A complex metabolic syndrome involving progressive muscle and fat loss driven by disease — most common in cancer, advanced heart failure, and end-stage organ disease — distinct from simple undernutrition.
Consuming fewer calories than the body expends, causing the body to draw on stored energy — the mechanism behind fat loss, but with important limits on how aggressively it should be applied.
Progressive loss of kidney function, classified into five stages by glomerular filtration rate (GFR) — with dietary modification becoming increasingly important as function declines.
Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension — an evidence-based eating pattern that consistently lowers blood pressure through low sodium, high potassium, and an emphasis on whole foods.
An imbalance in the gut microbiome — the trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses living in the digestive tract — associated with digestive symptoms and wider health outcomes, though the field is still evolving.
Difficulty swallowing food or liquid — common after stroke, head and neck surgery, or in neurological disease — requiring careful texture and consistency modification to prevent aspiration and maintain nutrition.
A chronic condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing pain, inflammation, and sometimes fertility problems — with emerging but limited dietary evidence.
The relationship between calories consumed and calories expended — the fundamental driver of body weight change, though complicated by metabolic adaptation and individual variation.
Nutritional support delivered directly into the gastrointestinal tract via a feeding tube — used when a patient cannot eat safely by mouth but the gut remains functional.
Two very different reactions to food that are frequently confused — one is immune-mediated and potentially life-threatening, the other is dose-dependent and uncomfortable but not dangerous.
Foods to which vitamins or minerals have been added during processing — either to restore nutrients lost in refining, or to address population-level deficiencies.
Inflammation of the stomach lining — most commonly caused by H. pylori infection or NSAID use — ranging from acute irritation to chronic mucosal damage requiring medical management.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease — chronic backflow of stomach acid into the oesophagus, causing heartburn and, over time, mucosal damage. Lifestyle and dietary measures are first-line alongside medication.
Diabetes diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy, driven by placental hormones that increase insulin resistance — typically resolving after delivery but signalling long-term metabolic risk.
A family of proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and triticale that give bread its elasticity — harmful only to people with coeliac disease or specific sensitivities.
Compounds found in certain foods — notably cruciferous vegetables and soy — that can interfere with thyroid hormone production. For most people eating a balanced diet, the concern is largely overstated.
The most common cause of hypothyroidism — an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, gradually reducing its hormone output over years.
Persistently elevated blood pressure (≥130/80 mmHg by current guidelines) that silently damages blood vessels and increases risk of heart attack and stroke.
An underactive thyroid gland that produces insufficient thyroid hormones, slowing metabolism and causing fatigue, weight gain, cold sensitivity, and other symptoms.
Chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract — primarily Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis — characterised by flares, remission, and significant nutritional implications.
A state in which cells respond poorly to insulin, forcing the pancreas to produce more to keep blood glucose in range — a driver of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
An essential trace mineral required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 — deficiency causes goitre and hypothyroidism; both deficiency and excess can impair thyroid function.
The most common nutritional deficiency worldwide — low iron stores impair red blood cell production, leading to fatigue, poor concentration, and anaemia.
A common functional gut disorder causing recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habit — not associated with structural damage but significantly affecting quality of life.
A metabolic state in which the body produces ketone bodies from fat as an alternative fuel source, typically arising when carbohydrate intake is very low.
The natural end of menstrual cycles, confirmed after 12 consecutive months without a period, typically between ages 45–55 — with significant nutritional and metabolic implications.
A cluster of five metabolic abnormalities — excess abdominal fat, raised blood pressure, high blood glucose, high triglycerides, and low HDL — that together substantially increase heart disease and diabetes risk.
The energy expended on all physical movement outside of formal exercise — walking, fidgeting, standing, household chores — which can vary by up to 2,000 kcal/day between individuals.
Essential polyunsaturated fats with well-established anti-inflammatory effects — the most studied are EPA and DHA from oily fish, and ALA from plant sources.
The transitional years leading up to menopause, typically lasting 4–10 years, marked by fluctuating hormones, irregular periods, and highly variable symptoms.
A common hormonal condition in women of reproductive age, characterised by excess androgens, irregular ovulation, and often insulin resistance — with significant nutritional implications.
Nutritional priorities in the weeks and months after childbirth — supporting physical recovery, protecting iron and micronutrient stores, and sustaining energy for new parenthood.
A potentially fatal metabolic complication that occurs when nutrition is reintroduced too rapidly after a period of severe undernutrition — caused by dangerous shifts in electrolytes, most critically phosphate.
The age-related progressive loss of muscle mass and strength that increases fall risk, reduces independence, and is associated with poor metabolic health in older adults.
The observation that the body actively defends a preferred weight range through hormonal and metabolic mechanisms — making sustained weight loss harder than simple calorie arithmetic predicts.
An essential mineral that regulates fluid balance and nerve function — but most Indians consume two to three times the WHO-recommended 2 g/day limit, primarily through salt and processed foods.
Partially hydrogenated vegetable oils that raise LDL cholesterol, lower HDL, and increase cardiovascular disease risk — the most harmful dietary fat with no safe level of intake.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone — produced by the pituitary gland to regulate thyroid output, and the most sensitive blood test for detecting both under- and overactive thyroid function.
Repeated cycles of intentional weight loss followed by weight regain — commonly called yo-yo dieting — associated with metabolic, cardiovascular, and psychological consequences.
The specific nutritional requirements that support the stages of wound healing — protein, vitamin C, zinc, and adequate energy are the most evidence-based priorities.
