Low Carb Nexus - Article - What about "Carb Blockers?"

Starch, itself, is a non-essential nutrient. Sugar, as I have termed it before, is a "metabolic poison," and therefore, definitely a non-essential nutrient! Starch is classified as a complex carbohydrate and sugar as a simple carbohydrate. They both are carbohydrates and they both provide what some have termed "empty calories." To promote good health and provide sound nutrition, we definitely need amino acids, which come mainly from dietary protein. This protein helps maintain your body's structure as well as your bodily functions. We also need certain fatty acids, which are obtained from dietary fats. In other words, despite all the bad press dietary fat has received, some of it is absolutely required in one's diet! And dietary fat is also a benefit to achieving and maintaining BDK (Benign Dietary Ketosis.) However, starch is not required for a sound nutritional regimen. In fact, while many so-called "experts" have long advocated diets high in complex carbohydrates... as we low carb advocates know more than most, low carbohydrate diets have been gaining in popularity! Why?

While there are a great many benefits to low carbohydrate diets (many of which are documented in other articles on this web site) there are major disadvantages to eating a HIGH carbohydrate diet! As we now know, complex carbohydrates are broken down into sugar in the body as those carbs are absorbed in one's digestive tract and, then, ultimately, trigger one's pancreas to produce insulin. Insulin has been called "the fat storing hormone" because it is insulin that metabolically promotes the storage of body fat! Also, the more insulin that your body produces, the more hungry you are likely to feel!

One solution to this additional hunger and the weight gain caused by insulin is to drastically cut back on carbohydrate consumption. This is, obviously, what low carb dieting is all about! One stops eating the foods that "drive" the weight gain, by restricting carbohydrate consumption. That means cutting out refined carbohydrates in all shapes and forms, including both sugars and highly processed foods, which naturally upset the body's ability to handle the hormone insulin. It becomes harder for insulin to do it's job, therefore the pancreas produces MORE insulin. The scientific name for this is condition is "insulin resistance."

Insulin resistance causes the body to store fat due to excessive carbohydrate consumption, because the carbs are absorbed into the body and trigger insulin production, which, in turn causes body fat to be stored, and it also restricts the body's ability to burn it's own fat for fuel. When you consider the fact that most of the carbohydrates found in the modern American diet are simple carbohydrates (like sugar,) and that the foods we have eaten are refined, overcooked, and over-processed; it is easy to see that all this has contributed to American weight gain!

Much controversy has erupted recently in the low carb diet community over "carb blockers" or "carb cutters" that contain a substance called "Phaseolamin." The patented, high quality version of this is also known as "Phase2™" from Pharmachem Laboratories. This compound supposedly interferes with one's digestive process to reduce the amount of dietary nutrients absorbed from starches. Its actions are said to inhibit, or "block" the action of the enzyme alpha-amylase in the intestines. This process, the critics charge, DOES WORK in the test tube, but not in the body, the critics say. My reaction to that "logic" in both directions, pro or con, is "how do you know?" In other words, the naysayers of carb blocking technology say, "There is no substitute for not eating carbs! 'Carb blocking' is a joke, a hoax, or 'snake oil!'" Why? These same critics seem to admit it works in the laboratory. Promoters of "Phaseolamin" say that it is a "wondrous discovery" that allows you to eat all the carb containing foods you used to eat. Could the truth, as usual... be somewhere in the middle of these two extreme positions?

First, let's look at what "Phaseolamin" is supposed to do: starch is a large molecule and the enzyme alpha-amylase present in your digestive tract breaks down starch molecules into smaller components, which can then be absorbed into one's system and then be burned for energy. The idea of "carb blockers" is to reduce, or "block," the action of the body's alpha-amylase enzymes which then results in less starch breakdown... and therefore, less carb absorption into the body. This should mean less stimulation of insulin, and therefore, less fat storage, by our body systems.

