Resistant Starch: Way to a Healthy Life

Abstract

Prebiotic polysaccharides or resistant starches (RS) are the ones that are resistant to digestion. They are not digested by pancreatic amylase and hence do not hydrolyze D-glucose into the small intestine. One of the benefits of resistant starch is that it has a good impact on digestion activity of the digestive system, bacterial flora, LDL and HDL cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and diabetes management. Swell ability, fluidity, gelation, and water absorption are some of its desired physicochemical features that make it beneficial for many foodstuffs. The development of beneficial bacteria can be promoted with the use of food supplements containing resistant starch. It functions as a prebiotic during the fermentation of fiber and feeds beneficial bacteria present in the colon of the large intestine. Multiple kinds of resistant starch exist. Their structure or source is categorized. In one food, there might be more than one resistant starch present. In this review, we will focus on the numerous health advantages of resistant starch and how it can help to combat the obesity, diabetes, and gut problems caused by the intake of junk food.