Dr. Mark Hyman describes in his book Eat Fat, Get Thin a diet low in highly processed carbohydrates as important for losing weight and staying healthy. However, he does make at least one concession to carbs found in potato starch.
In a blog post, Dr. Hyman says that potato starch is what’s called a “resistant starch.” What makes this kind of starch resistant is that as it passes through your digestive system the starches are not absorbed in the small intestine. Rather, the bacteria in the gut processes it, turning the starch into molecules that they can use. Since potato starch is not absorbed by the body, it does not contribute to blood sugar spikes or other problems that other starches have.
Dr. Hyman goes on to say that potato starch is a “super-fertilizer,” helping to foster a healthy environment in your gut for bacteria. Having healthy gut bacteria means being able to avoid conditions such as:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Cancer
- Autoimmune disease
- Depression
- Autism
- Anxiety
The potato starch provides an opportunity for bacteria to eat, digest, or ferment the substance. This then helps the bacteria create compounds that are beneficial to the human body.
To incorporate potato starch in your diet, Dr. Hyman recommends cooking foods such as rice or potatoes and let them cool down. Do not heat them up again. This process turns the normal starches found in these foods into resistant starches. You can also mix powdered potato starch into water or almond milk, as well as eat foods that are green and crunchy as well as bananas, onions, Jerusalem artichokes, and onions.
Dr. Hyman also warns people who switch to resistant starches to be aware of gas. It is caused by the resistant starches killing off the bad starches. This is temporary as the gut readjusts to healthy starches.
Want to know more about potato starch and resistant starches?
Read the full article here: The Starch that Makes You Lean and Healthy.