In one study, it was found that use of a starch blocker, containing "Phaseolamin," reduced sugar levels and insulin levels following meals in both normal subjects and in diabetic subjects. In another study, it was found that appropriate doses of a starch blocker can inhibit amylase activity in the small intestine on wheat starch (in the case of this specific study, spaghetti) by more than 96%. And a third study demonstrated that a starch blocker not only improved insulin levels, reduced starch digestion, but also reduced the release of sugar into the blood stream.¹

Dr. J. John Marshall states, "Today it is known as a unique weight management aid, especially useful for long-term weight maintenance. Carefully controlled studies in our laboratory and others performed independently in Minnesota, using defined materials, have shown positive weight-loss results among animals when the starch blocker was added to their diets. More significant, however, are the results observed when we originally began clinical evaluations of the starch blocker almost twenty years ago. In weight-loss clinics in Indiana, Dr. Dean Elzey, M.D. and I remarked an efficacy in over 100 subjects."²

These studies, while interesting, are dismissed as "anecdotal evidence" by low carb critics of "carb blocking" products. It is interesting that the same type of charge is leveled at low carbing as a dietary practice by the critics of low carbing! Are we in danger of doing the same thing our critics are doing?

I, personally, decided to try and keep an open mind on the issue of carb blocking, and do my own "anecdotal, subjective" study by trying it on myself! I have learned, over several years of low carbing, what I can do and what I can't do with regard to eating a certain amount of carbs... and my ability to stay in BDK (Benign Dietary Ketosis.) I had read the virulent criticism of carb blockers and was prepared for it to be the "snake oil" I expected it to be! The only thing that "gave me pause" was the admission, even by critics, that Phaseolamin DID block carb absorption in the laboratory. So, now "the lab" was my body!

To my amazement, I WAS able, after taking the carb blocker a half hour before eating, to eat a helping of French fries that would have BLOWN me completely out of BDK for three days! I went from a "moderate" level of BDK to "trace" (measurable by ketone test strips)... but then the next day... boom! Back to "moderate." I don't know about you.... but this was a near miraculous experience to me! Of course, I then "blew it" by "trusting" in the carb blocker to continue to block all carbs at each meal for several days. Nope! I drifted further and further out of BDK, until finally, I was fully out. BUT, though my BDK was finally blown, my usual "after cheat" weight gain was way, WAY smaller! So, it still "helped." BUT, it is NOT a panacea! You CAN NOT use carb blockers every day, and you CAN NOT use it to block all carbs at every meal. HOWEVER, if used occasionally, and according to instructions, it can help negate the effect of carbs at the OCCASIONAL starch included in a meal.

NOTE: even the manufacturer DOES NOT claim it will block pure sugars... just starches... like breads or potatoes. Sugar is, and ever will be, EVIL!!! This is why it is best called a "Starch Neutralizer!"

Also, it is interesting as a side note that undigested starches passing through one's colon can be good for you! Tony Leeds, Professor at King's College in London, has shown that incomplete digestion of starch is not an uncommon phenomenon. In fact, he has reported that undigested starch has the properties of, and imparts the benefits of, dietary fiber. Therefore, the undigested starch that is "blocked" by the action of phaseolamin can actually be a benefit to a low carb dieter! Phaseolamin has also been shown, in clinical studies, to lower triglycerides.³

Clinical studies of Pharmachem Laboratory's Phaseolamin - Phase2™ have indicated, in a double-blind study, to be VERY effective, when compared to subjects that were given a placebo.⁴ Dr. R. Ballerini states in his conclusions in the study: "Results suggest that (the placebo) did not determine significant modifications of the considered parameters, while (Phase2™) demonstrated a good efficacy in reduction of calorie intake form complex carbohydrates for an easier, correct and balanced weight loss (calculated by impedance measure), with reduction of adipose membrane thickness (echography) and a reduction of waistline, hips circumference and thigh circumference."

However, I want to stress strongly, and in no uncertain terms, Phaseolamin usage is NO SUBSTITUTE for the drastic carbohydrate reduction that makes a low carb diet work! I can't say this strongly enough! You WILL NOT have the benefits of a low carb diet if you continue to eat simple carbohydrates on a regular basis! PERIOD! What I have noted personally, however, is that if you are going to have a "cheat meal," anyway... THEN, and ONLY THEN, a product containing Phaseolamin CAN, indeed, help prevent carb absorption in THAT instance.

