1 week ago
Experts Question Claims About the ‘Most Dangerous Carbohydrate’
A doctor warned that some factory-made starches in packaged foods may raise blood sugar quickly.
These ingredients can be found in sauces, chips, bakery products and instant mixes.
Examples include maltodextrin, glucose syrup and modified food starch.
Another doctor said these ingredients do not all act in the same way.
Some are digested quickly, while others are made to digest more slowly.
The effect also depends on how much someone eats and what else is in the meal.
People with diabetes or prediabetes may be more affected by glucose spikes.
Experts say the strongest evidence concerns diets high in ultra-processed foods, not one ingredient alone.
They recommend choosing whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables more often while checking food labels.
Dr Obaidur Rahman warned that industrial starches can rapidly raise blood sugar.
Examples include maltodextrin, glucose syrup, modified food starch and corn syrup solids.
Dr Raju Vaishya said some industrial starches digest faster than starch in whole foods.
The health effects depend on portion size, meal composition, frequency and baseline glucose control.
Experts recommend fewer ultra-processed foods and more high-fibre carbohydrates such as beans and whole grains.
- Who
- Orthopaedic and sports surgeon Dr Obaidur Rahman issued the warning; senior consultant Dr Raju Vaishya provided additional context.
- What
- The doctors discussed whether industrial starches in packaged foods can cause rapid blood-sugar increases and other health risks.
- Where
- Dr Obaidur Rahman is associated with Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi, while Dr Raju Vaishya works at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.
- When
- The warning was made in a recent Instagram video; no specific date was provided.
- Why
- Industrial starches may be rapidly digested, but experts say their effects vary and are best understood within the broader pattern of ultra-processed food consumption.
Warning About Industrial Starches
Evidence-Based Qualification
Are industrial starches uniquely dangerous?
Warning About Industrial Starches
Dr Obaidur Rahman described industrial carbohydrates as highly concerning and linked repeated consumption with glucose spikes, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, poor gut health and joint inflammation.
Evidence-Based Qualification
Dr Raju Vaishya said it is not scientifically accurate to call industrial starches the “most dangerous carbohydrate” generally because their effects vary by type, portion, frequency and meal composition.
Do they cause broader health problems?
Warning About Industrial Starches
The warning suggested that repeated exposure to these ingredients could contribute to several metabolic, gut and inflammatory problems.
Evidence-Based Qualification
Dr Vaishya said those effects are biologically plausible and partly supported by broader ultra-processed-food research, but direct evidence about industrial starches alone remains limited and context-dependent.
Should people avoid carbohydrates?
Warning About Industrial Starches
The warning urged consumers to pay closer attention to packaged foods containing industrial starches and additives.
Evidence-Based Qualification
Dr Vaishya said the goal is not to avoid all carbohydrates, but to replace refined, additive-heavy products with high-fibre foods such as whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables.
Key facts
- Warning claim
- Dr Obaidur Rahman said the substance could raise blood sugar from 200 to 250 mg/dL within a few hours.
- Ingredients cited
- Maltodextrin, corn starch, high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose, glucose syrup and modified food starch were among the examples.
- Common products
- The ingredients may appear in sauces, chips, bakery items and instant mixes.
- Expert qualification
- Dr Raju Vaishya said not all industrial starches behave alike, and some resistant starches digest more slowly.
- Evidence strength
- Evidence is strongest for links between ultra-processed-food-heavy diets and weight gain, poorer cardiometabolic health and higher inflammation risk.
- Recommended approach
- Experts recommend checking ingredient lists, reducing ultra-processed foods and choosing minimally processed, high-fibre carbohydrates.
Quotes
Dr Obaidur Rahman
orthopaedic and sports surgeon at Delhi’s Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital
“Yes, many industrial starches such as maltodextrin and glucose syrup are digested faster than the starch in whole foods, so they can produce a higher and quicker blood glucose response per gram.”
indianexpress.com
“Practical steps include choosing fewer packaged foods, checking ingredient lists, and favouring minimally processed carbohydrates like whole grains, beans, fruit, vegetables, and plain dairy.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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