Supplemental chitosan acts like a sponge in the digestive tract, absorbing up to 12 times its own weight in undigested fat. Glucomannan is a high-fiber herb that helps normalize blood sugar levels and provides a feeling of fullness. In Nature's Phen-Fen , author Rita Elkins, M.H., explains that glucomannan is a good diet aid because it can expand to about 50 times its original volume when combined with water. Glucomannan is currently used in may weight loss formulas to suppress carbohydrate cravings. In addition, it promotes bowel elimination and absorbs intestinal toxins.
Pectins are present in all plant cells and in the outer skin and rind of fruits and vegetables.
This high-quality fiber has been shown to increase the body's excretion of lipids, cholesterol, and bile acids. By binding with bile acids, pectins decrease cholesterol and fat absorption. The food industry uses this digestive fiber as a thickening agent. Guar gum helps regulate the rate of absorption of nutrients, spreading them out over a longer period of time. The result is more balanced blood sugar levels.