I read an article in Good Housekeeping about Natrol Carb Intercept with Phase 2 Starch Neutralizer. Anyone know anything about this? You don't usually see 'Infomercial material' in good housekeeping.

I haven't ever taken any kind of supplement except like Flintstone or Centrum vitamins or an occasional vitamin C drop. I don’t put a lot of personal faith in supplements. I was just wondering if anyone had tried this and noticed if it in fact helps when the time comes when you are at someone else’s dinner party where low carb isn’t always an option. Anyone know of any ill effects this supplement has had?


Contents: White Kidney Bean Extract, gelatin, Silica, Magnesium.

Fall 2002- 193
LC since August 2003
183/175/150

My guess would be that that they attempt to substantiate the success of the product through fiber. A gram of carbohydrate can be subtracted by each gram of fiber consumed. The kidney bean extract would have to mean fiber.

I think you would get better results with choosing veggies with higher fiber content, less expensive too.

Just my two pennies!

[This message was edited by Kumus on 09-05-03 at 07:03 AM.]

I've heard (on the radio) that white beans help absorb carbs.. but with the LC diet *craze* everybody is jumping on the
get-rich-quick band wagon

i would be leary - as it's been said.. there is no magic pill

Summer (one of our Mods) tested(researched) some of these products, and it's published in the Carb Health Magazine for this month.


**Edit** Ops, I mis-typed. she didnt test them (i just assumed and didnt read the article until today) She researched them.

Terese
LCE Member since 12/00
My LC web site

[This message was edited by Terese on 09-05-03 at 08:04 PM.]

Actually, starch blockers can be moderately effecive, and they are not made of fiber, but a protein extract.


"Small studies in humans have indicated that the extract can neutralize as much as 66 percent of the starch consumed in a meal. Consisting of a protein component, the extract binds to an enzyme called alpha amylase, preventing it from breaking down starch into sugar. As a result, most of the starch passes undigested through the intestines, as indigestible fiber does, and dieters don't pay the full caloric price."

http://www.dfw.com/mld/startelegram/living/6559098.htm

But they certainly are NOT magic, and you still must control your carbs.

I would think they are best used for a "planned cheat" or kept in purse of briefcase for those times when there's nothing suitable for a low carber to eat.

If you find yourself using them all the time, then you obviously haven't gotten past your carb cravings...and you've kind of defeted the purpose.

IMHO



LCandrea

Actually I use them and believe in them. I only take them when I have no choice but to overindulge in carbs, but I never gain additional weight after these carb events. I use the Carb-Cutter brand. I take two at the very start of eating and additional two before I finish. I don't use them often but they are my security blanket.

Today is the first day of the rest of my diet!!

I have had a few large family parties where the food is not perfect for a low Carb dieter. I took the Starch blocker with Phase 2 ( I read about it in Women's World). I haven't had any negative effects fromthe bad food. However i am very careful. I never eat the pasta or potatos. I did eat Meatball that have bread crumbs and breaded chicken cutlets.

I, too, have used the carb blockers when I amfaced with family parties and lots of carbs. I have seen no negative effects, though these are no substitute for an lc woe.

Jen
175/131/120

Interesting link, Andrea. Thanks for the info.

Susan

Dana Carpender, the author of "Hold the Toast", did some testing on herself and found that the starch blockers did seem to keep her blood sugar from rising as much as they normally did after a starchy meal. She noted that the blockers were ineffective on sugary foods, as opposed to starch.

Laurelyn

Phase 2 is what I just bought a couple of weeks ago. Me and my Dh used them just last friday when we went out to dinner. Had lots of starchy food (taters, corn, bread, all you can eat breaded fish.. all the bad stuff), but believe it or not the next day we didn't gain anything and we had no carb craveings. Usually when I have a dinner like that I put on 5LBS the next day with NO exceptions! So my experiance of them was good. I think it was a good investment since we won't use them every once and while only!

On and off since 2000
This time around I started on 1-3-03
272/201/199<--(next goal)