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Absorption
The uptake of one substance into the structure or matrix of another substance. For instance, fiber gets thick and gelatinous and absorbs waste material as it passes through the colon.

Adsorption
The process by which the surface of a material binds with another material and holds it. For instance, bentonite contains charged particles that adsorb herbicides and other toxic substances.

All 5 fiber types
The five types of dietary fiber are cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, gums and lignin.

Antioxidant
A compound which prevents free radical or oxidative damage.

Ascorbic acid
Scientific name for Vitamin C

Assimilation
The process of nutrients passing through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream and then to the cells where the nutrients are used by the body.

Bentonite clay
Bentonite is a volcanic clay with exceptionally strong detoxifying properties.

Bile acids
Bile is made in the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and secreted into the small intestine to help in the digestion of fats.

Bioavailability
The ability of nutrients to be digested, assimilated and used by the body, rather than passing through undigested.

Carbohydrates
Sugars and starches. Dietary fiber is required to be listed as part of the carbohydrates in the new Supplement Facts nutrition panel on product labels, even though it is not digested as are most sugars and starches.

Chelate
Made up of a compound, such as an amino acid, bound to a metallic ion. Often minerals are chelated so the body can better assimilate them.

Cell culture testing
Cell culture testing is a laboratory method to measure how well a test substance stimulates the growth of healthy cells. It can also be used to determine how well a test substance kills harmful cells.

Cellulose
Cellulose is major component of plant cell walls, and is considered a type of insoluble dietary fiber.

Detoxification
The process of removing toxins. Primary detoxifying pathways in the body are through the liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, respiratory system, skin and colon.

Dietary fiber
The portion of foods that is not digested by enzymes in the small intestine, but passes through to the colon.

Double blind, placebo controlled study
Considered the highest quality type of scientific research study according to modern Western medicine. Placebo controlled means that the test substance is compared with an inactive substance that is made to look and taste the same as the test substance. Double blind means that neither the test subjects nor the researches know which subjects are taking the test substance and which subjects are taking the incactive placebo.

Folic acid
An important B-vitamin that helps protect against birth defects and also helps lower elevated homocysteine levels to help protect the heart and circulatory system.

Food and Drug Administration
The U.S. agency responsible for overseeing food safety, dietary supplement safety, and drug safety and effectiveness.

FOS
FOS stands for fructo-oligosaccharides, which are a type of sugar that is not digested in the small intestine but passes through to the colon and there is selectively used as a food source by beneficial bacteria such as bifidus and acidophilus.

German Commission E Monographs
A widely respected summary of herbal research and uses that have been approved by the German government. It has been translated into English and is available from the American Botanical Council at 1-800-373-7105.

Gluten
A type of protein in wheat and several other grains, gluten contributes to the texture of raised breads. It is also a highly allergic protein for many people, particularly people with celiac sprue disease.

Sylvester Graham
A 19th century reformer who stressed the importance of eating whole grains for health. Graham flour, and through that the Graham cracker, are named after him.

Gums
One of the 5 types of dietary fiber, gums are considered a type of soluble fiber.

HDL cholesteral
This is considered to be the "good" type of cholesterol that helps maintain healthy blood vessels.

Hemicellulose
One of the 5 types of dietary fiber, hemicellulose can be either a soluble fiber or an insoluble fiber, depending on its food source and structure within the food. Some types of hemicellulose, such as psyllium husks, have a tremendous water holding capacity.

Insoluble fiber
Insoluble fiber is not soluble in water. It is made up of cellulose, lignin and some types of hemicellulose. Insoluble fiber promotes bulky stools, speeds transit time, and helps protect the colon.

John Harvey Kellogg
He was a strong believer in the benefits of dietary fiber in the late 1800's and early 1900's when fiber was considered unimportant. And yes, he did found the Kellogg's cereal company.

Latin names of herbs
Each herb (in fact, every plant) has a Latin name in addition to the common Ehglish name. For example, dandelion is Taraxacum officinale. We are using the common name in this web site.

LDL cholesterol
This is considered the "bad" type of cholesterol that causes problems in arteries if the level is too high.

Lignin
Lignin is a type of insoluble fiber, contained in the woody parts of plants. It has protective properties in the colon.

Lymphatic system
The lymphatic system is similar to the blood system, except that it takes waster materials away from cells throughout the body, whereas the blood system brings nutrients to the cells. Eventually the waste in the lymphatic system is dumped into the colon.

Montmorillonite
Another name for bentonite.

Mucilage
Another name for gel-forming dietary fibers.

Pectin
One of the 5 fiber types, pectin is a type of soluble fiber found primarily in fruits and vegetables.

Phosphatidylcholine
A phospholipid (fat) from soy beans.

Polysaccharide
A large molecule composed of many sugar molecules linked together. Polysaccharides are important to the health benefits of aloe vera, Echinacea, and many other herbs.

Psyllium husks
Psyllium husks are the outer portion (similar to bran) of the psyllium seed. Psyllium husks provide some of the benefits of both soluble fiber (i.e. Supporting heart health) and insoluble fiber (i.e. Promoting regularity). Yerba Prima psyllium husks are made only from the species Plantago ovata, which is the best quality psyllium.

Pyridoxine
Scientific name for Vitamin B-6.

Riboflavin
Scientific name for Vitamin B-2.

Selenium
A trace mineral needed by humans in very small amounts, it protects cells against free radical and oxidative damage.

Soluble fiber
Soluble fiber is soluble in water. It is made up of pectin, gums and some types of hemicellulose. Soluble fiber helps absorb toxins, acts as a food source for beneficial bacteria and helps lower elevated cholesterol levels to support heart health.

Standardized herbs
These are generally herbal extracts that are standardized to a marker compound (usually, but not always, one of the active ingredients) to ensure consistency of the extract from batch to batch.

Thiamin
Scientific name for Vitamin B-1.

Total dietary fiber
This refers to the total amount of fiber in a food, as determined by an official test method. It includes both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber.

Zinc
An important mineral for immune fuction, digestion, proper wound healing, proper insulin function, male prostate health, and much more.

 
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