Growing evidence shows that many of the chronic health
conditions in developed countries could be prevented or
moderated by dietary changes. The most common starchy
foods in the United States diet, including white bread, cakes,
and noodles, consist of a large percentage of highly digestible
starch. There is concern that such rapidly digested starches
may contribute to chronic disease in people and animals
and, because of this problem, starches that are resistant to
digestive enzymes have been the focus of a growing research
emphasis. Such starches, termed resistant starches (1), have
been extensively reviewed in general (2) and reviewed from
the standpoint of their health properties (3); increasing their
content in food components (4); their health and functional
properties as a food ingredient (5); and their role in gut
health, potentially through butyrate production (6). The estimated daily intake of resistant starch by Americans is ~5 g
per day, much less than the minimum of 6 g of resistant
starch per meal recommended for health benefits (7).