That’s right – cold potatoes are great for your gut health and can help ease constipation. Clever little taters!
This is because potatoes (as well as green bananas and legumes) are packed with resistant starch, a food starch which remains intact through the stomach and small intestine – put simply, it isn’t digested. So, once it arrives in the large intestine, the RS begins to break down and a fermentation process begins, which stimulates the production of good bacteria in our gut.
This good bacteria goes on to produce three short-chain-fatty-acids (SCFAs) called propionic, acetic and butyric acids. Research suggests that butyric acids can decrease abdominal pain during bowel movements, as well as help move stools through your system.
To harness the effects of RS, your best option is to enjoy cooked and cooled potato or sweet potato. Once the taters have cooled, you can heat them up again if you’d prefer them warm. Otherwise, our founder and director, Sarah, has compiled a bunch of recipes which maximise the resistant starch.
Resistant starch has also been linked to weight loss! Studies with animals have found that the consumption of RS causes the body to release more hormones (such as leptin) which tell your brain you’re full – in turn, reducing hunger. Plus, the fatty acid butyrate has been shown to block your body’s ability to burn carbs, so your body turns to fat as an alternative fuel source. Double win!
So, to get things, ah, moving along in your body, nosh on some cold taters!
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