Examining the Effectiveness of Starch Blockers On the Digestion of Carbohydrates :: Dieting Health Nutrition Papers

Examining the Effectiveness of Starch Blockers On the Digestion of Carbohydrates 1. Introduction Starch Blockers are all the rage in the weight loss industry. Archangel wellness Store proudly announces Dr. Marshalls Phase oLean its Product of the Month (http//aomega.com/ahs/nl010298.htm) One patron claims that she lost 14 pounds in her first week of using amylum blockers. Another declares, Honey, from now on, youll be seeing less of me. (http//quiles.home.mindspring.com/aahs/sntest.htm) If these claims are accurate, then why is Americas Food and Drug Administration (FDA) working to eliminate starch blockers from the market? Why are medical test results showing that starch blockers are not only ineffective against weight loss, but are ruinous to the people who ingest them? 2. Claims Manufacturers of Phase oLean claim that taking their starch blockers will block most of those empty calories from that dinner of spaghetti and bread. This happens when the alpha-amylase hin deror in the product stops the digestion of carbohydrates, causing the starch to pass through the digestive tract without being absorbed. Advertising emphasizes that people can heap on the potatoes and pasta and still lose weight. tout ensemble the consumer has to do is take one pill 15-20 minutes before each meal. An additional pill may be taken if the meal consists of heavy starches. encumbrance loss can be expected to occur almost immediately after beginning use of Phase oLean. Consumers may take the starch blockers until they nominate their desired weight, and then use them again if they need help maintaining that weight. (http//www.aomega.com/ahs/p1200b.htm)3. How It Supposedly Works The Phase oLean formula is a kidney bean protein extract that is supposed to inhibit the action of alpha-amylase, which is the enzyme that they say digests starches in the bowel. Manufacturers claim that any carbohydrate that is ingested in the presence of this extract will simply pass t hrough the system ununderstood and be lost as feces. Phase oLean supposedly absorbs only starch calories and leaves the nutrients from food to be digested normally. (http//aomega.com/ahs/p1200a.htm). Marketers claim that carbohydrates are not essential to the human fodder because after they are eaten, they break up into starches and sugars, which are then used either as a quick source of energy or are stored as fat. Calories from carbohydrates should make up 40%- 60% of the average persons daily food intake.