07/12/2020
Resistant starch is, as the name suggests, starch that is resistant to our own digestive enzymes. In other words it is a type of fibre. This means it passes undigested through the small intestine and enters the colon. There it is gold star fuel for the microbiome. It encourages the growth of healthy microbes, improves diversity of the microbes and most importantly it boosts the production of the short chain fatty acid butyrate. Butyrate fuels the cells lining the colon, keeping them healthy, but it is also anti-inflammatory. Higher levels of butyrate are a good thing and associated with all sorts of health benefits within the gut and the rest of the body.
Resistant starch also improves insulin sensitivity, blood glucose control and in turn reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes.
These are our major sources - wholegrains, legumes, firm bananas and starchy vegetables like potatoes. Cooking and cooling increases the resistant starch. You can then eat the food cold as in a potato or pasta salad, or you can reheat it - you'll still get the resistant starch. BarleyMAX is a special type of barley developed by the CSIRO, specifically to have high levels of resistant starch. Hi-maize comes from corn and is often added to foods to boost fibre levels.
Australians are estimated to be consuming about 3-9g of resistant starch a day, when we really need to be consuming at least 20g. Make sure you are getting yours and feeding your microbiome as well as yourself!