Acupuncture: A Chinese medical practice used to treat illness and relieve pain. It involves inserting needles into different parts of the body.

Anthropology: The study of humans--especially their culture, beliefs and ways of living.

Asthma: A chronic lung disease that makes breathing difficult. With asthma, there is inflammation of the air passages that results in a temporary narrowing of the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs. This results in asthma symptoms, which include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness.

Blood Glucose Levels: Glucose is a type of sugar. It is the main source of energy used by the body. Glucose levels are the amount of this kind of sugar found in your blood. Your blood glucose levels are tested to check for diabetes or monitor the treatment of diabetes.

Body Mass Index (BMI): This is a way of measuring a person's weight based on their height--many doctors use this formula to find out if a person needs to lose weight in order to be healthier. You can find out what your BMI is online using a BMI calculator. If the BMI is over 25, the person may be overweight and need to begin changing their lifestyle by getting more exercise or changing the food they eat. If the BMI is over 30, the person may need to lose weight in order to reduce their chances of getting diabetes, hypertension or any of the other health problems associated with obesity.

Bone Density: This is a measure of how solid bones are. The more solid (or dense) the bone is, the better. Minerals (like calcium) make up most of the bone's density. As we get older, bone density naturally decreases. Exercising to build strength and taking supplemental vitamins, like vitamin D and calcium, are great ways to make sure bones stay strong.

Calorie: A measure of energy from food. (1000 calories = 1 kilocalorie) Kilocalories are what is listed on food labels. (3,500 kilocalories of food energy = 1 pound of body weight). In order to maintain a stable weight, a person needs to expend the same amount of calories as he or she consumes. The body burns calories for everyday functions such as breathing, digestion, and routine daily activities, many people consume more calories than they need for these functions each day.

Cells: All living things have cells - from plants to people to penguins. Each cell can be imagined as a building block. Like blocks, cells can be formed into an endless variety of different things. Cells (linked together) make tissues. Tissues come together to make organs, like the heart. Different organs like the heart, lungs, and stomach work together to keep the body running.

Childhood Asthma: The most common chronic illness in children. It is caused by the swelling of a child's airways. This makes the airways very sensitive which can cause the child to have trouble breathing, as well as coughing or wheezing. It is treatable. Doctors can work with children and their parents to keep the symptoms under control.

Chinese Medicine: A range of traditional medical practices that started in China. For example, herbal medicine, acupuncture, dietary therapy, massage, and taiji/t'ai chi.

Chronic Diseases: These are diseases that usually get worse slowly and last for a long time. They include things like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. They are the leading causes of death in the world.

Diabetes:People with diabetes have high levels of sugar in their blood. This is because their bodies have problems either making or using insulin. Insulin is a hormone that allows the sugar from food to be used by the body for energy. Diabetes can be treated by diet, exercise, pills and with insulin.  If blood glucose levels are too high in the blood, it can hurt the rest of your organs.

Eastern philosophy: The thought processes and beliefs of various Asian countries, such as China, India, Iran, Japan, and Korea.

Esophagus: The tube leading from your throat to your stomach that food travels down.

Family medical history: A record of illnesses and medical conditions of your family members. Medical histories are recorded since many diseases can passed on from your parents. This information can help you determine your own risk for certain diseases.

Fast: When a person fasts it means they are not eating. To test for diabetes people are sometimes asked to fast. When you don't eat for a long period of time the body sends glucose (sugar) into your blood. If you do not have diabetes your body will make insulin to lower blood sugar levels. If you do have diabetes your body will not make enough insulin to lower blood sugar levels. If you have high blood sugar levels after fasting you may have pre-diabetes (above normal blood sugar levels) or diabetes.

Food Desert: A food desert is an area or neighborhood with little or no ability to buy or cook healthy food.

Food Justice: Food justice is on both the consumer end and farmer end. It is having some control over getting healthy, fresh vegetables and fruits in an affordable and culturally-appropriate way. On the consumer end, it is getting affordable, healthy, fresh produce into communities. On the farmer end, it is helping farmers to develop reliable markets so they can stay in business and plan for long-term stability. It's working together so that everybody has the same ability to get fresh food.

Food Justice Movement: A movement that thinks everyone should have access to safe, healthy and affordable food. They believe all people have this right no matter if they are poor or live in a certain community.

Glucose: Glucose is a type of sugar. When people talk about "blood sugar"-they're really talking about their blood glucose level. The body uses glucose as a source of energy.

Glucose Meter (Glucometer): Also called a finger-stick, it is a medical tool used for figuring out the amount of glucose in the blood (people sometimes call this "blood sugar"). People with diabetes use this tool at home to measure their blood sugar. The person pricks his/her finger and puts a small drop of blood on a test strip. The meter then reads the test strip and tells the person their blood sugar level.

Harm Reduction: Programs that reduce the harmful effects of drug use and other high risk activities by making it safer to continue those activities or using drugs. An example of a harm reduction is a needle-exchange program that gives drug users clean needles to keep them from sharing dirty needles.

Hemoglobin: Is a protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It is found in your red blood cells . When your hemoglobin levels are low, you may be told that you have anemia.  

HEPA Filter: A type of air filter that traps very small particles in the air that normal filters would miss. They are important for people with asthma or allergies because they reduce the amount of things like dust, pollen, mold, pet dander, and tobacco smoke in the air. They can be used at home. 

Herbalist: A person who grows and uses plants, especially for use as medicine.