Utilizing a product like LCN Starch Neutralizer - Phaseolamin - Phase2™ as ONE minor part of your weight loss or weight management program, allows you to OCCASIONALLY eat reasonable quantities of starch containing foods. You can still then reap the benefits of a low carbohydrate diet and still occasionally (rarely!) enjoy additional variety that can be provided by such starch containing foods such as beans, rice, corn, breads, and potatoes. This can be a benefit because you then will not feel as "restricted" in your diet overall... and you increase the chances that you will stay on the diet. However, again, phaseolamin DOES NOT block sugars! It only blocks starches. It will, for example, block most of the starch in a baked potato, but not the sugar in a piece of cake! Starch can be present as a thickener in sauces, soups, and gravies. Even some fruits and vegetables contain some starches. In fact, starch itself can be very difficult to avoid completely. Even with the benefits that a carb blocker-type of product can provide, it is still very important to watch your overall carb count, and use it only occasionally! And, of course, you still have to exercise, drink your water and restrict carbs as you normally would, to see weight loss results. BUT, a carb blocker can be a useful tool in your arsenal... if you are going to "cheat"... it definitely can't hurt!

I know some will say that since we carry LCN Starch Neutralizer - Phaseolamin - Phase2™ in our web site's product list, that I am therefore "prejudiced" and "biased." I trust that I have made it clear that this review of my personal experience, "anecdotal" though it may be, is simply that... what I experienced. Do I use Phase-2™ every day? NO!!! Not at all! Do I use it for the occasional cheat meal to diminish the effects of "evil carbs" on my body? YES! And I have found it helpful in that regard. Since I have, I would be then be remiss if I DIDN'T then make it available, with qualifiers, to those that what to perform their own experiment. Toward that end, HERE is the link to LCN Starch Neutralizer - Phaseolamin - Phase2™ Carb Block. Try it, and if you find that your experience is similar to mine, let me know!

Our LCN Starch Neutralizer - Phaseolamin - Phase2™ - has PURE Pharmachem Phaseolamin 2250® the clinically certified BEST phaseolamin on the market! It not only has MORE Phaseolamin it it (500mg per capsule) than other "Carb Blocker" products, it is cheaper than most all others as well! More information on it's benefits is available HERE!

By the way, I had someone write me some time back and ask why we prefer the carb block that we carry over "Carb Cutter," and other brands... and, they asked if they (different "Carb Blocker/Cutter" Brands) can be used together for a "cumulative" effect... here's my response to that question:

January 11, 2001

Both of these products are very similar. In fact, they have almost the same formulation and ingredients. In that sense, they do exactly the same thing and there would be no benefit from using them together. The "active ingredient" in both, as far as carb absorbing, is Phaseolamin, which is derived from the Northern White Kidney Bean.

It reduces the body's ability to absorb carbs into the digestive tract. It acts only while present in your system and after it is passed out of your system it loses it's effectiveness. In other words, the "secret" to using it effectively is to take it 30 minutes prior to eating... if you take it after a meal it reduces it's effectiveness dramatically down to almost zero. It may prevent bloating from the carbs... but not their effect on your blood sugar, and therefore, your insulin release. What we like about our carb blocker is that it has more phaseolamin and seems quite a bit more effective. While I do not recommend "throwing caution to the wind" and using them all the time... I, just a few days ago, took some exactly 30 minutes before eating a Papa John's pepperoni pizza. That would have completely blown me out of ketosis without it, but I not only stayed in ketosis (I dropped a level initially from having been in "moderate" down to "trace")... but, by the next morning, I was back to "moderate"... to me, it was almost miraculous! Needless to say, I was amazed!

Hope this helps!

- Dr. Bill

Obviously, now with LCN Starch Neutralizer - Phaseolamin - Phase2™ available, with EVEN MORE phaseolamin than our old carb blocking product, I am now recommending it over the older product that we used to carry. The key, to me is that the successful clinical trials were done using Pharmachem Laboratory's Phaseolamin 2250® phaseolamin, and LCN Starch Neutralizer - Phaseolamin - Phase2™ has their phaseolamin in it! In fact, it is PURE Phaseolamin 2250®, the active "carb blocking" ingredient in ALL "carb blockers!" AND....a recent study at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, a UCLA affiliate, completed an eight week study of Phase2™. It was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, human pilot trial. The overall results showed that starch absorption averaged 66% lower in the group taking Phase2™. Average weight loss in eight weeks was 3.8 lbs., waist reduction of 1.5 inches, and HERE'S the really surprising result... Triglyceride reduction of 26 points! The difference from the placebo group was: Weight Loss: 229% better, Waist Reduction: 43% better, Triglycerine Reduction: 325% better than a placebo!