Medium-chain triglycerides, or MCTs, are saturated fats with special properties. These properties enable the MCTs to be digested easily, and quickly converted into energy. In essence, they are fats that behave more like carbohydrates.

Lettuce is likely one of the first foods you think of when you start to plan a diet to lose weight. Romaine, green-leaf and red-leaf lettuce are all good choices if you are on a weight-loss diet, and you do not need to stick to boring bowls of lettuce alone to take advantage of the benefits.

An allergy is an abnormal physiological reaction to some item or substance that triggers the response. Contact allergies can cause itching and rashes, whereas airborne allergens such as pollen and dust can cause sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes.

Grade A pure maple syrup is a suitable option for the Master Cleanse, as is any pure maple syrup. However, subsisting on the Master Cleanse beverage -- which, along with the syrup, contains just water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper -- is not a healthy way to lose weight as it deprives you of important nutrients.

A simple cleansing diet theory--drinking cayenne, lemon juice and maple syrup in water--has blossomed into a “slimming solution” with numerous maple syrup marketers, websites and books offering weight loss plans based on the spicy lemonade. Celebrity advocates even tout its benefits.

The legendary grapefruit diet promised weight-loss results if you ate grapefruit or drank grapefruit juice before every meal. While this diet wasn't based on science, grapefruit juice does seem to have properties that promote a healthier body and weight.

Protein powder was once marketed only to people who wanted to build muscle and recover from hard workouts. Now, protein powder is considered as a possible supplement to help you lose weight.

Metabolism typically slows considerably after age 50 which can make it very hard to lose weight or even prevent weight gain. Although you can't prevent many age-related changes, eating a healthy diet that restricts certain foods may help promote weight loss.

Fad diets such as a meat and fruit diet are meant to encourage short-term weight loss, and they can be successful. However, there are potential risks to eating such a limited variety of foods, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll lose any weight as a result of following the plan.

A good breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day -- it should keep you satisfied for hours after eating to prevent midmorning cravings, offer energy to keep you alert and provide essential nutrients to help you avoid a deficiency.

While it’s a common belief that eating unlimited amounts of fruits and vegetables can help you lose weight, studies proving this as a fact are limited, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Edamame are green soybeans that contain essential nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, vitamin C, folate and vitamin E. Available fresh or frozen, the beans can be prepared by cooking and shelling them, and you can eat them on their own or in Asian-style recipes.