Hepatitis C: A liver disease that a person can get when blood from a person who has the Hepatitis C virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. This happens most commonly when people share needles to inject drugs. It can also happen through sexual contact when body fluids from a person who has the Hepatitis C virus enter the body of someone who is not infected.

High blood pressure: Blood pressure is the measurement of how strong your blood pumps through your blood vessels. High blood pressure happens when blood has a hard time getting through the blood vessels, usually because the vessels are narrow. It means that your heart has to work really hard to pump your blood through your vessels.  

High cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can build up in your blood vessels as plaque making them so narrow that it's hard for blood to pass through. It's often called "bad" cholesterol because it can lead to things like high blood pressure. Another type of cholesterol, called high-density lipoprotein (HDL), is often known as "good" cholesterol because high levels of it seem to protect against heart attack. When your doctor tells you that you have high cholesterol, he or she is looking at both your "good" and "bad" cholesterol.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL): A type of cholesterol that is often known as "good" cholesterol because high levels of it seem to protect against heart attack. 

HIV: The virus that causes AIDS. It can weaken the body's defenses (immune system) and allow other infections to cause serious problems. The virus is usually spread through unprotected sex or sharing needles. Effective treatment is available and can help individuals live productive lives.

Hypertension: See "High blood pressure."

Immunology: A branch of science that studies the immune system that protects your body from viruses and diseases.

Inflammation: One way that the body responds to infection, irritation or other injury. You can see or feel it outside your body by redness, warmth, swelling and pain. It can also be inside your body, like in the case of asthma.

Internal medicine doctors: Doctors who have special training that focuses on how to prevent and treat adult diseases. 

Leptin: A naturally occurring hormone that has a central role in fat metabolism. The Fat Resistance Diet, authored by Leo Galland, MD advocates a diet that aim to restore the natural balance of the hormone.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): A type of cholesterol that is also known as "bad" cholesterol because it can lead to things like high blood pressure. It can build up in your blood vessels as plaque, making them so narrow that it's hard for blood to pass through. 

Lung Specialist: A doctor who has special training, knowledge, and skills in finding, and treating lung conditions and diseases.

Metabolism: A series of chemical reactions in the body's cells that convert the food we eat to fuel to power all of the functions of the body. Specific proteins in the body control the chemical reactions of metabolism, and each chemical reaction is coordinated with other body functions. Many metabolic reactions are occurring at the same time.

Mind-body medicine: Mind-Body medicine is based on the idea that the mind can have a positive or negative effect on the body. Because the mind and body are believed to be closely connected, a person needs to maintain a positive attitude in order to heal the body.

Neurologist:  A doctor that specializes in disorders of the nervous system--this includes the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and the system that controls heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils, urination, and sexual arousal.

Obesity: If a person is obese it means they are extremely overweight. They are more likely to have health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and some cancers. A person is obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or greater.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids; they are essential to human health but cannot be manufactured by the body. Omega-3 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function as well as normal growth and development. The benefits of omega-3s include reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke while helping to reduce symptoms of hypertension, and depression. Foods that are a source of omega-3 fatty acids, include walnuts, flaxseeds, soybeans, pumpkin seeds, some fruits and vegetables, and coldwater fish such as herring, mackerel, sturgeon, and anchovies.

Osteoporosis: A bone disease that makes bones fragile and easy to break. There are no symptoms and no pain until a bone breaks. It can be prevented by exercising to prevent falls and by taking vitamins with calcium and vitamin D . 

Osteoporotic fracture: A broken bone caused by osteoporosis.  

Peak Flow Meter: A portable device used to measure your ability to push air out of your lungs. Many doctors recommend these devices for people who have asthma.

Pharmaceutical:Related to drugs that are medicines.

Physical Activity: Any bodily movement produced by a persons muscles that results in energy being expended. At least 30 minutes of physical activity is recommended for for most people 5 or more days a week.

Phytonutrients: Chemical compounds that come from plants. Studies suggest these may reduce the risk of cancer. Research is ongoing into the benefits of these chemicals. Many are thought to have antioxidant properties.

Plaque: Plaque is the buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances in a blood vessel. 

Practitioner: Another word for a doctor or other health care professional.

Prostate gland: Found in a man's body. It controls a man's release of urine (pee) and helps create semen (sperm). 

Qi: Also known as ch'i. Qi is the internal energy that flows through any living thing.

Retinopathy: Retinopathy is a term used to talk about problems in a part of the eye called the retina.

Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a disorder where breathing stops for as long as 20 seconds several times during sleep. Because breathing stops, the amount of oxygen in the blood is lower. Sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. 

Specialists: doctors who have been trained to become an expert in a specific area of medicine.

Taiji (t'ai chi): A form of Chinese martial art. It includes meditation and a series of circular movements to increase strength and balance.

Ulcer: A crater-like open sore that forms on the inside lining of the stomach, small intestine or esophagus. Ulcers can be caused by a bacterial infection, by certain medications (like Aspirin or Ibuprofin), by smoking, or by your body producing too much acid.

Urine: This is liquid waste (pee). If you notice a change in color or how often you go, it may be a sign of a health problem like an infection or diabetes.

Vitamins: Substances that your body needs to grow and develop normally. There are 13 vitamins the body needs. They are vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate).

Yin-Yang Theory: This is a concept of Chinese philosophy and medicine that views things in relation to its whole. The yin and the yang are opposites that combine to provide a way of explaining relationships between objects.