The Hidden Danger: RML Doctor Warns Against the Most Dangerous Carb Driving Fatty Liver and Joint Pain

 

​In an age dominated by wellness trends and dietary debates, attention often focuses on the usual suspects—refined sugar, white bread, and saturated fats. However, a leading health specialist from Delhi's Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital has issued a powerful warning, identifying a much stealthier, more pervasive threat hiding in plain sight: industrial starch. Dr. Obaidur Rahman, an Ortho and Sports Surgeon, has labeled this ubiquitous food additive—often listed as micro dextrin or corn starch—as "the most dangerous carbohydrate in the world," citing its direct role in escalating cases of metabolic and inflammatory diseases, including Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and chronic joint pain.

​The Silent Killer: What is Industrial Starch?

​Industrial starch is a highly processed, refined carbohydrate derived typically from corn or wheat, used extensively throughout the processed food industry. It is added not for nutritional value, but for its functional properties: as a cheap thickening agent, a stabilizer, or a bulking filler. Crucially, this ultra-refined form of carbohydrate lacks the natural fiber found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables that slows down digestion. Because it is so rapidly absorbed, it represents a massive and immediate caloric overload to the body. Dr. Rahman emphasizes that this cheap filler is hiding in countless products we consume unconsciously every day, from soups, sauces, gravies, and salad dressings to baked snacks, chips, and even some protein bars. The widespread use of industrial starch, despite offering zero nutritional benefit, makes it a potent silent driver of ill health for consumers across all demographics.

​The Metabolic Crisis: Glucose Spikes and Insulin Resistance

​The primary danger highlighted by Dr. Rahman lies in the substance’s profound and immediate impact on blood glucose levels. Unlike natural carbohydrates, which are broken down slowly, industrial starch hits the bloodstream with brutal speed. According to the specialist’s cautionary report, consuming this carbohydrate can cause blood sugar levels to spike dramatically—reaching anywhere from 200 to 250 milligrams per decilitre in a matter of a few hours.

​This repeated, extreme glucose surge is the mechanism that drives one of the most pressing health epidemics today: insulin resistance. When the pancreas must constantly flood the body with insulin to manage these spikes, cells eventually become desensitized to the hormone. This metabolic dysfunction is the direct precursor to Type 2 Diabetes, significantly increasing a person's risk regardless of their apparent fitness level. This relentless cycle of spiking and crashing blood sugar places an enormous strain on the body’s entire endocrine system.

​Triggering Systemic Inflammation and Organ Damage

​Beyond the risk of diabetes, the constant metabolic stress induced by industrial starch fuels systemic inflammation—a root cause for a spectrum of chronic illnesses. Dr. Rahman, being an orthopedic surgeon, links this inflammation directly to the rise in joint issues, even in young and active individuals. Inflammation triggered by poor metabolic health can affect synovial fluid, cartilage health, and nerve function, leading to persistent, nagging joint pain and conditions that mimic arthritis.

​Perhaps more critically, the sheer carbohydrate volume from industrial starch is a major contributor to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). When the liver is constantly bombarded with excess glucose that the body cannot immediately use for energy, it begins converting that surplus into fat for storage. Over time, this fat accumulation leads to a 'fatty liver,' a condition once rare but now alarmingly common, acting as a gateway to more severe liver and cardiovascular complications. Protecting long-term metabolic and organ health, therefore, requires a conscious effort to eliminate this insidious ingredient. The warning is clear: prioritize whole, single-ingredient foods and diligently scrutinize labels to protect your gut, liver, and joints from the invisible threat of industrial starch.