Starch is a complex carbohydrate whose molecules are composed of glucose. A certain amount of this substance is necessary for the body to function properly. Refined starch can be obtained from a tasteless white powder, while natural starch can be obtained from food. In the latter case, it will do much more good.
Natural, refined and modified starch
Natural starch is present in many plants, including those suitable for food. In them, this substance is synthesized under the action of light and is deposited in those organs that give life to the future generation, for example, in seeds or tubers. Starch consists of carbon, which is extracted by the plant from the carbon dioxide of the elements of water and air. There are no other elements in it, therefore, after combustion, it does not even leave ash.
Man gets natural starch by eating plants. In the digestive tract, under the action of hydrolysis, this substance is converted into glucose, which is absorbed by the body, giving it the necessary energy. That is why a lack of starch can be fraught with a breakdown.
Refined starch is a white powder that is odorless and tasteless. It is extracted industrially from plants and is used as a food additive in various dishes.
There is also modified starch, which is a refined product with various additives. It is often used industrially for the preparation of various sauces, margarine or canned meats.
Despite its frightening name, such a product has nothing to do with GMOs, since there can be no genetically modified starch in principle - this substance is simply not embedded in the DNA of plants.
Starchy foods
Natural starch can be obtained by eating potatoes and other root vegetables. Its content is high in cereals: rice, buckwheat, corn, wheat, barley. Legumes are also rich in starch, such as beans, lentils, beans, chickpeas, or peas. This substance is also present in chestnuts, bananas, breadfruit, acorns.
In such products, starch is especially beneficial for health, since it is not digested by the body immediately, but gradually. Thus, it does not particularly affect excess weight and does not raise blood sugar levels.
Also, starch is found in many ready-made food products: flour products, cereals, flat cakes, pasta and jelly. There is almost always a certain amount of starch in ketchup, mayonnaise, and other store-bought sauces. It is better to avoid such starch, especially for those who follow their figure. It is very quickly digested by the body, which negatively affects the figure and health in general.
