A glossary of health terminology: B

Eating and living healthy doesn't have to be complicated. Here's an easy glossary to refer to of terminology for the letter "B".

In your quest to eat and live healthy, there might be some words you come across that you may not recognize. Here are a couple — using the letter "B" — and the definition for each one.

Bacteria: You can find these single-celled microorganisms in air, food, water, soil and living creatures, and they're divided into "friendly" and "non-friendly" kinds. The former do things like prevent infections and synthesize certain vitamins, while the latter cause diseases.

Basal metabolic rate: When you're resting or not doing anything, this term refers to how much energy your body needs to maintain its vital processes. It's measured over a 24-hour period.

Beta carotene: It's the red-orange colouring you see in plants and fruits (e.g. apricots, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, winter squash and more), along with some dark green vegetables where the antioxidant's pigmentation is hidden by chlorophyll. Your body uses it by converting it into Vitamin A.

Beta-glucan: These are sugars found in the cell walls of plants, yeasts, bacteria, fungi, algae and lichen and they're used by the body as a soluble dietary fibre to help lower your serum cholesterol levels. If you stock up on oats, oat bran, barley, brown rice bran and shiitake mushrooms, you can help your body ward off a whole host of diseases and illnesses.

Beta-sitosterol: It's typically used for heart disease and high cholesterol, with this plant-based alcohol found in foods like avocados, corn oil, rice bran, seeds, soy foods and wheat germ.

B-group vitamins: The vitamins that belong in this group are known by either their name, number or some combination of the two, like B1, riboflavin, B5, biotin, folate and more. They're not chemically related to each other, but perform closely linked tasks in your body. The main way they do this is by helping enzymes carry out their work.

Boron: It's the fifth element in the periodic table but when it comes to your body, boron is a mineral that boosts your bones' nourishment by enhancing your body's ability to use calcium, Vitamin D and magnesium. To get the best effects of boron, look for foods like beans and nuts.

Bromelain: If you've ever had pineapples or pineapple juice, then you've likely had bromelain. It's an enzyme extracted from pineapple stems and exists in all parts of the fruit, and thought to have anti-inflammatory and pain-reducing properties.

Deciphering what fancy words mean doesn't have to be complicated or difficult, especially when it relates to your health.