The popularity of potato starch as a substitute for substance thickeners, such as flour, has grown in recent years as nutritionists continue to uncover its health benefits. And, among those recently discovered, its positive effects on the colorectal system might be some of the most important.
Though not popular for it, potato starch is actually one of the market’s richest sources of resistant starch, which, studies have shown, can play a significant role in improving quality of the flora and the overall health of your colon.
Scientists have found that, unlike most of the food you typically eat, resistant starch “escapes digestion in the small intestine” and “may be fermented in the large intestine.” In other words, it is able to travel beyond your small intestine all the way to your colon, where it actually ends up serving as upkeep for your large intestine’s “good bacteria”.
As a result, the presence of resistant starch (such as potato starch) in your diet can lead to several benefits for the overall function of your digestive system. For instance, researchers have discovered that it can significantly increase your levels of butyrate – a substance that is essential for colonic cells and could also help prevent colorectal cancer.
Furthermore, preliminary research also suggests that resistant starch can even help clean out excesses of unhealthy bacteria building up in the colorectal tract. And because potato starch is gluten-free it could even provide an actual alternative for people with celiac disease.
So, whether you are looking to improve the quality of your gastrointestinal functions, or simply looking to keep your colon happy in order to prevent other problems, a switch to potato starch might be a move to consider in the near future.
Currently, potato starch is often used as an alternative to wheat flour, as an ingredient for sauces and stews, or as kosher and corn-free option for baking cakes and other goods. (Click here to learn more).
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