Many fad diets recommend that you avoid starchy foods or even all carbohydrates. This is not healthy in the long run, according to the British Food Standards Agency, because avoiding starchy foods altogether can rob your body of needed B vitamins, calcium, fiber and iron. However, if you're trying to lose weight or need to control your blood sugar, too many starchy foods in your diet can cause problems. Cutting starchy foods entirely out of your diet isn't difficult, but you need to think carefully about the process.
Step 1
Avoid all flour products. Flour contains starch, so anything baked with flour will have starch in it. This included breads, bagels, rolls, croissants, doughnuts, cookies and cakes. Piecrusts are also made with flour---so avoid pies. Also, don't eat pasta made with refined white flour.
Step 2
Read about which vegetables contain starch and which ones are starch-free. Potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams contain starch, for example, so consider removing these from your meals. Baby corn doesn't have starch, but full-grown corn is starchy, according to the American Diabetes Association---and peas also contain starch, but sugar snap peas are starch-free.
Step 3
Eat whole grains. White rice is considered a starchy food, though most nutritionists will tell you that brown and wild rice contain enough nutrients and fiber to be healthy in small portions. According to the nutrition experts at the University of Wisconsin, starchy foods can raise levels of triglycerides---which can lead to pancreatitis---so if you can't avoid grains completely, stick to whole grains.
Tips and Warnings
- Increase your intake of raw vegetables to ensure you are getting enough fiber in your diet.
- Do not stay on a completely starch-free diet for more than one to two weeks without consulting your physician.
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