Glossary

D

DASH Diet

This eating plan is from the "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" (DASH) clinical study. The results show that the DASH "combination diet" lowered blood pressure and, so, may help prevent and control high blood pressure.

Dehydration

a severe loss of water and body fluids because of illness or intense physical activity.

Dementia

Dementia is a disease that affects the brain. This usually results in a loss of brain function, affecting thinking and memory.

Diaphragm

The part of the body that separates the chest and abdominal cavities.

Diarrhea

is commonly described as passage of = 3 loose or watery stools/day.  The more numerous the watery stools, the more dangerous the diarrhea

Dietary cholesterol

Cholesterol found in food sources. Only foods of animal origin contain cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol is not essential because the body can make all the cholesterol it needs.

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI)-

are nutrient intake guidelines developed by nutrition scientists for staying healthy. DRIs are used to plan and assess diets for healthy people.

Diverticula

Small pouches that form in the wall of the colon.

Diverticular disease

The common name for having diverticulosis (pouches in the colon) and diverticulitis (inflamed or infected pouches in the colon).

Diverticulitis

When diverticula (pouches in the colon) get inflamed or infected.

Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis

Diverticulitis is the inflammation of an abnormal pouch (diverticulum) in the intestinal wall. These pouches are usually found in the large intestine (colon). The presence of the pouches themselves is called diverticulosis.

Diverticulosis

The condition of having diverticula (small pouches) in the colon.

Docosahexanoic Acid (DHA)

is an omega-3 fatty acid. DHA is found in fatty fish such as herring, sardines, salmon, tuna and in fish oil supplements. DHA is needed in adults to allow the brain to function correctly. In an infant's first 6 months of life, DHA is needed for development of the nervous system and for vision. Increasing your intake of omega-3 fatty acids may help to reduce the risk of heart disease.

Dyslipidemia

A disorder that includes elevation of the total cholesterol, the "bad" low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and the triglyceride concentrations, and a decrease in the "good" high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration in the blood.