A-Z Index of Terms

Here's our ever-evolving index of all the ingredients in our Vitapod beverages and a few other terms you might see us use often.   

A 

Amino acids are organic compounds containing both a carboxyl and an amino group that ultimately act as the building blocks of proteins.  

Antioxidants protect your cells against free radicals and reduce and prevent the damage caused by oxidation. Examples of antioxidants include vitamins C and E.  

B 

Bilberry extract comes from a fruit similar to blueberries and is used to help with poor circulation, high blood pressure, and inflammation.  

Biotin is a B complex vitamin that helps your body use enzymes and carry nutrients throughout your body. It is most often known for stimulating keratin production in hair.  

Biodegradable is the ability for something to be decomposed by micro-organisms like bacteria.  

Black tea is a fully oxidized tea that has 47mg of caffeine per cup. Black tea has antioxidant properties and may help reduce blood sugar levels and improve gut health, among other benefits.  

Boron is a chemical element and trace mineral that plays a role in building strong bones, improving thinking skills, and muscle coordination.  

Bovine collagen is a form of protein that comes from cows and has powerful health benefits such as improving skin health and preventing bone loss.  

C 

Caffeine is a crystalline compound and natural stimulant of the central nervous system that is often in coffee and tea plants.   

Carbohydrates are organic compounds that occur in foods and living tissues. Carbohydrates include glucose, galactose, and fructose. The two major types of carbohydrates are simple and complex.   

Calcium is a chemical element and electrolyte that can prevent weak or brittle bones. Calcium is often found in dairy foods.  

Calories are a unit of energy that is defined as the energy needed to raise the temperature of a quantity of water by one degree.  

Cane sugar (which is only found in our Sports+ drink) is sucrose obtained from sugar cane.  

Choline is an essential nutrient that can be produced in the liver and found in foods like meats, fish, nuts, beans, vegetables, and eggs. Choline is necessary to regulate memory, mood, and muscle control.  

Chronic diseases are broadly understood to be conditions that are persistent or long-lasting in its effects and limitations. Examples of chronic diseases include heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.  

Chlorogenic acid is a phenolic compound that is often found in fruits and vegetables and is one of the most abundant polyphenol compounds. Chlorogenic acid lowers blood glucose concentrations.  

Cranberry fruit powder is made with cranberries and processed into powder to provide antioxidants and reduce the risk of bladder infections.  

D 

Decaffeinated means that most or all caffeine has been removed from caffeine-containing materials like coffee, cocoa, and tea leaves.  

Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in – which leaves your body unable to carry out its normal functions. 

Diuretics are any substance that promotes the increased production of urine – also known as diuresis.  

Dietary Guidelines for Americans are a set of guidelines released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) every five years that provide food-based recommendations to promote health, prevent chronic diseases, and meet nutrient needs.  

E 

Epicatechins are flavanols and natural antioxidants that help prevent cell damage and reduce the formation of free radicals.  

Electrolytes are minerals that produce an electricity conducting solution when dissolved in water or another polar solvent. Electrolytes are critical for nerve and muscle function, on top of hydration. Examples of electrolytes include sodium, potassium, and magnesium.  

Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that acts as a sugar substitute.  

Environmental stressors are stimuli in our environment that cause stress – some examples include pollution, crowding, and noise.  

F 

Free radicals are oxygen-containing molecules that can damage the cells in your body and are produced when your body breaks down food or when you are exposed to environmental stressors.  

Folic acid is a nutrient in the vitamin B complex that helps make red blood cells and is often found in whole grains and green vegetables.  

Flavonoids are a class of polyphenols that are found in plant pigments and regulate cellular activity and fight off free radicals.  

G 

Green tea extract is derived from green tea coming from Camellia sinesis leaves and buds that have not undergone the withering and oxidation of black tea. Green tea extract has multiple health benefits including blood sugar regulation and disease prevention.  

Green coffee beans are unroasted coffee beans which contain a higher amount of chlorogenic acid. Green coffee beans promote blood sugar regulation, improve blood pressure, and are full of antioxidants.  

Gut microbiota also known as gut flora or microbiome are the microorganisms that live in the digestive tract.  

H 

Hydration the process of absorbing water.  

I 

Inflammation is the result of your body fighting against things that are harming it internally or externally in order to heal itself.    

Immune system is made up of white blood cells, tissues, organs, and the lymph system – all of which help the body fight infections and diseases.  

Iron is a mineral which your body uses to make hemoglobin (a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body). Iron is necessary for your body’s growth and development.  

Isoquercetin is a flavonoid that is found in foods like apples and onions, as well as a number of medicinal plants. Isoquercetin possesses neuroprotective, cardioprotective, chemopreventive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties.  

J 

Juice is the liquid that is obtained from fruits or vegetables through extraction or pressing.  

K 

Keratin is the type of protein that makes up your hair, skin, and nails.   

L 

L-Arginine is an amino acid that is found in protein rich foods. L-Arginine is often used to treat heart conditions.  

