See How Fermented Pea Starch Can Power Your Clean Gains!

By: Nelson Narciso, DNM®

PVL CLEAN MASS XL offers a unique blend of food-sourced clean carbohydrates, each with its own distinct benefits. These include Fermented Pea Starch, Tapioca/Waxy Maize Starch, Brown Rice, Organic Quinoa, Sweet Potato, Prebiotic Inulin, and Tart Cherry. These are all digested and absorbed at different rates while providing significant health benefits. By combining these clean carbs, PVL CLEAN MASS XL delivers a balanced and nutrient-dense source of carbohydrates that is not typically found in mass gainers. This makes PVL CLEAN MASS XL a healthier alternative to mass gainers that use isolated carbs like maltodextrin.

This article will focus on the unique benefits of Fermented Pea Starch and why using it makes this a more effective Mass Gainer.

What Is Starch?

Starch is a complex carbohydrate made up of long chains of glucose molecules. It's the primary form of energy stored in plants and can be found in various foods such as peas, potatoes, rice, corn, and wheat. In the human body, starch is broken down into glucose, which cells use as a source of energy.

Starch Is Composed of Two Types of Molecules:

1. Amylose, which is a straight chain of glucose molecules
2. Amylopectin, which is a branched chain of glucose molecules

Starches with a higher amylose content, such as pea starch, have a lower glycemic index. This means they cause a slower rise in blood sugar levels.

                                                                          

Starches Are Classified According to Their Digestibility Rate

1. Rapidly-Digested Starch (RDS)
2. Slowly-Digested starch (SDS)
3. Resistant Starch (RS)
• Pea starch is a resistant starch that human gut enzymes can't digest.
• However, gut microbes can digest and convert it into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are a primary fuel source for gut cells and help heal the gut.
• RS also has numerous health benefits:
• Greater insulin sensitivity in cells.
• Improves carbohydrate and fat metabolism.
• Provides prebiotic activity.
• Reduces the dietary risk of diabetes, obesity, intestinal health disorders, and local and systemic inflammation.

Why Would You Want a Resistant Starch in a Mass Gainer?

• Improved glycemic response

• RS has a low glycemic index, which means it does not cause a significant spike in blood sugar levels after consumption. This can help maintain more stable blood sugar levels and help individuals manage their diabetes.[5]

• Improved gut health

• RS is fermented in the gut by beneficial gut bacteria, which can produce short-chain fatty acids that promote gut health.[6]

• Increased nutrient absorption

• RS can increase the absorption of certain nutrients, including calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron, which may benefit individuals with difficulty meeting their daily requirements.[7]

Benefits of Pea Starch:

• Pea Starch is a Resistant Starch (RS)

• Excellent Prebiotic Activity[8]

• Provides food for good gut microbes.

• Supports Healthy Gut Microbiome[9]

• Encourages the growth of good bacteria (probiotics) & discourages bad ones (pathogens). 

• Supports & Protects the Gut[10]

• Helps with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) better than other common starches

• Less Digestive Discomfort Than Many Common Carbs

• Some carbs cause gas and bloating.
• Fermenting the pea starch improves digestibility compared to non-fermented pea starch.  

• Low Glycemic [11],[12]

• Some carbs have a very high glycemic index.

• Less-Allergenic [13],[14]

• A food allergy results from the body having a strong immune reaction to a specific protein in a food.
• Some carbs fall under the list of "common food allergens." Examples include soy and wheat. Peas are not considered common allergens (aka Priority allergens) and are classified as sourced from wheat and corn, which can be allergenic.
• Pea starch does not contain protein and therefore has a low risk of allergy. 

• Non-GMO

• Several common carb sources (corn, potato, rice) can be genetically modified.
• Peas are not (as of yet) a genetically modified crop.

• Environmentally Friendly

• Peas require considerably less water and fertilizer relative to many other crops.[15]
• Peas also have a lower carbon footprint and are a sustainable crop.[16]

^[1] Curso-Almeida P, Weber L. 379 Effect of yeast fermentation on pea starch glycemic index in dogs. J Anim Sci. 2018 Dec;96(Suppl 3):151-2. doi: 10.1093/jas/sky404.330. Epub 2018 Dec 7. PMCID: PMC6285440.

^[2] Adrianna Bojarczuk, Sylwia Skąpska, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah, Krystian Marszałek, Health benefits of resistant starch: A review of the literature. Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 93, 2022, 105094, ISSN 1756-4646, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2022.105094.

^[3] Warman DJ, Jia H, Kato H. The Potential Roles of Probiotics, Resistant Starch, and Resistant Proteins in Ameliorating Inflammation during Aging (Inflammaging). Nutrients. 2022 Feb 10;14(4):747. doi: 10.3390/ nu14040747. PMID: 35215397; PMCID: PMC8879781.

^[4] Adrianna Bojarczuk, Sylwia Skąpska, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah, Krystian Marszałek, Health benefits of resistant starch: A review of the literature. Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 93, 2022, 105094, ISSN 1756-4646, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2022.105094.

^[5] Johnston, K. L., Thomas, E. L., Bell, J. D., & Frost, G. S. (2010). Resistant starch improves insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome. Diabetic Medicine, 27(4), 391-397.

^[6] Topping, D. L., & Clifton, P. M. (2001). Short-chain fatty acids and human colonic function: roles of resistant starch and nonstarch polysaccharides. Physiological Reviews, 81(3), 1031-1064.

^[7] Zhou, J. R., & Erdman Jr, J. W. (1995). Phytic acid in health and disease. Critical Reviews in Food Science & Nutrition, 35(6), 495-508.

^[8] Xu Z, Liu W, Zhang Y, Zhang D, Qiu B, Wang X, Liu J, Liu L. Therapeutic and Prebiotic Effects of Five Different Native Starches on Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Mice Model of Colonic Colitis. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2021 Apr;65(8):e2000922. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.202000922. Epub 2021 Mar 9. PMID: 33629501.

^[9] Ibid.

^[10] Ibid.

^[11] Healthline. Sep 23, 2022. Is Maltodextrin Bad for me? https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/is-maltodextrin-bad-for-me#is-it-safe

^[12] WebMD. June 22, 2021. What Is Maltodextrin? https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-maltodextrin

^[13] Health Canada. April 18, 2023. Common Food Allergens. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/food-safety/food-allergies-intolerances/food-allergies.html

^[14]Food Allergy Canada. June 21, 2019. Ask The Allergist: Your Questions Answered – June 2019. https://foodallergycanada.ca/ask-the-allergist-your-questions-answered-june-2019/

^[15] Greener Ideal May 9, 2022. Is Pea Protein Better for your health and the Environment? https://greenerideal.com/food/pea-protein-for-health-environment/#:~:text=Peas%20do%20have%20several%20environmental,produce%20one%20pound%20of%20peas.

^[16] HEALabel Jan 23, 2023. Pea Benefits and Side Efects. https://www.healabel.com/pea-benefits/#8-are-peas-low-fodmap