A prominent doctor has identified what he calls the 'most dangerous carb in the world', warning it is widespread in gluten-free products, baby formula, baked goods, and sports nutrition items. Dr Eric Berg, a bestselling author and health guru with 2.5 million Instagram followers, said the carbohydrate 'drives insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, and massive visceral fat in your gut', while also destroying beneficial gut microbes.
The substance in question is industrial starch, labelled as modified food starch, modified corn starch, or maltodextrin. According to WebMD, maltodextrin is a highly processed carbohydrate made from rice, corn, wheat, or potato starch. It is used as an additive to replace sugar and improve texture, shelf life, and taste. In the UK, the Food Standards Agency confirms maltodextrin is regulated as a conventional food ingredient, not a food additive, under retained EU Regulation No. 1333/2008.
Dr Berg explained that this carb 'spikes your blood sugar higher than sugar' yet is not classified as a sugar, allowing it to bypass warning labels. He added that it feeds pathogenic gut bacteria while starving beneficial microbes, and is 'one of the most inflammatory carbs on the planet'. He also claimed it contributes to small dense LDL cholesterol, which can penetrate arteries, and has 'zero' health benefits, calling it 'not even a food' but a filler.
A 2015 scientific review questioned the health effects of maltodextrin, noting that its rapid absorption can increase glycemic load and post-meal glycaemia, which are considered less desirable for health. The review suggested that exchanging unprocessed starch with maltodextrin may have metabolic consequences.
