some random words that you see everywhere but don’t know what they mean

Free radicals

are highly reactive cells (they have 3 oxygens, ready to get one more!!) that can damage your DNA, increase risk of disease, and age your skin. Your body naturally produces free radicals as a by product from various chemical reactions, but stress and poor diet can increase production. When you have too many, one free radical will steal an electron from another cell which is then destabilized, becoming a free radical. This is a chain reaction that can cause serious damage!! ah!!!

So how to you get rid of them?!  Antioxidants are able donate an oxygen to free radical cells, neutralizing the cells, preventing them from damaging DNA or cell membranes. Antioxidants are not destabilized in this event. Vitamin E and vitamin C are especially good at this. Exercising regularly can increase the efficiency of the antioxidant defense system. SO Eat color, neutralize those greedy free radicals, and live like you're livin! 

Omega 3

are an essential fatty acid. Essential meaning you have to eat them because your body doesn't produce them. So you need to eat your omega 3's!! They come in 3 ways: ALA, DHA, and EPA. They all have the same job - protect against inflammation, help metabolic processes (cell regeneration), and prevent disease. People love to sell supplements of omega 3 (fish oil) and convince you you need more more more, which you might!! But guess what you can just eat it. So just freakin eat it. So eat em up. Make sure you get the right ratio of omega 3 and omega 6 (2:1)

color with omega 3: 

walnuts, chia seeds, salmon, ground flax seeds, fish, avocados 

Omega 6

Another essential fatty acid. Omega 6s are much easier to come by. But too much omega 6 and not enough omega 3 can cause inflammation. So focus on getting your omega 3s first!! Usually colorful foods with omega 6s are accompanied by omega3s. So dont panic!! You can find them in most nuts and seeds. 

such as:

flaxseed, hemp seeds, pumpkin seeds, soy, peanut butter

fast food, red meat, fried stuff

gluten

this gluten that what the heck is gluten! Queso gluten is "a group of proteins found in certain grains, including wheat, barely and rye" (How to Not Die, 370). 1% of the population suffers from celiac disease which is an autoimmune disorder and gluten = inflammation. There's also gluten sensitivity. Which is when eating gluten is on a spectrum kinda.

So what about the 99% of us who dont have celiac? Can we eat gluten? Are we gonna get fat? Should we spend the extra dollar to buy the gluten free bun? Is the gluten-free industry just trying to get our money or are they legit? 

Honestly, I'm still stumped about all this. So my personal vote - eat it if it makes you feel good. Don't eat it if it doesn't. Otherwise, I say don't spend the extra dollar. Buy something else. Like a sticker. Often times people cut out gluten and feel better, but when you cut out gluten, you also become more aware of your food intake and eat less junk. So they blame the gluten, but it could be a number of other things in processed foods. So maybe don't eat twinkies just because gluten is "okay" but don't go out of your way to get the gluten free bread instead of the whole grain bread. 

But in the end. you do you sister (or mister) 

Glucose

is a monosaccharide sugar that is found in fruits, veggies, and whole grains! It's made during photosynthesis with water and CO2. It's your body's primary from of fuel. When you eat foods with glucose, the sugar goes straight to your liver (after visiting your pancreas) and is quickly digested for immediate energy usage. Then once your liver runs out of room, it goes to your muscles. Then once your muscles run out of room it goes to your FATS CELLS AH. It regulates your blood sugar, so its best eaten in moderation. Glucose is a great pre work out snack because of how quickly is can be converted into energy. It is also depleted relatively quickly from intense exercise. So it's good to combine it with fructose which will last you longer. Glucose also delivers energy to your brain! By combing glucose rich food with others, you can slow down its absorption. So if you eat a balanced plate with glucose and fat and protein, you can lower the glycemic index of your whole meal. So do what suites you. 

Fructose

is also a sugar found in fruits and veggies but it has a much lower glycemic index. It is digested at a slower rate so it releasing energy to your body for longer. So that means it doesn't spike your blood sugar.  

electrolytes

If you just chug a bunch of water and nothing it else, you're just going to pee it right out. Electrolytes make the difference. Electrolytes hold the water in your body so it can be used for hydration. Otherwise, you just flush your body of nutrients. Electrolytes are guys like potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, chlorine, and phosphate. So fairly easy to come by. If you're having trouble staying try eating a couple extra bananas. Or buy some electrolyte tablets like nuun!!! 

high fructose corn syrup

bad guy bad guy! code red! Abort mission! If you go checking your ingredients list and you see this guy then gtfo. HFCS is a no no. It takes everyone in your body and turns them into fat. And who wants that?!

anti-inflammatory

INFLAMMATION! when any part of your body is sad, whether that from eating bad, falling on the ground, or getting a cold, it get inflamed.

INSOLUBLE FIBER

phytochemicals 

antioxidants

fatty acids 

cholesterol