Not Sugar, Not Bread - Ortho Surgeon Reveals the Carbohydrate You Should Fear Most

Ortho and sports surgeon Dr Obaidur Rahman has issued a strong warning about what he calls “the most dangerous carbohydrate in the world,” urging people to rethink a common ingredient consumed almost unconsciously

every day. According to Dr Rehman, as opposed to popularly thought, sugar and bread are not a major threat to your health – it is industrial starch. Dr Rahman, on his Instagram account, highlighted how starch – also known as microdextrin or corn starch can lead to high inflammation, a cause of many dreaded diseases like heart attacks and even cancer. “This is such a substance that can raise your blood sugar levels from 200 to 250 mg per dL in a matter of a few hours,” he said. Constant consumption can lead to frequent glucose spikes and increased chances of insulin resistance, thereby raising the risk of type 2 diabetes.

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What is industrial starch?

Industrial starch is a versatile carbohydrate that is extracted from plants like corn, potatoes, and wheat and processed for diverse non-food and food uses. It acts as a thickener, binder, stabilizer, and filler in various products - from paper and textiles to pharmaceuticals and processed foods and is mostly chemically modified for specific properties like increased viscosity or controlled release, though heavily processed forms can drastically spike blood sugar.

How does industrial starch affect your health?

Your body absorbs industrial starches at a faster rate than sugar does, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. The starches in processed foods are devoid of nutritional value, to counteract their adverse effects on the body. The consumption of these starches leads to the growth of dangerous gut bacteria, which produce inflammation and deplete essential vitamins, including vitamin D and B1, thus causing fatigue and metabolic issues. Experts say the presence of starches in products marked as "sugar-free" or "low sugar" only creates a deceptive situation.

The effect on your liver health

However, according to Dr Rehman, the danger of starch is not just restricted to blood sugar, as it also affects your liver health, as repeated consumption can lead to fatty deposition in the liver. Starch affects the liver differently depending on its type - high intake of refined, simple starches can harm the liver by causing fat buildup and inflammation, contributing to fatty liver disease. In contrast, resistant starch, found in legumes, cooled potatoes, and whole grains, is beneficial, improving gut health, reducing liver fat and inflammation, and helping manage NAFLD by altering gut bacteria and promoting beneficial compounds like short-chain fatty acids. Apart from causing fatty liver, it also affects your gut health and causes joint inflammation as well.