What Is Resistant Starch? The Effect of Green Banana Flour on Gut Health

We know that green banana flour has a high fiber content. Fibers play a critical role in the regular functioning of our digestive system and especially in gut health. A large part of this fiber richness of green bananas is made up of resistant starch. So, what is resistant starch, how is it digested, and how does it affect our body?

What Is Starch and How Is It Digested in the Body?

Starch is a carbohydrate formed by the combination of many glucose units and is found in many foods such as bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes.

When we eat a starchy food, digestion begins in the mouth. As we chew, some of the starch is broken down into glucose. In fact, you can try this yourself as an experiment: when you chew plain white bread that has not been sweetened in any way for a long time, you will feel a sweet taste. The reason for this is that saliva and chewing break down the bread into glucose, which is its basic building block.

Starch digestion that begins in the mouth then continues in the stomach and small intestine. Here, starch is completely broken down into glucose and absorbed into the bloodstream.

For this reason, starchy foods are digested within 20 minutes to 2 hours and rapidly increase blood sugar levels. This situation forms the basis of the glycemic index concept.

Why Is Resistant Starch Different?

So what about resistant starch? The digestion of bread, pancakes, or pasta prepared with green banana flour is quite different from products made with conventional flour.

Resistant starch, as the name suggests, is starch that resists digestion.

In other words, resistant starch:

• Is not digested in the mouth,
• Is not digested in the stomach,
• Is not digested in the small intestine.

Undigested resistant starch passes into the large intestine.

Because digestion does not begin in the mouth, no matter how much you chew foods prepared only with green banana flour, you cannot obtain a sweet taste like that of white bread and other starchy foods.

Digestion in the Large Intestine and Gut Flora

The digestion of resistant starch begins in the large intestine. Here, beneficial gut bacteria come into play. Resistant starch is fermented by these bacteria, and this process generally begins approximately 2 hours after the food is consumed.

For this reason, resistant starch does not raise blood sugar rapidly and is considered a low glycemic index carbohydrate source.

Health Benefits of Resistant Starch

Resistant starch, which is found in high amounts in green banana flour, offers many advantages for both digestive and overall health:

• May help promote a slower and more controlled rise in blood sugar levels

• Nourishes beneficial bacteria in the gut (prebiotic effect)

• Contributes to the normal functioning of the digestive system

• May help provide a prolonged feeling of satiety

• Adds texture, structure, and volume to recipes

For this reason, resistant starch is increasingly preferred in both functional nutrition and modern recipes.

Why Is Resistant Starch Important?

Resistant starch plays an important role in nutrition thanks to its positive effects on the digestion process, blood sugar control, and gut health. Green banana flour is an ideal source for incorporating these benefits into daily life in a natural and practical way.

If you are curious about the properties of resistant starch and the advantages it provides in recipes, stay tuned!

Reference:

1. Freitas, D., Lazaridou, A., Duijsens, D., Kotsiou, K., Corbin, K. R., Alongi, M., … Edwards, C. H. (2025). Starch digestion: A comprehensive update on the underlying modulation mechanisms and its in vitro assessment methodologies. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 104969.