The Health Importance of Resistant Starch in Some Agricultural Crops: A Review

Abstract

This review included resistant starch and its health aspects due to its importance in our diet as it has enormous benefits, especially for people who suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes, cholesterol, and high blood pressure. Moreover, resistant starch is an important component in the meals of people who follow a diet to lose weight as it has complex carbohydrates which are difficult to digest. Resistant starch is used in the prevention of intestinal inflammation and some cancerous diseases due to its ability to enhance the work of beneficial bacteria in the intestine and thus prevent colon and rectal cancer. This reviewprovides a comprehensive overview of the physical properties of resistant starch, which include odour, colour and viscosity, in addition to its chemical composition including amylose and amylopectin, and to identify the structure and shape of the starch granule. Some methods of forming resistant starch of its five types from some plant sources such as wheat, oats, corn, rice, potatoes, legumes, etc. were also reviewed, and the possibility of increasing its percentage in these sources through a series of sequential processes such as cooking, then cooling and freezing.

Keywords

• resistant starch
• starch granule
• agricultural crops
• carbohydrates
• diet