WHO destroys "starch theory"

The World Health Organization (WHO) has found evidence of the benefits of starch, which many may consider "harmful" to health and cause weight gain.

People should increase their intake of fiber in general, though they are present in carbohydrates, such as bread, pasta and cereal chips, the group said.

Increased intake of fiber reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other chronic diseases, according to Sky News.

The new evidence is counterproductive to the famous theory that starches are "harmful" to health, pushing for weight gain and raising body fat.

"Most of us consume less than 20 grams of fiber per day, but our studies confirm that a person should eat 25 to 29 grams," said lead author Andrew Reynolds.

The health benefits of fiber diets, found in wheat, fruit and vegetable products, come from their chemical composition and their effect on metabolism, said one study supervisor.