Here is a glossary of some of the nutritional terms used on this site.
Phytochemicals are naturally occurring compounds that plants produce to protect themselves against bacteria, viruses and fungi. Although they are not nutrients in the true sense of the word because they are not essential in the diet. However they are biologically active and a growing amount of evidence suggests that they can help protect against various types of cancer and heart disease.
Lignans - belong to a group of phytochemicals called phytoestrogens. These compounds have a similar structure to the hormone oestrogen which explains why they are sometimes called plant oestrogens. They behave in a similar way to the oestrogens in the
body although their action is far weaker than a true hormone. Several studies suggest that a diet rich in phytoestrogens can offer protection against heart disease and certain types of cancer.
Recommended Daily Amount - The amount of a nutrient that is sufficient to meet the dietary needs of about 97% of the population.
Wheat germ - is the embryo or the sprouting portion of the wheat grain and as such contains a high concentration of nutrients, intended to nourish the growing plant. The germ contains around 64% of the vitamin B1, 26% of the B2, 21% of the B6 and most of the fat. The wheat germ is usually discarded when wheat is milled to produce white flour.
Bran - is the outermost layer of the cereal grain. The bran, which contains most of the fibre, is removed when the grain is milled to produce white flour.
Endosperm - is the inner part of the grain, in wheat it comprised about 85% of the grain. It consists mainly of thin walled cells packed with starch. It contains only about 10% of the vitamin B1, 35% of the vitamin B2, 40% of the niacin and 50% of the vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid of the wholegrain.
Glycaemic Index (GI) - is a system for ranking carbohydrates according to how quickly they are converted to glucose. Foods with a low GI (less than 55) are absorbed into the blood stream slowly helping to keep blood sugar levels stable. Many nutrition experts now believe choosing a diet based around carbohydrates with a low GI offers several health benefits. Cereals such as oats have a low GI. | 
