Not sugar, nor bread: Delhi ortho surgeon warns against the most dangerous carbohydrate. Says, it triggers 'fatty liver and joint inflammation'

Linked to Fatty Liver and Joint Inflammation

The harms extend far beyond blood sugar management. As highlighted in the same video report, Dr Rahman said, “It is a substance that deposits fat in your liver and also promotes fatty liver.” He further described its damaging effects on gut health and inflammation. “It also causes inflammation in your joints,” the surgeon warned, noting that the substance offers no nutritional or physiological benefit.

Industrial starch, he explained, is primarily used as a filler because it is extremely inexpensive and easy to mix into packaged foods.

Where It Hides in Everyday Diets

Although not the natural starch naturally available in food sources like rice or potatoes, industrial starch finds its way into commonly consumed processed items including soups, sauces, chips, fried snacks, bakery items and instant mixes. Its purpose is largely structural, improving texture and bulk without adding nutrition.

Dr Rahman stressed that its widespread consumption stems from convenience and lack of awareness rather than intentional choice.


Dr Obaidur Rahman is known for his advocacy on lifestyle-related disorders and frequently addresses overlooked symptoms through online health education. With extensive training including MBBS, MS Ortho, DNB Ortho and MNAMS, he works at Delhi’s RML Hospital and specialises in complex bone and joint care and sports-related injuries.

His message resonates as both a medical caution and a public health reminder: awareness begins in the kitchen.

Wider Risks Hidden in Packaged Foods

Health experts meanwhile caution that industrial carbohydrates extend well beyond corn starch and micro dextrin, silently dominating packaged and ready-to-eat products. These chemically altered additives—commonly seen as high-fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, glucose syrup, modified starches and synthetic fibers—are frequently used to enhance taste, texture and shelf life. However, nutrition researchers warn that such ingredients are rapidly absorbed, trigger inflammation, disrupt gut balance and contribute to conditions like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome and uncontrolled weight gain. Reading ingredient labels carefully and choosing minimally processed foods may significantly reduce these hidden risks.