Tactical – relating to or constituting actions carefully planned to gain a specific military end. Some foods and drinks are specifically targeted to the unique needs of the military operating under extreme conditions.

 

Tapioca Syrup – is made from the cassava root and is gaining popularity as a healthy alternative to high-fructose corn syrup. This vegan sweetener contains 15% fewer calories than sugar and fewer carbohydrates and calories than most sweeteners. It also has a lower glycemic index than sugar.

 

Taurine – a type of chemical called an amino sulfonic acid. It occurs naturally in the body. The best food sources are meat, fish, and eggs. It has essential functions in the heart and brain. It helps support nerve growth. It might also benefit people with heart failure by lowering blood pressure and calming the nervous system. This might help prevent heart failure from becoming worse. People take it for congestive heart failure and swelling of the liver. It is also used for obesity, athletic performance, fatigue, diabetes, and many other conditions, but no good scientific evidence supports these uses. It is a popular ingredient in some functional beverages because it suppresses the neurotransmitter receptors, which can help cause a calming effect.

 

Theanine – an amino acid in green tea- affects brain functions by relieving stress disorders, improving mood, and maintaining normal sleep. However, the cognitive tasks for which it is effective are unclear.

 

Thiamin (Vitamin B1) – a water-soluble vitamin found naturally in some foods, added to foods and sold as a supplement. Thiamin plays a vital role in the growth and function of various cells. Only small amounts are stored in the liver, so a daily intake of thiamin-rich foods is needed. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for men ages 19 and older is 1.2 mg daily; for women in the same age range, 1.1 mg daily.

 

Threonine – an essential amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks the body uses to make proteins. The body cannot make the "essential" amino acids, which must be obtained from the diet. Foods high in threonine include cottage cheese, poultry, fish, meat, lentils, black turtle beans, and sesame seeds.

 

Tocopherol (Vitamin E) – a vitamin that dissolves in fat. It is found in many foods, including vegetable oils, cereals, meat, poultry, eggs, and fruits. It is an essential vitamin required for the proper function of many organs in the body. It is also an antioxidant. It occurs naturally in foods and is different from man-made vitamin E that is in supplements. It is used for treating vitamin E deficiency, which is rare but can occur in people with certain genetic disorders and very low-weight premature infants. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin E for males and females ages 14 years and older is 15 mg daily, including pregnant women.

 

Trace Minerals – include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium. Most
people get the amount of minerals they need by eating various foods. Trace minerals have essential functions, including being the building blocks of hundreds of enzymes, facilitating biochemical reactions, helping growth and development, serving as antioxidants, supporting the blood system, and more.

 

Trans Fat – these are unhealthy fats that should be avoided. Limit them in your diet as much as possible as they can increase your risk of heart attacks, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Sources include fried foods, cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, and margarine made with hydrogenated oil.

 

Tree Nuts – nuts that grow on trees, including almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios, pecans, pine nuts, and cashews. The FDA also includes coconuts in this category. A person with a tree nut allergy may react to only one type of nut but may also respond to several. In addition, a person allergic to one kind of nut is at greater risk of developing an allergy to other nuts. It should be noted that even if allergic to one type of nut, the risk of contamination between the different nuts and between nuts and peanuts is very high.

 

Tryptophan – an amino acid needed for average growth in infants and for the production and maintenance of the body's proteins, muscles, enzymes, and neurotransmitters. It is an essential amino acid. The body uses it to help make melatonin and serotonin. Melatonin helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, and serotonin is thought to help control appetite, sleep, mood, and pain. The liver can also use it to produce Niacin (Vitamin B3), which is needed for energy metabolism and DNA production.

 

Turkey Tail Powder – researchers are exploring how this mushroom may help balance blood sugar levels, boost athletic performance, fight viral and bacterial infections, and reduce fatigue. Some proponents of turkey tail believe it can prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) and protect against age-related cognitive decline. However, none of these claims have been validated by the FDA.

 

Turmeric – a deep, golden-orange spice known for adding color, flavor, and nutrition to foods. A relative of ginger, turmeric comes from the rhizome (root) of a native Asian plant and has been used in cooking for hundreds of years. The active ingredient in turmeric is a natural compound (polyphenol) called curcumin, which has both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

 

Tyrosine – used to make chemical messengers involved in conditions affecting the brain, such as mental alertness. People most commonly use it in protein supplements for an inherited disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU).

 

USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) – a government agency that provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on public policy, the best available science, and effective management. It comprises 29 agencies and offices with nearly 100,000 employees serving the American people at more than 4,500 locations nationwide and abroad.

 

USRDA (U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances) – the daily amount of a protein, vitamin, or mineral that the FDA has established as sufficient to maintain the nutritional health of persons in various age groups and categories, derived from the RDA developed by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences and used in the nutritional labeling of food.

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