L-Citrulline is an amino acid that is found in watermelon and boosts nitric oxide production in the body – which improves blood flow throughout your body.  

L-Theanine is an amino acid that is primarily found in certain plant and fungal species. L-Theanine increases brain serotonin and dopamine.  

M 

Magnesium is a mineral and electrolyte that supports muscle and nerve function, regulates blood pressure, and supports the immune system.  

Methyl Sulfonyl Methane (MSM) is an organosulfur compound that is helpful in reducing joint pain, lowering inflammation, improving skin health, decreasing allergy symptoms and speeding recovery after exercise.  

Mental health is understood to be a person’s state of psychological and emotional well-being.  

Metabolism is the chemical process that occurs within an organism to maintain life. There are three main purposes of your metabolism. The first is the conversion of food to energy, the conversion of food to amino acids, and the elimination of metabolic waste.  

Microplastics are fragments of plastics that are less than 5mm in length.  

Micronutrients is a category of essential nutrients that includes vitamins and minerals which are necessary for energy production, immune function and blood clotting.  

Minerals are solid chemical compounds that occur naturally.   

N 

Neohesperidin is a flavanone glycoside found in citrus fruits that is a natural remedy for allergies, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, sinusitis, among other health problems.   

Nutrients are substances that provide nourishment that is essential to growth and development.  

Nutrient gaps are gaps in your diet that occur when one consumes a diet that exceeds recommendations for foods like simple carbohydrates, and falls short of foods with fiber and vitamins. This leaves the consumer with a “nutrient gap”.   

Nutrition is the branch of science that deals with nutrients. 

O 

Organic in food or farming means production without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents.  

P 

Plant-based in terms of food is a diet consisting largely on vegetables, grains, fruits, legumes, and nuts rather than animal products.  

Polyphenols are organic compounds derived from plants which act as antioxidants to protect the body’s tissues against oxidative stress. Polyphenols are often found in berries, vegetables, and nuts.  

Potassium is a mineral and electrolyte that helps nerve and muscle function.   

Pomegranate fruit powder is made from dried and ground pomegranate seeds which are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C. Pomegranate fruit powder has anti-inflammatory benefits.  

Q 

Quercetin is a flavonoid which comes from a plant pigment. It is often found in red wine, onions, and green tea. Quercetin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.  

R 

Recyclable is defined as an object that is able to be recycled – converted into new materials.  

Rosemarinic acid is a chemical compound that is found in a variety of plants – including rosemary. Rosemarinic acid is often used as a natural preservative.  

S 

Saturated fat is a type of fat that contains a high proportion of fatty acid molecules. Some foods with saturated fat are red meat and whole-fat dairy products. Saturated fat is often seen as less healthy than unsaturated fat due to the increased risk of heart disease and cholesterol build up.  

Selenium is a chemical element that plays a critical role in metabolism and thyroid function.  

Stevia is a natural sweetener that is derived from a composite herb that is native to South America.  

Sodium is a mineral and electrolyte that when combined with chloride results in table salt.  

Sustainability is the avoidance of depletion of natural resources to maintain an ecological balance. This is so that we don’t compromise the needs of future generations.  

T 

Tocopherols are a class of organic chemical compounds often found in egg yolks and leafy vegetables that collectively constitute vitamin E.  

U 

Unsaturated fat is a type of fat that contains a high proportion of fatty acid molecules with one or more double bond in the fatty acid chain. Examples of unsaturated fats include canola oil, avocados, and nuts.  

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the federal executive department that is responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food.  

V 

Vegan is defined as a person who does not eat any food or purchase anything that is derived from animals.  

Vegetarian is a person that doesn’t eat meat.  

Vitamin is an organic compound that is essential to growth and development. Vitamins are often required in small quantities in the diet because they cannot be synthesized by the body.  

Viogradable is a term we trademarked at Vitapod. The plastic in our pods have an organic compound which allows them to disintegrate if they happen to get thrown into a landfill. This is what makes our pods viogradable.   

Vitamin A, which is another term for retinol, is an antioxidant and a group of unsaturated nutritional organic compounds. Vitamin A is often found in dairy products, fish, and fortified cereals and supports bone health and a healthy immune system. 

Vitamin C is an antioxidant and another term for ascorbic acid. It is often found in citrus fruit and is involved in the formation of collagen, absorption of iron, proper functioning of the immune system.   

Vitamin D is responsible for increasing intestinal absorption of calcium, magnesium, and phosphate. Vitamin D can be found in oily fish, egg yolks, and sunlight! 

Vitamin E can be found in vegetable oils and nuts. Vitamin E is an essential nutrient and antioxidant that’s important to the health of your blood, brain, and skin.  

W 

Water filtration is the process or removing or reducing the concentration of impurities from water.  

X 

X-ray is a photographic or digital image of the internal composition of something. All our pods at Vitapod are x-rayed before they are sent out.  

Y 

Yoga is a spiritual discipline that partially focuses on breath control, meditation and poses. It is often practiced for mental, physical, and spiritual wellness.   

Z  

Zinc is a chemical element that helps your immune system and metabolism function.