Paul Stevens, Ph.D., MH,

Starch is not an essential nutrient and sugar might be considered by some as a metabolic poison and therefore definitely not essential as a nutrient.  Starch is a complex carbohydrate and sugar is a simple carbohydrate.  Both are carbohydrates provide what are sometimes termed "empty calories." In order to promote health and wellbeing and provide good nutrition, the human body requires amino acids and these are derived from dietary protein. Protein aids in maintaining the body structure as well as other bodily functions. Certain fatty acids are also required and are obtained from dietary fat. So despite bad press dietary fat receives, some of it is unquestionably required in a balanced diet! Dietary fat is of benefit in maintaining BDK (Benign Dietary Ketosis.)  But starch is not a requirement for a good nutrition regimen. Many so-called "experts" have encouraged diets that are high in complex carbohydrates but low carbohydrates advocates seem to know more than most as low carbohydrate diets are gaining popularity! Why is this? 

There are a many good benefits of a low carbohydrate diet but there seems to be major disadvantages to eating a HIGH carbohydrate diet! Complex carbohydrates, as we now know, are converted to sugar in the human body. As carbs are absorbed into the digestive tract they eventually generate the pancreas to generate insulin. Insulin is known as the fat storing hormone as insulin metabolically encourages the storage of fat in the body.  Incidentally, the more insulin the body manufactures, the more likely you are to feel hungry.

One solution to added hunger and increase in weight caused by insulin is to severely curtail carbohydrate consumption. Obviously, this is what low carb dieting is. One ceases eating foods that "drive" weight gain, by controlling the consumption of carbohydrates. This entails removing from the diet all refined carbohydrates including sugars and processed foods. These have a natural ability to upset the body's capacity to handle insulin. It becomes more difficult for insulin to perform properly and so the pancreas makes more insulin.  This condition is referred to as "insulin resistance."

Insulin resistance makes the body store fat in the presence of consumption of excessive carbohydrates, as carbs are absorbed into the body they prompt insulin production, this in turn initiates the storage of body fat and restricts the body's capacity to burn it's own fat for energy. If you bear in mind the fact that most carbohydrates in the diets of modern Americans are simple carbohydrates such as sugar and that the foods we eat are refined, over-processed and overcooked; it is easily seen that this contributes extensively to weight gain in America.

Controversy has recently erupted amongst the low carb diet pundits over "carb blockers" that include a substance named "Phaseolamin." The patented, good quality form of this is called "Phase2™" manufactured by Pharmachem Laboratories.  This compound allegedly interferes with the digestive process and reduces the absorption of the quantity of dietary nutrients obtained from starches. It apparently inhibits, or "blocks" the actions of enzyme alpha-amylase in the intestines. The critics charge that this process, does work in test tube, but not in the human body. My reaction to their logic is "how do you know?" If the nay-sayers of carb blocking expertise say that there is no alternative for not eating carbs, 'Carb blocking is a hoax, or 'snake oil!'" Why? The same critics appear to admit that it works in the lab. Supporters of "Phaseolamin" say it is a wonderful discovery and it allows you to consume as much carb containing food as you desire. Could it be that the truth lies somewhere between these two extremes?

Firstly let us see what "Phaseolamin" is meant to do: Starch is a sizeable molecule and the alpha-amylase in the digestive system breaks down the starch molecules into smaller particles that can be absorbed into the system and used for energy. The concept of "carb blockers" is to decrease, or "block” the action of alpha-amylase enzymes to result in less starch breakdown, therefore less carbs are absorbed into the body. This ideally means less production of insulin, hence less fat storage by the body.

It was found in one study, that usage of a Phaseolamin starch blocker, reduced sugar and insulin levels after meals in both subjects and also in diabetic subjects. Another study found that a suitable dose of starch blocker was able to reduce amylase activity on wheat starch in the small intestine by more than 96%. A third study showed that a starch blocker improved levels of insulin, reduced starch digestion and reduced the release of sugar into the blood stream.

Dr. P.P Nel says, "This is a unique weight management tool that is particularly useful for long-term weight control. Carefully monitored laboratory studies and others performed independently, using specific materials, have indicated positive weight-loss outcomes among animals when starch blocker was included in their diet. More significantly though are results that were observed when original clinical evaluations of the starch blocker began about twenty years ago. In weight-loss clinics in Indiana, Dr. David Beazly, M.D. and I noticed an effectiveness in more than 100 subjects."

These studies have been rejected as "anecdotal evidence" by the critics of  low carbs in reference to carb blocking products. It is interesting to note that the same kind of charge is aimed at low carbing as a dietary system by the critics of low carbing!

