Health & Performance Glossary
Key terms used across the Resilient Wisdom library. Each definition links to the relevant topic hub for deeper reading.
A
Adaptogens — A class of herbs and mushrooms that help the body resist physical, chemical, and biological stress. Includes ashwagandha, rhodiola, holy basil, and medicinal mushrooms. Read more →
Autophagy — The cellular process of self-cleaning — recycling damaged proteins and organelles. Activated by fasting, exercise, and rapamycin. Nobel Prize awarded to Yoshinori Ohsumi for its discovery in 2016. Read more →
B
BDNF — Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor — a protein that supports neuron survival, growth, and plasticity. Increased by exercise, sleep, and certain nutrients. Decreased by chronic stress. Read more →
C
CGM — Continuous Glucose Monitor — a device worn on the body that measures interstitial glucose every 1-5 minutes. Reveals glycemic patterns invisible to finger-stick testing. Read more →
Circadian Rhythm
— The body’s internal 24-hour clock, governed by the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Regulates sleep-wake cycles, hormone release, body temperature, and gene expression. Read more →
Cortisol — The body’s primary stress hormone, produced by the adrenal cortex. Follows a diurnal rhythm with morning peak and evening trough. Chronic dysregulation linked to fatigue, weight gain, and immune suppression. Read more →
D
DUTCH Test
— Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones — measures cortisol patterns, hormone metabolites, and organic acids via urine collection. More comprehensive than blood tests for hormonal assessment. Read more →
F
Fascia — The connective tissue network that surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, and organ in the body. Stores tension, transmits force, and plays a role in chronic pain. Read more →
H
HPA Axis — The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis — the body’s central stress response system. Connects the brain to the adrenal glands. Dysregulation is implicated in burnout, chronic fatigue, and anxiety. Read more →
HRV — Heart Rate Variability — the variation in time between heartbeats. Higher HRV indicates better autonomic nervous system function, stress resilience, and recovery capacity. Read more →
I
Inflammation — The immune system’s response to injury or threat. Acute inflammation heals. Chronic low-grade inflammation drives cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration. Read more →
Insulin Resistance — A condition where cells become less responsive to insulin, requiring higher levels to manage blood sugar. Precursor to type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Read more →
K
Ketosis — A metabolic state where the body burns fat for fuel instead of glucose, producing ketone bodies. Achieved through fasting, very low-carb diets, or exogenous ketones. Read more →
L
Leaky Gut — Intestinal hyperpermeability — when tight junctions between gut cells loosen, allowing bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream. Associated with autoimmune conditions and systemic inflammation. Read more →
M
Methylation — A biochemical process involving the transfer of methyl groups, critical for DNA repair, neurotransmitter production, and detoxification. MTHFR gene variants can impair this process. Read more →
Microbiome — The community of trillions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses living in and on the human body. The gut microbiome alone contains 500-1,000 species and influences immunity, mood, and metabolism. Read more →
mTOR — Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin — a protein kinase that controls cell growth, protein synthesis, and autophagy. Central to aging biology. Inhibition by rapamycin extends lifespan in animal models. Read more →
N
NAD+ — Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide — a coenzyme in every living cell, essential for energy metabolism and DNA repair. Declines with age. Precursors (NMN, NR) are popular longevity supplements. Read more →
Neuroplasticity — The brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. The biological basis for learning, habit formation, and recovery from brain injury. Read more →
P
Polyvagal Theory — Stephen Porges’ model of the autonomic nervous system. Describes three states: ventral vagal (safe/social), sympathetic (fight/flight), and dorsal vagal (freeze/shutdown). Read more →
R
RUCSS — Remove Unused CSS — a WP Rocket feature that strips CSS not detected on first load. Can break dynamically-injected styles. Read more →
S
SIBO — Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth — bacteria colonizing the small intestine where they don’t belong. Causes bloating, gas, and malabsorption. Diagnosed via breath test. Read more →
Senescence — The state where cells stop dividing but don’t die. Senescent cells accumulate with age and secrete inflammatory factors (SASP) that damage surrounding tissue. Read more →
Stoicism — Ancient Greek philosophy practiced by Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca. Emphasizes focusing on what you can control, accepting what you cannot, and building character through adversity. Read more →
T
Testosterone — The primary male sex hormone. Affects muscle mass, bone density, mood, libido, and cognitive function. Optimal levels decline approximately 1% per year after age 30. Read more →
V
Vagus Nerve — The longest cranial nerve, connecting the brain to the gut, heart, and immune system. Central to the parasympathetic nervous system. Vagal tone measured via heart rate variability. Read more →
This glossary is continuously updated. For our research standards, see Editorial Standards. For the complete topic library, see the Topic Directory.