Authored by:
Riddhi Rayekar ‧ Nutritionist & Health Coach
Riddhi is a certified nutritionist with more than a decade of experience of changing people's lives with nutrition and diet. She love to help people with clients to achieve their personal goals.
Various pills will not help with weight loss. To understand why let’s read below.
Do Carbohydrate Blockers help in weight loss?
Imagine, in Europe, they are sold even at huge discounts. 5 euros for 28 pills. For the one who takes these pills once, then is doomed to buy them forever and ever. But let's look at this issue in more detail.
What are starch blockers?
Let's start with the name: some of these supplements are called "starch blockers“ or ”carbohydrate blockers". At first glance, it may seem like a good choice, because the manufacturers on the packaging claim that the tablets retain starch and the calories found in it during digestion. But it's not that simple. Before you try them for your diet, remember that all conclusions are not based on reliable scientific conclusions. However, if you use them in combination with a good diet and exercise program, they can help you lose weight.
When amylase is blocked, these carbohydrates pass through the digestive system undigested, so you don't absorb calories. Some starch blockers can only be purchased by prescription. They are used as methods of treatment and control of blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes.[1]
Do Carbohydrate Blockers really work?
When it comes to losing pounds, the evidence is not clear . There is little data on the use of herbal supplements as carbohydrate blockers. As for the side effects, you can probably earn bloating, stomach cramps and diarrhea.[2]
There is another way, if you control your blood sugar level and want to lose a little weight - with the help of fiber. Start by replacing simple carbohydrates with complex carbohydrates. Therefore, look for products with a low glycemic index (GI), which have a lot of fiber. Foods that are low in GI and high in fiber are whole grains, leafy vegetables, most fruits and legumes.[3]
!
Men should get 30-38 grams of fiber daily, and women should aim for 25 grams. But most people only get about 16 grams a day.
Also, talk to your doctor about any supplements you are considering, as well as how much fiber you should get to control your hunger. In any case, do not use medications without a doctor's prescription.
References:
1. Marilyn L Barrett, Jay K Udani, A proprietary alpha-amylase inhibitor from white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris): A review of clinical studies on weight loss and glycemic control, retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3071778/
2. Taylor Jones, RD, Jillian Kubala, MS, RD, What Are Carb Blockers and Do They Work?, retrieved from
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/carb-blockers-101
3. Mayo Clinic, Glycemic index diet: What's behind the claims, retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/glycemic-index-diet/art-20048478
