Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsNot good if you are insulin resistant
Reviewed in Australia on 28 March 2015
The Starch Solution was my health Bible for a long time. I loved it and after finishing reading the book I totally embraced a High Starch Vegan diet. Who wouldn't like this way of eating, I mean I was having baked potatoes (no oil) for lunch with Corn Tortillas and beans for dinner. I even bought a microwave contraption so that I could make my own potato chips (no oil) At the end of twelve months I had neither gained nor lost any weight. My doctor said I was obese (yes, he had no bedside manners) I was adamant that my diet would work and following the advice of fellow "High Carbers" I tried to lower my fat consumption even more. I was 'frying' in water, completely eliminated oil from my diet. No more tahini or any other possible contributors that might affect my weight loss. Sadly my weight did not budge. Another doctor visit, this time for blood test. I was so excited because I believed with all my heart that the results would validate my diet. Sadly this wasn't the case. My cholesterol was up, my triglycerides were through the roof and my blood sugars were very high. I left the surgery in tears. How could something that make so much sense not be working for me? Well it is only now, six months down the track that I can reflect on what I think the problem was. I am pre diabetic and although I considered my diet healthy with all the vegetables and salad I was eating (along with the starches) It was mostly Carbs. Pre Diabetes plus Carbs = high insulin levels and an inability to lose weight along with high triglyceride levels. Another thing that I noticed was that by restricting my fat intake I was experiencing terrible mood swings. It was only once I rectified that (after stopping the diet) that I noticed my moods were much more stable.
I believe that for the majority of people this diet would work. I witnessed first hand a number of people who lost a tremendous amount of weight following the diet. But for those who are older and have insulin resistance like myself, it is not going to work. I couldn't have tried harder but that was detrimental to my health.
