White Kidney bean = starch blocker?

[hemants]

Anyone heard of this?

There's apparently something in white kidney beans (phaseolamin) that inhibits the digestion of starches.

Fact or fiction?

Not that I'm considering popping pills for cutting but I'd consider adding some of these beans to my diet if it's true.

Thoughts?

[bradley]

I have heard of the carb blockers that use the extract phaseolus vulgaris which is supposedly an effective amylase inhibitor. There was actually an article posted in the supplement section a while back that I have included below.

I searched around on Pubmed and didn't really find anything of interest, other than some rat studies that showed improved body composition from a diet that contained kidney beans.

Even if these so called carb blockers were to work I would imagine the gas would be something of a bother if all the undigested carbs made it to the colon.:eek:

http://www.post-gazette.com/healthscience/20030701hnostarch2.asp