How is beneficial resistant starch formed in Bintje potatoes to support the gut microbiome?
By cooking the potato and subsequently allowing it to cool completely.
Resistant starch is a type of carbohydrate that resists digestion within the small intestine. To increase the beneficial content of this starch in a food like the Bintje potato, a specific preparation technique known as retrogradation must be employed. Retrogradation occurs when digestible starch molecules, after being cooked (gelatinized), are then allowed to cool down, often in a refrigerated environment. During this cooling phase, the structure of the starch changes, transforming a portion of it into this beneficial resistant starch. Once it reaches the large intestine, this resistant starch functions as a prebiotic, meaning it serves as a food source that selectively feeds and nourishes the population of beneficial bacteria residing in the gut microbiome, thus supporting overall digestive health.
