is made up of cellulose, lignin and some types of hemicellulose. Insoluble fiber promotes bulky stools, speeds transit time, and helps protect the colon.

John Harvey Kellogg
He was a strong believer in the benefits of dietary fiber in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s when fiber was considered unimportant. And yes, he did found the Kellogg’s cereal company.

Kidneys
The kidneys are a pair of organs, part of the body’s waste elimination system. The kidneys filter waste from the blood and eliminate it as urine. The primary waste removed by the kidneys is urea, a by-product of protein metabolism in the body.

Latin names of herbs
Each herb (in fact, every plant) has a Latin name in addition to the common English name. For example, dandelion is Taraxacum officinale. We are using herb common names in this web site.

Lignin
Lignin is a type of insoluble fiber, contained in the woody parts of plants. It has protective properties in the colon.

Liver
The liver is the largest gland in the body and probably the most important detoxifying organ of the body. The liver constantly removes toxins from the blood and neutralizes them for elimination through the colon. The liver also produces bile for digesting fats, regulates the amount of blood sugar in the body, and has numerous other functions.

Lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is similar to the blood system, except that it takes waste materials away from cells throughout the body, whereas the blood system brings nutrients to the cells. Eventually the waste in the lymphatic system is dumped into the colon.

Montmorillonite
The scientific name for clay making up a high percentage of high quality bentonite.

Mucilage
Another name for gel-forming dietary fibers.

Pectin
One of the 5 fiber types, pectin is a type of soluble fiber found primarily in fruits and vegetables.

Phosphatidylcholine
A phospholipid (fat) from soy beans.

Psyllium husks
Psyllium husks are the outer portion (similar to bran) of the psyllium seed. Psyllium husks provide some of the benefits of both soluble fiber (i.e. supporting heart health) and insoluble fiber (i.e. promoting regularity). Yerba Prima psyllium husks are made only from the species Plantago ovata, which is the best quality psyllium.

Pyridoxine
Scientific name for Vitamin B-6.

Riboflavin
Scientific name for Vitamin B-2.

Selenium
A trace mineral needed by humans in very small amounts, it protects cells against free radical and oxidative damage.

Short chain fatty acids
Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are produced by beneficial bacteria that live in the colon. SCFA are a preferred food source for the growth of healthy mucosal cells lining the walls of the colon. Thus, SCFA help to maintain colon health. The best-known SCFA are butyrate, acetate and propionate.

Soluble fiber
Soluble fiber is soluble in water. It is made up of pectin, gums and some types of hemicellulose. Soluble fiber helps absorb toxins, acts as a food source for beneficial bacteria and helps maintain cholesterol levels within the normal range to support heart health.

Standardized herbs
These are generally herbal extracts that are standardized to a marker compound (usually, but not always, one of the active ingredients) to ensure consistency of the extract from batch to batch.

Thiamin
Scientific name for Vitamin B-1.

Total dietary fiber
This refers to the total amount of fiber in a food, as determined by an official test method. It includes both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber.

Toxins
Toxins are substances that damage the body or cause illness. They are taken in from the outside (i.e. pesticides, chemicals, cigarette smoke) or are produced inside the body (i.e. substances that fight bacteria, cellular waste products).

USP/NF
USP/NF stands for the United States Pharmacopoeia and National Formulary. This is a compendium of substances that are approved for pharmaceutical use in the United States. For an ingredient to be called USP, it must meet stringent standards.

Zinc
An important mineral for immune function, digestion, proper wound healing, proper insulin function, male prostate health, and much more.

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