Fats primarily consist of saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and trans fatty acids. According to the American Heart Association, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are considered healthy fats because they prevent cholesterol...
Fiber is a substance that can be found in plants. Dietary fiber is the kind of fiber you eat, which can be consumed from grains, fruits and vegetables. Fiber is an important aspect of a healthy diet and assists in weight loss.
Most Americans eat far less dietary fiber than the minimum amounts called for in government nutritional recommendations. Also known as roughage or bulk, fiber includes those portions of plant-based foods that are indigestible. Dietary fiber offers...
Soluble fiber is a form of fiber that dissolves in water. Upon digestion, soluble fiber forms an almost gel-like substance that moves easily through your gastrointestinal tract. Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, forms a bulky substance upon...
Fat malabsorption is an inability of the intestine to absorb fats. Fats are essential nutrients needed for energy and growth. A number of diseases of the intestine, liver and pancreas can lead to this condition. Toddlers can be severely affected...
Dietary fiber blocks the absorption of molecules that are derived from fat by binding to them. This prevents the fatty molecules from entering the bloodstream. The more fatty molecules are prevented from entering the bloodstream, the more calories...
The process of digestion involves mechanical processes, such as chewing, and chemical processes, including using enzymes to break down food into individual nutrients. A well-balanced diet includes a mixture of the three macronutrients -- protein,...
Vitamins are important for many functions in the body such as growth, digestion and nerve function, and are found in many types of foods. There are water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins, with the latter type lasting much longer in the body due to...
Fats, or lipids, are a major source of energy from your diet. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, few Americans obtain less than 20 percent of their total calories from fat. Compared to carbohydrates and proteins -- the...
To benefit from the nutrient molecules in food, you must absorb them into your body where they can nourish your cells. Several different mechanisms for facilitate the absorption of nutrient molecules. To absorb fat, it must first be digested,...
Digestion is the process in which your body decreases the size of the food particles you eat until they are small enough to be absorbed. Absorption occurs when these small molecules of food particles pass from your digestive system, or gut, into...
Enzymes are specialized proteins found throughout your body that perform a wide array of tasks required to support your health and keep you alive. In your small intestine, the enzymes pancreatic lipase and pancreatic colipase perform the first...
Vitamin D is a nutrient that your body uses to meet a variety of critical health needs, including maintenance of your normal nerve and immune function and the support of proper bone formation. You can develop a deficiency of this vitamin if you...
Combining weight-loss supplements with a diet sounds like a good way to increase your chances of weight-loss success. In some cases, this may be true; a pill that suppresses your appetite might make it easier to stick to a low-calorie diet, for...
The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, rejected three diet pills in October of 2010 -- Qnexa, lorcaserin and Meridia -- due to safety concerns and potential health risks. The latest rejections seem to have dampened enthusiasm for developing...
A recent study completed by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that dietary fat helps the absorption of vitamins from fruits and vegetables. Fat along with carbohydrates and protein are considered the three macronutrients essential...
When it comes to diet pills and dieting, you must be careful to monitor your vitamin levels and make sure you avoid vitamin deficiencies. Diet pills, such as Alli, pose an even greater risk for vitamin deficiency, as the main role is to block fat...
Healthy weight loss involves burning more calories than you consume. Though you can do this by cutting portion sizes and the amount of calories in your food, you can also reduce your caloric intake by decreasing your ability to absorb certain...
The most common type of prescription weight loss pill is an appetite suppressant. There are several different brands of appetite suppressants; the most commonly prescribed one is Meridia. Serotonin and catecholamine are two hormones that affect...
Alli is an FDA-approved medication used to treat obesity. It is an over-the-counter version of orlistat, its active ingredient. Alli contains half the amount of its prescription counterpart, Xenical. Whereas Xenical is 120 mg of orlistat, Alli...
Manufacturers of over-the-counter diet pills make many promises, but the ability to fulfill these claims often depends on the formulation. There are three main types of over-the-counter diet pills: fat absorption inhibitors, appetite suppressants...
Blocking fat absorption is one of the keys to losing weight. An important fat blocker is soluble fiber, according to the Dr. Mirkin website. According to Mirkin, soluble fiber binds to fat in the intestines, blocking fat from being absorbed....
You may have noticed that a high-fat meal lingers longer in your stomach than a low-fat meal. The length of time until fat is absorbed from food depends on the nutrient makeup of the meal and may vary significantly from one person to another. The...
With the rise in obesity rates, many people are turning to prescription weight loss aids. One of these medications, orlistat, has been released as an over-the-counter version called Alli. This medication is designed to be taken along with a...
Like all medications, weight-loss aids are capable of causing side effects. While mostly minor, the adverse effects of these drugs have proven fatal in some instances. For this reason, weight-loss medications should only be used when the health...
Malabsorption is caused by your intestines not being able to absorb nutrients from your body. If you have impaired fat absorption, you may also have problems absorbing certain vitamins. This can usually be remedied by taking vitamin supplements,...
Vitamin D is naturally synthesized in your skin through exposure to sunlight. This fat-soluble vitamin is added to dairy products such as cheese, butter and milk. Certain fatty fish and oysters also provide vitamin D. Taking a vitamin D supplement...
Hypoglycemia is the medical term for a low blood sugar level. Diet can help control hypoglycemia. Learn more about nutrition for hypoglycemia in this health video.
