Glossary

Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Hydration status

    Hydration status refers to the regulation of water content and distribution within the body. The human body is approximately 60% water, which highlights its critical nature. Water serves a host of life-supporting actions and if too much water is lost (dehydration), the body’s well¬ being becomes compromised. Some principle roles for water in the body…

  • Hormone sensitive lipase

    Hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) is an enzyme that mobilizes fatty acids from triglyceride stored in adipose cells in response to the actions of an array of hormones. Hormones known to activate HSL include epinephrine, norepinephrine, adrenocorticotropic hormone, thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone, glucagon, and growth hormone.  

  • Heat injury

    Heat injury can occur in athletes (as well as nonathletes) during exercise performed at high temperatures and high humidity. While heat injury can easily impair performance, more importantly, when ignored it can progress to the point of serious danger. Early indications of heat injury include dizziness, nausea, tingling sensations, and so forth, which can lead…

  • Green tea

    Green tea

    Green tea from the plant Camellia sinensis has become a popular herb due to its potential effects on chronic degenerative diseases (such as heart disease, cancer, etc.). The benefits of green tea have been ascribed to the antioxidative potential of it and its constituents (for example, tannins and catechins). To date, no studies have been…

  • Glycogen-sparing

    Many dietary techniques and supplements that have been used to improve endurance exercise performance are based on their potential glycogen-sparing properties. Adequate fuel substrates for exercise are critical for preventing fatigue. When liver glycogen is depleted during exercise, adequate production of glucose is not possible under conditions of intense physical activity; thus, hypoglycemia ensues and…

  • Garcinia cambogia

    The herb Garcinia cambogia is a very small purple fruit native to India and Southeast Asia. This herb has been a popular weight loss aid due to its richness in a substance called hydroxycitric acid, or HCA, which is closely related to the citric acid found in grapefruits and oranges and has been marketed for…

  • Fat loading

    The process of fat loading derives its name from the term carbohydrate loading, a technique of consuming a very high carbohydrate diet in the days leading up to competition. Fat loading techniques that have been the topic of a significant amount of scientific research vary from carbohydrate loading in two major ways. One is that…

  • Ergolytic

    The term ergolytic was coined to mean the opposite of ergogenic. A device, substance, or technique that hinders performance is considered ergolytic.  

  • Erogenic prospect

    The term “ergogenic aid” can be extremely misleading. One often perceives a compound called an ergogenic aid as a product that is sure to improve athletic performance. In reality, this term is used to describe both effective and ineffective supplements marketed to improve performance. More accurate terminology for unproven products is needed to avoid confusion…

  • Ergogenic aid

    An ergogenic aid is a device, substance, or technique that can be used to increase athletic performance. Specifically, the word’s root “ergo” refers to “work” and “genic” means “producing”; thus, an ergogenic aid allows for the production of work. Ergogenic aids have been classified into many broad categories including nutritional, pharmacological, physiological, psychological, and biomechanical…

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