N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine – a supplement whose potential uses range from improving athletic performance to managing blood sugar levels and treating chronic lung problems. Doctors believe it may stimulate the synthesis of glutathione, a compound that helps fight free radicals and unstable atoms that can cause inflammation and damage.

 

Natrium – sodium’s Latin name. Several modern languages still call the element Natrium instead of sodium, and it is this name that its chemical symbol (Na) comes from.

 

Natural – existing in or produced by nature. Not artificial.

 

NAIA-Compliant – the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) is an athletic organization that governs competitive sports between participating colleges. Athletes participating in NAIA programs must follow specific guidelines to be eligible to play. To ensure fair competition, several controlled, banned substances designed to enhance athlete performance artificially are prohibited for use amongst participating athletes. If an athlete is found to be using a banned substance, there will be serious implications, including becoming ineligible to play in NAIA-sanctioned events. For additional information, please see https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.net/i/q/u72p1uoajdzxqt/NAIA_Banned_Substances_List.pdf. As a result, several products designed for athlete consumption go through rigorous reviews and testing to ensure they are NAIA-compliant for athlete use.

 

NCAA-Compliant – the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is an athletic organization that governs competitive sports between participating colleges. Athletes participating in NCAA programs must follow specific guidelines to be eligible to play. To ensure fair competition, several controlled, banned substances designed to enhance athlete performance artificially are prohibited for use amongst participating athletes. If an athlete is found to be using a banned substance, there will be serious implications, including becoming ineligible to play in NCAA-sanctioned events. For additional information, please visit https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2015/6/10/ncaa-banned-substances.aspx. As a result, several products designed for athlete consumption go through rigorous reviews and testing to ensure they are NCAA-compliant for athlete use.

 

Niacin (Vitamin B3) – a B vitamin made and used by your body to turn food into energy. It helps keep your nervous system, digestive system, and skin healthy. It is often part of a daily multivitamin, but most people get enough Niacin from their food. It occurs naturally in many foods, including greens, meat, poultry, fish, and eggs. Many products are also fortified with niacin during manufacturing. The RDA for men is 16mg/day, and for women, it is 14mg/day.

 

Non-GMO – non-genetically modified. A GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a plant, animal, microorganism, or other organism whose genetic makeup has been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or transgenic technology. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacterial, and virus genes that do not occur naturally or through traditional crossbreeding methods. The Non-GMO Project was started to set standards to ensure products comply when stating they are non-genetically modified.

 

Nootropics – also known as “smart drugs,” are a diverse group of medicinal substances whose action improves human thinking, learning, and memory, especially in cases where these functions are impaired. Although these substances are more effective in cases where cognitive functions are damaged, they are of interest to healthy individuals because of their ability to increase intelligence and improve memory.

 

NSF Certified – a process and set of standards designed to ensure public health protection. From extensive product testing and material analyses to unannounced plant inspections, every aspect of a product's development is thoroughly evaluated before it can earn the NSF certification. Most importantly, NSF certification is not a one-time event but involves regular on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities and routine re-testing of products to ensure that they continue to meet the same high standards required to maintain certification over time.

 

Nutramunity – the commercial brand of an ingredient for functional beverages, food, nutraceuticals, and sports nutrition products that support healthy immune function. It is a potent and safe immune-enhancing component isolated from baker’s yeast. It interacts directly with immune cells in the frontline of the body’s defenses, safely priming these cells to respond faster and more effectively to invaders.

 

Nutrition Facts – a product label must list total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, total sugars, added sugars, protein, and specific vitamins and minerals. They include the amount of each ingredient and the recommended amounts (Daily Value) of nutrients to consume or not exceed daily. The format for presenting the information must follow a specific set of guidelines established by the FDA.

 

Obesity – overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a health risk. A body mass index (BMI) over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is obese. For a BMI table, please visit https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/BMI/bmi_tbl.htm.

 

Oligosaccharides – a type of carbohydrate naturally found in various plant foods. Their ability to act as a prebiotic (food for your gut bacteria) may offer many health benefits, including a more robust immune system, reduced appetite, and improved gut health. Because of this, it is now becoming popular for food makers to add oligosaccharides to foods that do not naturally contain them, including protein bars and glucose syrup. They are naturally present in common fruits and vegetables (e.g., scallions, onions, leek, garlic, kale, red and green cabbage, broccoli, Jerusalem artichoke, nectarines, watermelon, pears, blueberries, sour cherries, red currants, raspberries, cantaloupe, figs, bananas, wheat, rye, peas, and lentils), so you likely eat them regularly.

 

Organic – relating to, yielding, dealing in, or involving the use of food produced with the use of feed or fertilizer of plant or animal origin without employment of chemically formulated fertilizers, growth stimulants, antibiotics, or pesticides. The USDA provides a certification to ensure that products meet their guidelines for organic labeling.

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