The Starch Blocker Diet

Rating:
Summary: Howard Hughes and Dead Rats.
Review: ...The book describes a progrom that explains how you can eat carbohydrates like rice, pasta, bread and potatoes and lose weight. You lose the weight by taking a starchblocker. This calorie neutralizing substance called Phase 2 binds with the enzymes that digest starch. So when you take it with your meals most starch passes through your system without releasing calories. Phase 2 is made from white kidney beans and is very safe with no side effects aside from minor bloating or gas for some people.

The authors outline a 3 step program. You redistribute your calories so you eat more starchy foods so you will neutralize some of those calories. You learn to take emotional control of your eating and you burn body fat by exercising.

The authors state that by taking the correct dose of the product Phase 2. you will negate about 50%-75% of the starch calories in a carbohydrate meal. If you eat carbohydrate rich meals and take the supplement several times per day you will negate those calories thus be eating less calories and lose weight... In one study, patients lost an average of 3.9% of total body weight or an average of 6.45 pounds over 30 days compared to those on a placebo who lost 3 quarters of a pound. Another study shows a weight loss of .5 to 1 pound per week using the starch blockers...The biggest qualm I had with the book is it is not consistent with other informations as to when to take the starch blockers. The book says right before a meal. At the website of the starch blocker the authors sell it says take 30 minutes before (yes the authors sell starch blockers). So exactly when to take it is unclear. And very important for someone to know to have success with the plan.
After checking with representatives from several different brands and getting a number of different answers I learned that in the study the supplement was taken 30 minutes before.

The authors also make a few errors in the text. They refer to 40% protein 30% fat 30% carbohydrate being a typical low carb diet..when the actual ratios are 40% carb, 30% protein and 30% fat. On p. 69 they refer to gymnema sylvestre as a sugar blocker that is not readily available. Gymnema Sylvestre is marketed not as a sugar blocker but as a way to make it so your taste buds don't taste the sweet so you don't enjoy it. It's still available at health food stores. They suggest you supplement with chromium but do not specify chromium picolinate or chromium polynicotinate. They also tell you not to take more that 6 capsules a day of starch blockers. Yet in examples given they neutralize the calories from 3 meals and 2 snacks each day. Starch blockers have to be taken near the meal to work. So this would have you taking more than 6 starch blockers per day. The authors also suggest you switch your calories to more starchy ones so you can then block them. But this does not teach healthy eating habits. Perhaps it is better to try to control your intake of the energy dense starcy carbs like potatoes and bread and use the blockers as an additional helpmate.

The authors email addresses are given at the back of the book and I emailed both of them. But unfortunately, neither returned my emails to answer my questions. Finally I emailed customer service where the Dr. Rosenblatt the author sells his product (starchstoppers are sold under a variety of brand names) and a super representative named Susan answered my questions.

Skepticism aside there are a lot of good points in the book. The authors discuss how for many folks starch blockers are very helpful in combating the intolerance to carbohydrates. Many folks bloat up when they eat carbs in reasonable amounts and the authors explain how the blockers can help with this.

The book details how to determine your calorie level based on your size and activity. It lists a lot of foods and their starch content so you can plan your own meals. It also rates foods based on how effective they would be on the starch blocker plan. "If a food contains a high amount of starch it is given a better grade" I did not find this list that useful. For example eggs are given a B but they dont have starch so I think the list is based more on what is healthy for you than the starch content of the item.

The book also includes a number of recipes from a French Chef including, hot crab sandwhich, chocolate hazelnut shortcake, chicken paprika, and a number of other tasty meals.

I often bloat when I eat small amounts of carbs and my stomach looks it. So I decided to try the starch blocker program. After just a few days on the program I felt less bloated (my imagination perhaps?) but have not lost any weight. However, it does take time. This is not a magic pill, its a helper. Thus it will be a while before I can clearly attest to the book or starchstoppers effectiveness. When I know for sure I will update this review. Meantime I have my fingers crossed and my starchblocker on hand!

UPDATE - I personally did not notice any difference after taking the starch blockers except less money in my purse. I feel the best course of action to lose weight is exercise and eating real food in small quantities. There is no magic pill.

Rating:
Summary: The Starch Blocker Diet
Review: Frankly I was not convinced that starch blockers work but after reading Dr. Rosenblatt's book, The Starch Blocker Diet, I am convinced this is a very plausible solution to elimination the majority of starch calories from any diet plan and thus lose weight gradually. The science and research over the past thirty years is impressive and logical. Even low carb dieters can benefit from including starch blockers in their diet. Enhances any diet plan in my opinion. Highly recommended for anyone looking to lose weight simply, safely, and sensibly. I bought my copy through the used book vendor on Amazon and frankly got a brand new book for less than $10!

Rating:
Summary: Recommended For Carbohydrate Addicts Like Me!
Review: I finished reading The Starch Blocker Diet a few days ago and went to CVS pharmacy to get the recommended supplement. After almost a week of taking two pills prior to meals I have lost three pounds and my hypoglyecemia is getting under control. I was skeptical before reading this book but there actually has been some groundbreaking research done on the new generation of Starch Blockers called "Phase 2". This book is easy to read and follow and includes specialized food lists and recipes. I recommend this book highly for anyone addicted to carbs like I am.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Thing About Starchblockers...
Review: The best thing about starchblockers is that they regulate your blood sugar levels.

Even if they didn't promote weight loss (which they do), the stabilization of blood sugar levels after meals is a Godsend in itself.

I hope they never take this product off the market!

When you buy your starchblockers make sure they say "Phase 2" starchblocker on them, or they are cheaper knockoffs which won't work as well.

The new, second generation starchblocker products should be made with Phase 2 starchblockers. The label will state this.

Rating:
Summary: Howard Hughes and Dead Rats.
Review: This is not just another Weight Loss book! It is a guide to healthy eating and living!

It is an instruction manual for the body and how different foods affect your energy, mood, alertness and general health. When reading the book I was reminded of the phrase, "You Are What You Eat". When I first opened the book, I was initially disappointed with what I thought was "fluff". I thought I was buying a book that would tell me straight out, "Eat this or eat that". However, after reading the first couple of pages in the introduction, I was glad I didn't get the type of book I had expected-I just could not put it down. The Authors mix health education with mystery and history to make this book a wonderful read. Several times while I was reading, my jaw dropped over some of the information.

I had tried Starch Blockers in the 1980's just before the FDA pulled them but I did not know their history (The Howard Hughes and Dead Rats connection). I thought that Starch Blockers were just another gimmick of the "Health food" industry for a quick fix to overeating. Starch Blockers got a bad (but deserved) rap in the 80's because a few "Quick Buck" artist produced an inferior product based on solid a research into controlling Blood Sugar Levels (Not Weight Loss) . I found in reading that our blood sugar levels control our moods, energy, alertness and the ability to gain or lose weight. Among other things, I have learned about food allergies and food reactions from this wonderful text.

More importantly, I have learned that Starch Blockers by themselves are not a "Magic Weight Loss Bullet". This book details how (and why) to use Phase 2 in conjunction with proper food selection and exercise to create a non-self defeating weight loss (Not Diet) and wellness program. Reading this book and following its advice will make a program using the Phase 2 Starch Blockers more effective.