Plain-English definitions for the terms that come up across our articles. Every glossary entry is also a standalone explainer.
Macronutrients are the three nutrients your body needs in large amounts - protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Here's what each does, how many calories each contains, and how to think about balance.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats your body can't make. EPA and DHA from fish have the strongest evidence. ALA from plants converts poorly. Here's what you need to know.
Vitamin B12 makes red blood cells, maintains nerves, and builds DNA. It's found almost exclusively in animal foods - here's why that matters and what deficiency looks like.
Dietary fibre is the indigestible part of plant food. It has two main types - soluble and insoluble - with different functions. Here's what fibre does and why most people don't get enough.
Inflammation is the body's defence response to injury or infection. Acute inflammation heals you. Chronic inflammation is linked to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Here's the difference.
Insulin resistance means your cells stop responding properly to insulin. It's the root cause of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Here's how it develops and what to do about it.
A calorie deficit means consuming fewer calories than you burn. Here's how it works, how to calculate yours, and how big a deficit is actually safe.
The glycemic index measures how fast a food raises blood sugar on a scale of 0-100. Here's what the numbers mean, the difference between GI and glycemic load, and how to use it practically.
The gut microbiome is the community of trillions of bacteria living in your digestive tract. Here's what it does, why it matters, and what affects its health.