Cassava flour is rich in carbohydrates, the body’s primary energy source. It also has resistant starch. These starches are not digestible by the small intestine. Resistant starches function like dietary fiber and promote gut health. They move from the small intestines to the colon, where they ferment.
The health benefits of resistant starch are discussed in this post. However, further research is required to determine cassava flour’s health benefits and effects on human health. Consuming resistant starches in cassava flour may have several health benefits, such as:
Improves Metabolic Markers
Studies on animals and humans have shown that resistant starch may increase metabolic markers such as blood sugar levels and cholesterol, which are associated with non-communicable diseases. NCDs are chronic diseases caused by genetic, physiological, and environmental factors.
Type 2 diabetes and heart disease due to high blood pressure or cholesterol are two of the most common NCDs. It may also lower your blood cholesterol, according to studies. Nevertheless, resistant starch may help improve your blood sugar control. This is how it works:
- Slower digestion can lead to slower blood glucose rises.
- Enhancing insulin sensitivity means that your cells are more responsive to insulin.
Helps in Weight Loss
Cassava flour’s resistant starch helps you lose weight by controlling your appetite and decreasing fat mass.
Studies on animals and humans have shown that when bacteria in your stomach digest resistant starch, they create short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These hormones are released as a hunger-reducing hormone peptide (PYY) and glucagon-like propeptide (GLP-1).
A study found that people who eat resistant starch may feel fuller. The study found that eating 30g of resistant starch daily for six weeks decreased the hunger hormones in overweight people. The absence of starch also increased the presence of compounds that make it less hungry in the morning.
To aid in weight loss, a person might consider adding resistant starch to their diet. They may be able to reduce snacking by increasing their feeling of fullness and the time they feel full.
Improves Gut Health
Cassava flour’s high starch content and resistance can help your gut health. Resistant starch gets fermented in your large intestine and serves as a Prebiotic or food for your gut’s friendly bacteria. The colon is fed healthy bacteria by the resistant starch present in cassava flour. The starches get converted into short-chain fatty acids during this process.
Resistant starch is a prebiotic that promotes microbial growth. This helps to counteract gut dysbiosis, an altered microbiota, which has been linked with obesity, diabetes, inflammatory and bowel diseases, as well as colorectal cancer. It also protects against other inflammatory issues in the colon and bowel, such as constipation, diarrhea, Crohn’s disease, and diverticulitis.
Additionally, resistant starch from cassava flour could protect your gut’s mucosal epithelium and lining by increasing the production of an SCFA called butyric acids. The risk of developing inflammatory bowel diseases may rise if your intestinal lining is damaged.
Insulin Sensitivity
Cassava flour has high levels of resistant starch. Some studies prove that resistant starch can raise insulin sensitivity. The study found that obese or overweight males consumed 15-30 grams of resistant starch daily. Resistance starches can be used to prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions by increasing insulin sensitivity.
Summary
Cassava flour can be used as a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour. It is prepared from dried and ground cassava root. Cassava flour is rich in resistant starches, which have several health benefits.
These health benefits include better digestion, colon health, and increased insulin sensitivity. Weight loss may be made easier by the resistance starch found in cassava flour.
