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Term	Description
Saccharin	An artificial sweetener that tastes 200 to 700 times as sweet as sugar and provides the body with zero calories.
Saturated fat	A type of fatty acid found in meat, egg yolks, dairy products and fish, as well as coconut and palm oils. Saturated fats are generally solid at room temperature.
Sed rate	The rate at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a test tube, indicating the presence of inflammation, which could be a sign of a health problem, such as arthritis or even a cold. The normal values for men are up to 15 mm/hr; women: up to 20 mm/hr; children: up to 10 mm/hr; seniors: up to 30 mm/hr.
Selenium	A trace mineral, selenium has a variety of functions, the main one as an antioxidant. Selenium seems to stimulate antibody formation in response to vaccines. It also may provide protection from the toxic effects of heavy metals and other substances. It may assist in the synthesis of protein, in growth and development. It is also an aid in fertility, especially in men; it has been shown to improve the production of sperm and sperm motility. Fish, shellfish, red meat, grains, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, eggs, chicken, liver and garlic are all good sources of selenium. The amount of selenium in vegetables is dependent on the selenium content of the soil.
Serotonin	A naturally occurring derivative of tryptophan, found in blood platelets and in cells of the brain and the intestine. Serotonin in intestinal tissue stimulates the smooth muscles to contract. In the central nervous system it acts as a neurotransmitter. Dysregulation of serotonin may be involved in disorders such as depression, obsessive compulsive or aggressive behavior and appetite and sleep disorders.
Serum cholesterol	A soft waxy substance present in all parts of the body including the nervous system, skin, muscle, liver, intestines and heart. It is made by the body and obtained from fatty substances in the diet. cholesterol is manufactured in the liver for normal body functions including the production of hormones, bile and vitamin D. It is transported in the blood for use by all parts of the body.
Sodium	An electrolyte or mineral salt that conducts electricity when dissolved in water. It is critical to the maintenance of fluid balance, nerve transmissions and muscle contractions. In the body, sodium is intricately related to another electrolyte, potassium.
Starch	A plant polysaccharide composed of thousands of small sugar molecules. Sources of starch include grains, legumes and vegetables such as potatoes and beets. Starches are used as thickening agents in many products such as bread, cakes and pasta.
Statin drugs	A group of cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as lovastatin (Mevacor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), pravastatin sodium (Pravachol) and simvastatin (Zocor) that are used to lower cholesterol.
Stress	A physical, social or emotional reaction to any stimulus, known as a stressor, that disturbs equilibrium, and in turn leads to a response or physiological change.
Stroke	A group of brain disorders that occur when the blood supply to any part of the brain is interrupted. The brain requires about 20 percent of the circulation of blood in the body. Even a brief interruption to the blood flow can cause decreases in brain function. Symptoms vary with the area of the brain affected and commonly include such problems as changes in vision or speech, decreased movement or sensation in a part of the body or changes in the level of consciousness. If the blood flow is decreased for longer than a few seconds, brain cells in the area are destroyed, causing permanent damage to that area of the brain or even death.
Subfraction	A subgroup of a larger group. For example, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) is a subfraction of LDL cholesterol.
Sucralose	An artificial sweetener that tastes 600 times as sweet as sugar and provides 0 calories per gram.
Sucrose	See Sugar.
Sugar	A disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose. It is commonly known as table sugar, beet sugar or cane sugar. Sugar also occurs in many fruits and some vegetables and grains. It is broken down in the intestine to glucose and fructose.
Sugar alcohols	Also known as polyols, sugar alcohols are sugar molecules with hydroxy, or alcohol, groups attached. Sugar alcohols have many of the characteristics of carbohydrates such as bulking and sweetening, but provide fewer calories, and do not impact blood glucose as sugar does.
Systolic blood pressure	The maximum blood pressure, which occurs during contraction of the left ventricle of the heart chamber. It is the higher number in a blood pressure reading, expressed as the higher part, or numerator, of the fraction. When you say your blood pressure is 110 over 70, 110 is the systolic blood pressure.