In its simplest terms, a valve is an apparatus that establishes the flow of any particular substance, from gases, fluidized solids, any kind of liquids, to slurries. Normally, this device regulates the flow of such substances by opening, closing, or fractionally obstructing different passageways. This kind of apparatus is used in a number of applications, including military, residential, transportation, commercial, and of course, industrial applications. These valves are used in two ways; either driven by pressure, such as for safety reasons in steam engines, or used in a controlled manner, like when driven by a camshaft, where valves play a major role in engine cycle control.

When it comes to valves, there are a lot of types that can be used in different ways. One particular type of valve would be the butterfly valve. This valve is specifically used in large pipes, and is described as a disk rotating on a diametrical axis inside a pipe, also used as a throttle valve or a damper. The butterfly valve is a sort of device that controls the flow, normally used to administer a certain fluid that would flow through a certain section of a pipe. This valve is similar (with regards to operation) to a ball valve. The butterfly valve, having a flat circular plate, is positioned in the center of the pipe, and the plate has a rod through it that is attached to a handle on the outside of the valve. This valve works by rotating the handle, and turning the plate over either in a parallel position, or perpendicular to the flow. Not like the ball valve, the plate in the butterfly valve is always there within the flow; therefore a kind of pressure drop is always induced in the flow, despite the position of the valve.

Butterfly valves have three different types. The high performance butterfly valves, which is generally double eccentric in design, is working the pressure for up to 725 PSI. The second type would be the resilient butterfly valve, which has a flexible rubber seat. This type would work the pressure for up to 232 PSI. And finally, the last type would be the tricentric butterfly valve, which is normally designed with metal seating. This valve works the pressure for up to 1450 PSI.

There are also several kinds of butterfly valves available in the market. Wafer style valves would be the most common, since people who get to order such would not even say the word "wafer", but still get the butterfly valve that they want. This kind is under plastic butterfly valves, which is available in two styles, the wafer and the lug. On the other hand, lug style valves have metal inserts that are established in the bolt holes of the valve. These inserts are threaded on both ends, and this alone allows them to be positioned into a specific system with the use of two bolts and no nuts. Also called a butterfly damper, this valve simply controls the flow by use of a disk through a specific port.

According to research conducted at Newcastle University UK,scientists have discovered that a fibre found in seaweed is more effective than most weight loss supplements in respect of preventing the body absorbing fat from food. During their research, nutrition experts investigated 60 different types of seaweed fibre for how good they were in preventing the body absorbing fat. Their lab tests reported that the alginate fibre won hands down. According to researcher Dr Iain Brownlee, "Our initiate findings are that alginate significantly reduces fat digestion. This suggests that if we can add the natural fibre to foods commonly eaten on a daily basis, such as bread and biscuits, up to 75% of the fat contained in that meal could simply pass through the body" In powder form, this alginate is colourless and flavourless. The biochemists at Newcastle University added this kelp fibre powder to bread to see if they can develop foods that aid weight loss as you consume them, and researches reported that it actually made the bread taste better. However, this breakthrough is not exactly new. A Scottish chemist, E. Stanford discovered alginates from British kelp in the 1880s. The name is based on "algae", which comes in many species. The most common being brown seaweed. Early claims about seaweed and weight loss centred on its iodine content. Iodine was first isolated from brown seaweed in 1811 World War II stimulated the alginate industry, when production units were set up in Scotland, Ireland and California, harvesting local seaweed resources of wrack and kelp. This sea kelp fibre is currently used by manufactures in small quantities to thicken and stabilise food. Alginates are gel-forming gums that provide a wide range of functional properties in foods and beverages-from providing gelling for desserts and dairy products to thickening sauces and serving as gelatine replacements. This seaweed fibre also known as alginates, ammonium alginate, Calcium alginate , Potassium alginate and Sodium alginate is a gelatinous substance obtained from certain seaweeds and used as stabilizers and water retainers in beverages, ice cream, ices, frozen custard, emulsions, desserts, baked goods, and confectionery ingredients. It is also a clarifying agent for wine, chocolate milk, meat toppings, cheeses, cheese spreads, cheese snacks, salad dressings, and artificially sweetened jelly and jam ingredients. As reported in the Consumer's Dictionary of Food Additives. Crown Publishers, Inc., New York. 1978. Alginates are used also as stabilizers in gassed cream (pressure-dispensed whipped cream). The alginates assure a creamy texture and prevent formation of ice crystals in ice creams. The question is. If it works on bread and biscuits, would it also work on other treats? Could this open the possibility that all those forbidden foods that we love, but pay us back by piling on the pounds, could now actually help in our weight loss program?. Imagine being able to tuck into the cookies, buns, and dare I say it... chocolates, and still lose weight? However, before you go rushing to the cookie jar, you may have to get used to the idea that you will have to continue with you current diet snacks and supplements, because using seaweed for weight loss with alginates enhanced foods is still a decade away from hitting the market