Category: M
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Macaroon
A small round dry pastry made of almond paste, sugar and the white of an egg. A type of chewy cookie that is commonly made with almond paste or ground almonds, combined with egg whites, sugar, and flavoring. In some cases, other nuts may be used as a substitute for almonds, while coconut is occasionally…
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Macaroni
A nourishing product made from wheat flour (semolina, durum, farina), and water or milk and eggs and dried into tubes. The pasta called macaroni derives its name from the Italian word maccaroni, originally the name of a food made from a paste of groats, a coarsely ground grain. This Italian word developed from makaria, a…
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Myxoedema
Low metabolic rate as a result of hypothyroidism, commonly the result of iodine deficiency. A condition caused when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone. The person, often a middle-aged woman, becomes overweight, moves slowly and develops coarse skin. It can be treated with thyroxine. A situation where the skin and other bodily…
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Myristic acid
A medium-chain saturated fatty acid (C14:0).
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Myoglobin
Haemoprotein mainly found in muscle where it serves as an intracellular storage site for oxygen. The oxygen transporting protein of muscles, resembling hemoglobin in function. A muscle haemoglobin, which takes oxygen from blood and passes it to the muscle. Iron-containing globulin in muscle. Myoglobin is an iron-containing protein in muscle cells that stores and transports…
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Mycotoxins
Toxins produced by fungi (moulds), especially Aspergillusflavus under tropical conditions and Penicillium and Fusarium species under temperate conditions. A poisonous compound produced by molds. Toxins produced by fungi. More than 350 different mycotoxins are known to man. Almost all mycotoxins possess the capacity to harmfully alter the immune systems of animals. Consumption by animals (including…
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Mycoprotein
Name given to mould mycelium used as a food ingredient. A meat substitute made from fungi. It can be shaped, textured, and flavored, provides protein and fiber, and is low in saturated fats.
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Mucous colitis
Irritable bowel syndrome. An inflammation of the mucous membrane in the intestine, in which the person experiences pain caused by spasms in the muscles of the walls of the colon, accompanied by constipation or diarrhoea or alternating attacks of both. In this condition, the patient frequently experiences bowel movements each day, often accompanied by discomfort…
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Mucoproteins
Glycoproteins containing a sugar, usually chondroitin sulphate, combined with amino acids or peptides; occur in mucin. A complex of protein and oligosaccharides. A form of protein found in blood plasma. One of a group of proteins found in the globulin fraction of blood plasma. Mucoproteins are globulins combined with a carbohydrate group (an amino sugar).…
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Mucopolysaccharides
Polysaccharides containing an amino sugar and uronic acid; constituent of the mucoproteins of cartilage, tendons, connective tissue, cornea, heparin, and blood-group substances. A complex of protein and polysaccharides. A group of complex carbohydrates containing hexosamine; a thick gelatinous material. Any of a group of complex carbohydrates that are structural parts of connective tissue. One of…