Resistant starch: Can you make the carbs you eat a little healthier?
This carbohydrate form helps nourish the "good" bacteria in your gut — along with other potential health benefits. Does it live up to the hype it's been getting?
- Reviewed by Nancy Oliveira, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES, Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Starchy carbohydrates are often viewed as dietary villains, but one type known as resistant starch has been getting a lot of attention as a possible ally for better blood sugar control and a healthier microbiome. Found in grains, root vegetables, and legumes, it has the health-boosting properties of a prebiotic fiber, with a lower impact on blood sugar than a typical starch. Even more intriguing: a simple cooking technique can boost the amount of resistant starch in potatoes, pasta, rice, oatmeal, and other starchy foods you eat. Here's what you need to know.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online Plus (HHO+) to unlock expert-backed health insights, personalized tools, and exclusive resources to feel your best every day.
Here’s what you get with your HHO+ membership:
- Unlimited access to all Harvard Health Online content
- 4 expertly curated newsletters delivered monthly
- Customized website experience aligned to your health goals
- In-depth health guides on topics like sleep, exercise, and more
- Interactive features like videos and quizzes
- Members-only access to exclusive articles and resources
I’d like to subscribe to HHO+ for $4.99/month to access expert-backed content to help make smart, informed decisions about my well-being.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
About the Author
Joyce Hendley, Staff Writer
About the Reviewer
Nancy Oliveira, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES, Contributor; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
