Info: 100% Premium Potato Starch; 200g Resealable Bag
Unlike most other types of starch which mainly just supply carbs, potato starch is a far more versatile "resistant" starch with a number of benefits: it can help increase energy levels; it helps reduce and regulate blood glucose levels; it has been clinically shown to halt dysbiosis and reverse age-related changes; and it contributes to your daily fibre intake.
Info: 100% Premium Potato Starch; 200g Resealable Bag
Unlike most other types of starch which mainly just supply carbs, potato starch is a far more versatile "resistant" starch with a number of benefits: it can help increase energy levels; it helps reduce and regulate blood glucose levels; it has been clinically shown to halt dysbiosis and reverse age-related changes; and it contributes to your daily fibre intake.
Product Notes:
Related product: Also see green banana flour.
Flavourless Prebiotic Powder
The human stomach, small intestine, and colon harbor a complex ecosystem of hundreds of different species of microorganisms, including both "good" bacteria which can help the digestive and immune systems, and "bad" microbiota which can impede and overtax them if they become overabundant.
Many factors such as alcohol, dietary changes, medications, stress, and even aging can lead to dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the ratio of the different kinds of gut flora – resulting in symptoms such as upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, or difficulty concentrating. But that can be prevented or even reversed with the help of a prebiotic like Canadian Protein's 100% Premium Potato Starch, which supplies resistant starch – dietary fibres which we can't digest, but serve as nutrients to help the healthy bacteria flourish again. This not only helps promote regularity, but also works to regulate blood glucose levels, reduce insulin resistance, and provide a glucose-independent source of energy (by increasing the production of a short chain fatty acid called Butyrate).
Potato starch was the subject of a human clinical trial led by a clinical microbiologist at the University of Manitoba's St. Boniface Research Centre, which found that resistant starch significantly increased the amount of good bacteria (specifically, Bifidobacterium) in both elderly and middle aged test subjects compared to the placebo groups, and also significantly decreased the amount of Proteobacteria (Escherichia coli/Shigella) the elderly test group was suffering from, which reduced their constipation.
Helping You Feed Your Microbiome - Keto-Friendly
The ketogenic diet can in some cases have a negative impact on the health of the gut microbiome, the complex ecosystem of healthy bacteria that plays a role in many aspects of our health. This is because the microbiome relies on prebiotic fibre for food and most prebiotics are found in foods that are typically avoided in the ketogenic diet. Very high in fibre (albeit as functional rather than dietary fibre), potato starch is keto-compatible and can help keep you from starving your microbiome.
Don't forget your Butyrate: Butyrate represents an important source of energy while on the ketogenic diet and this molecule also plays a crucial role in other aspects of our normal health. Fortunately, potato starch is fermented by healthy bacteria in the gut to produce butyrate, providing a natural source of this essential nutrient.
Related Reading: See Boosting Good Gut Bacteria from Nathan Zassman.
Traditional Potato Starch vs Supplemental Starch
Canadian Protein 100% Premium Potato Starch is a type 2 prebiotic resistant starch (RS2) from potatoes specifically designed to be safely consumed uncooked and unheated as a supplement. (Unlike conventional grocery store potato starches, which are meant to be consumed after cooking them; those are usually used as a thickener in flours, soups, stews, gravy). Cooking kills off potentially harmful pathogens but it also degrades the prebiotic fibre properties. Potato starches used for cooking can in theory be consumed raw, but they aren't intended for such purposes, and like other raw foods there is a risk of food-borne illnesses. This product is produced via a process that ensures its high insoluble fibre content and safety for use as a nutritional supplement.
Potato starch does contribute to your daily fibre intake (albeit only for insoluble fibre, which serves as a prebiotic and helps bulk up stools). For a balanced source of both insoluble and soluble fibre, we recommend Nutracleanse.
Ingredients:
Resistant Potato Starch (Solanum tuberosum extract)
FODMAP-friendly and suitable for vegan diets.
Non GMO, Gluten Free, Glyphosate Residue Free, Keto Friendly, Night Shade Safe, Sustainably Sourced and Upcycled!
There are 7g of fibre per 10 gram (1 tablespoon) scoop (enclosed), which would provide 25% of your recommended daily fibre intake.
Suggested Usage:
You can add flavourless potato starch powder to any cold or room-temperature beverage, including juice, water, smoothies, or shakes. Please note, it should not be added to hot beverages, since it loses effectiveness when heated to 60°C or above.
Potato starch will not actually dissolve in liquids, but it can be suspended in them, by stirring it into water or juice and consuming it immediately afterwards. Or to prevent settling, it can be added to something thicker like a shake or smoothie, which can then be consumed at a slower pace, at your convenience.
For best results, the ratio for mixing it with a liquid would be 10 grams (= 1 Tablespoon) to 80 ml of liquid, followed by another 40 ml of liquid alone. It can also be added to foods like granola cereals, oatmeal (after it's cooled off), yogurt, savory dips, or salad dressings.
Introducing large amounts of prebiotics to your diet too quickly can be associated with bloating, gas, and discomfort, however, so it is recommended that you begin gradually: starting with a dose of one teaspoon (or about 3.5 g: the line indicated 1/3rd of the way up on the enclosed scoop) daily for the first week, then moving either to a two-teaspoon dose daily during the second week, or right to a full Tablespoon daily.
Depending upon the desired effect, you may continue to gradually increase your daily dose from there, but supplementing with more than 30 grams a day is not recommended.
For best results, potato starch should be consumed every day.
Store in a cool dry place, away from children.
Warnings:
Not intended for children, pregnant, or breastfeeding women. Consult a healthcare practitioner prior to use. Consult a healthcare practitioner prior to use if you have health conditions. Ensure that you adequately hydrate before, during, and after exercise.
Side Effects: Evaluation in a clinical setting has demonstrated that potato starch is very well-tolerated and causes no side effects. However, some users might experience increased gas and bloating during the first week or so if you start with the full 10 gram daily standard dose, so as noted above, it is recommended that you start with one-third of that.
Supporting Science:
Alfa MJ, Strang D, et al. "A randomized trial to determine the impact of a digestion resistant starch composition on the gut microbiome in older and mid-age adults." Clinical Nutrition, 2018.
Bush, Jason R et al. “Consumption of Solnul™ Resistant Potato Starch Produces a Prebiotic Effect in a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.” Nutrients, 2023.
Bush, Jason R et al. “Resistant potato starch supplementation reduces serum histamine levels in healthy adults with links to attenuated intestinal permeability.” Journal of Functional Foods, 2023.