The Imperial College London research - which was part-funded by food giant Nestle - also suggested they could change fat digestion but dieticians said this would work only for relatively small numbers of people.

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For instance, learning which microbes in the gut regulate functions such as the digestion of fat or proteins could help in the fight against obesity, researchers said.

WSJ: Gene Map of Body's Microbes Is New Health Tool

Its Bellydance: Fitness for Weight Loss, Hip Drop Hip Hop--30 minutes of traditional hip- and rib-wriggling motions set to a modern, upbeat tempo--burns calories and fat, while supposedly aiding digestion.

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Beta carotene is a type of carotenoid, a plant pigment that is a provitamin for vitamin A. During its digestion and metabolism, a percentage is converted to vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is important for vision, growth and development, and healthy immune and reproductive function.

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