How to Remove Starch From Your Diet

Starch provides a necessary source of energy for our bodies, but very often people consume more than the necessary amount, which then just turns to fat. If you are watching your weight, or struggling with irritable bowel syndrome or diabetes, you want to monitor the amount of starch you consume. You most likely need to remove some starch from your diet. You can do this by thinking of starch as a condiment rather than a main dish. Also, choose your carbohydrates carefully, and follow some of these tips for food preparation.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Stove
• Pot or pan
• Colander

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Instructions

• 1

  Learn which foods contain starch. Rice, breads, grains, cereals and pasta are all heavy in starch. Whole foods such as peas, corn, and potatoes also contain starch. Limit your intake of foods that fall into these categories. One portion should fit in the palm of your hand. If you are trying to remove starch completely, then simply avoid these foods.

• 2

  Soak potatoes in water before cooking. Wash white rice until the water running off is clear. Wash corn and peas as well before cooking, even if they are canned. When you cook beans, cook them for 30 minutes, then drain the water and add fresh water to continue cooking them. When cooking pasta, drain it completely and run fresh water over the pasta before serving.

• 3

  Choose foods that may have starch but also offer other nutritional benefits such as fiber. For example, substitute brown rice for white rice, and whole wheat pasta for white pasta. Other starchy foods are carrots, soy beans, oatmeal and mangoes. Keep portions of these foods small. Women should have six starches, and men should have eight starches each day, according the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.

• 4

  Substitute natural foods for processed foods. Plenty of fruits and vegetables contain starch. This way your body will receive the energy it needs without any added calories or unwanted ingredients.