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Adrenal glands - A pair of ductless glands located above the kidneys. Through hormonal secretions, the adrenal glands regulate many essential functions in the body, including biochemical balances that influence athletic training and general stress response.

Adrenalin - Popular term used to describe the various hormones secreted by the adrenal glands in response to stress.

Aerobic - literally "with oxygen". Commonly used to describe an exercise intensity where muscles can use oxygen to convert glucose and fat into energy. Aerobic training is carried out at a comfortable pace to ensure that the muscles have sufficient oxygen available.

Anabolic - Pertaining to the putting together of complex substances from simples ones, especially to the building of muscle protein from amino acids.

Anaerobic - literally "without oxygen". A high-intensity energy system where the muscles lack sufficient oxygen to successfully burn fuel, resulting in the production of lactic acid. Anaerobic exercise is very intense and can only be sustained for short periods of time.

Alpha-L-polylactate - CytoSport's proprietary formula that provides a long-lasting source of carbohydrate energy and buffers lactic-acid production in the working muscles. The principal ingredient in Cytomax.

ATP - Adenosine tri-phosphate. A high energy phosphate molecule required to provide energy for cellular function. The energy source your muscles use for short bursts of power.

Amino acids - Nitrogen-containing compounds that are the building blocks of proteins. There are 22 different amino acids from which every protein in the body is made up of. There are nine so-called essential amino acids that are not manufactured by the body and must come from the diet.

Bonk - depletion of glycogen and blood sugar while exercising. Symptoms include a dramatic reduction in performance and feeling disoriented and weak. Occurs when not using enough CytoSport.

Carbohydrate - Sugars and starches that are the most efficient source of food energy. Stored in the muscle and liver as glycogen and in the blood as glucose.

Catabolic - The aspect of metabolism which converts nutrients or complex substances in living cells into simpler compounds with the release of energy, such as cortisol catabolizing muscle protein into glucose for quick energy.

Cell - The smallest structural unit of living material.

Creatine - The fuel source for ATP, an energy system used for short bursts of power. Dehydration - The abnormal depletion of body fluids. Results in a severe decline in athletic performance and can lead to life-threatening circumstances.

Electrolytes - Minerals (e.g - sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium) that regulate bodily functions. Small amounts are lost in sweat and need to be replaced through the use of energy drinks like Cytomax.

Enzymes - Proteins necessary to bring about bio-chemical reactions.

Fat - A type of caloric energy found in food, essential for a variety of body functions including organ protection, hormone balances, and as a long-lasting fuel source for low-intensity exercise. Dietary fats are classified as saturated (animal flesh, butter, margarine, processed and fried foods) and unsaturated (vegetable oils). Unsaturated fats are the preferred food for health reasons.

Gastric emptying - The action of the stomach contents emptying into the small intestine. Most energy drinks and supplements are absorbed into the body via the intestine. The carbohydrate content of energy drinks affects their gastric emptying rate. Recommended carbohydrate content is 7% (one scoop of Cytomax in a 500ml bottle = 7%), which allows a gastric emptying rate nearly equal to that of waters.

Glucose - The form in which all carbohydrates are used by the body for energy.

Glucosamine - The basic molecule that comprises your connective tissue. Glucosamine helps you make new proteoglycans, enabling your worn connective tissue to become smooth and resilient. The principal ingredient in CytoSport's Joint Matrix.

Glycogen - The storage form of glucose found in the liver and muscles.

Gram - A measurement of weight equal to about 1/28th of an ounce.

Hormone - A chemical substance that is secreted into body fluids and transported to another organ, where it produces a specific effect on metabolism.

Hypoglycemia - A deficiency of sugar in the blood caused by too much insulin or too little glucose.

Insulin - A hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps regulate carbohydrate metabolism.

Kilogram - A measurement of weight equal to about 2.2 pounds.

Lean body mass - Body weight minus body fat; primarily muscle, bone and other non-fat tissue.

Medium chain triglycerides - known as the "fatless fat", these fat molecules are easily mobilized in the bloodstream to provide long-lasting energy, rather than being stored as fat. They also help limit the conversion of excess carbohydrates into fat. One of the "Lean Lipid" ingredients in Muscle Milk.

Metabolism - The chemical and physiological processes by which the body builds and maintains itself and by which it breaks down food and nutrients to produce energy.

Minerals - Organic substances needed in the diet in small amounts to help regulate body function.

Mitochondria - Specialized subcellular structures located within body cells that contain oxidative enzymes needed by the cell to metabolize foodstuffs into energy sources.

Organic - Being composed of, or containing matter of plant or animal origin.

Phosphatidylserine - a custom-engineered phospholipid extract that blunts the exercise-induced spike of the adrenal hormone cortisol into the bloodstream, reducing its catabolic effects. One of the active ingredients in MusclEnergy.

Phospholipid - A fat in which one fatty acid is replaced by phosphorus and a nitrogenous compound.

Pituitary gland - Small gland in the brain which secretes substances necessary for basic life processes, such as growth.

Protein - The major structural component of all body tissue; necessary for muscular growth and cellular repair. Proteins are also a functional component of enzymes, hormones, etc. Used for energy only when carbohydrates and fats are not available.

Stress - Any real or perceived adverse stimulus, physical or psychological, that tends to disturb an individuals homeostasis.

Triglyceride - The storage form of fat consisting of three fatty acids and glycerol.

Vitamins - Organic compounds that function as metabolic regulators in the body. Classified as water soluble or fat soluble. Vitamins cannot be manufactured by the body and must be obtained through diet or supplements.

VO2 Max (Maximal oxygen consumption) - The highest volume of oxygen a person can consume during exercise. Often used as a predictor of potential in endurance sports.