I made a personal decision to keep an open mind on the subject of carb blocking, and conduct my own "anecdotal" study by trying the product on myself! I have found out, over a period of several years, what I can and can't do in respect of eating certain amounts of carbs, and my capacity to remain in BDK (Benign Dietary Ketosis.) I have read fierce criticism of carb blockers and was certainly prepared for them to be the "snake oil" I expected! The only point that gave me pause for thought was the disclosure, even by the critics, that Phaseolamin actually blocked carb absorption in the lab. So, now I made the lab my body.

After taking the carb blocker a half hour before eating, amazingly I was able to eat a serving of French fries, normally that would have taken me entirely out of BDK for three days, but I went from a DDK Level of moderate to trace (measured with ketone test strips). The next day, boom! I was back to moderate. I don't know? But, to me this was near miraculous! Then, of course I blew it by trusting the carb blocker to carry on to blocking all carbs at every meal for some days, but no, it was not to be; I drifted further out of BDK, until at last, I was fully out. Although my BDK was ultimately blown, my normal "after cheat" weight gain was much les significant. So the carb blocker still helped. It is not by any means a panacea! You cannot carb blockers daily, and it can’t be useed to block all carbs every meal time. However when used infrequently, according to instructions, it can assist in negating the effects of carbs on the body at the occasional meal containing starch

NOTE: the manufacturers do not claim that carb blockers will block pure sugars, only starches such as bread or potatoes.  Sugar is and always will be bad. This is why I feel it best to call the product a "Starch Neutralizer!"

It is interesting as a side to note that undigested starch passing through the colon can be good for one. A Professor at King's College, London, has proved that partial digestion of starch is not uncommon. And in fact, he reported that partially digested starch has the property and benefits of dietary fibre. So the partially digested starch being "blocked" by the action of Phaseolamin may be of benefit to the low carb dieter.  Also, in clinical studies,  Phaseolamin has been shown to lower triglyceride levels.

Dietrine - Phase2™ of Pharmachem Laboratory's, has indicated, in clinical studies, in a double-blind study, to be extremely effective, when contrasted to subjects who were given a placebo.  Dr. R. Bindisri states: "Results infer that (the placebo) did not conclude significant change of the measurable parameters, while (Phase2™) showed a good efficacy in lessening the calorie intake from complex carbohydrates for easier, correct and stable weight loss (calculated by impedance measure), with a reduction in adipose membrane depth (echography) and reduction in waistline, hips and thigh circumference."

However, I want to strongly stress in no uncertain terms, that Phaseolamin use is not a substitute for the extreme carbohydrate reduction that ensures that a low carb diet works!  I cannot emphasise this strongly enough! It is not possible to enjoy the benefits of a low carb diet if you continue eating simple carbohydrates regularly! I have, however noted that if you indulge in a "cheat meal," a product containing Phaseolamin may help to prevent carb absorption in that particular instance.

Using a product such as Dietrine™ as a small part of your weight loss or management regime, allows you to eat the occasional, reasonable quantity of starchy foods. You may then still reap the benefits of a low carb diet and occasionally (rarely!) enjoy more variety that can be obtained from  foods containing starch, such as beans, corn, breads, rice, and potatoes. This helps, because you then don’t feel as "restricted" in your die, and you redouble the chance that you will stay committed to the diet.  Once again, phaseolamin does not block sugar, only starches. For example it will block the majority of the starch in a baked potato, but definitely not the sugar in a slice of cake. Starch is also often present as a thickener in soups, sauces and gravies and some fruits and vegetables contain starches. Starch itself can actually be incredibly difficult to avoid completely. Even the with benefits of a carb blocker-type product it is still vital that you keep an eye on overall carb count and use a carb blocker occasionally only. Of course, exercise and drinking water must still take place, together with restricting carbohydrates as you normally would in order to see weight loss results. However, a carb blocker is a useful tool, and if you are going to "cheat"... it definitely won’t hurt!

Dietrine™ - contains pure Pharmachem Phaseolamin 2250®, clinically certified as the best phaseolamin available.  Not only does it contain more Phaseolamin at 500mg per capsule, than other Carb Blocker products, it is more economical to purchase than most other carb blocker products. 

Wow with Dietrine™ being readily available, and containing even more phaseolamin than the old carb blocking product. I have got to recommend in preference to the older product we used to stock. 

Key, to me is the successful clinical trials undertaken using Pharmachem’s Phaseolamin 2250. Dietrine™ contains pure Phaseolamin 2250, the active "carb blocking" element in all "carb blockers!"  In a recent study completed over eight weeks of Phase2™.  In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, human pilot trial.  Overall results indicated that starch absorption was on average 66% lower for the group using Phase2™.  The average weight loss in the eight week period was 3.8 lbs, with a waist reduction of 1.5 inches. And here is the big surprise... a reduction in triglycerides of 26 points.  The difference from the placebo group was:  Weight Loss: 229% more, Waist Reduction: 43% more, Triglyceride Reduction: 325% more than in the placebo group!