# Isn't "resistant starch" just fiber? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 28, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-resistant-starch-just-fiber/569295 "2011-01-28T13:25:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-resistant-starch-just-fiber/569295/1 "2011-01-28T13:25:19Z")
Every now and then a health & nutrition article is about something I haven’t heard of before… like this one: > **[What are Resistant Starch foods?](https://www.ibtimes.com/what-are-resistant-starch-foods-260487)** > > The phrase Resistant Starch foods may sound a bit confusing, but it’s just starch that’s ‘resistant’ to digestion in the small intestine. But wait. An indigestible, long-chain carbohydrate? Isn’t that the definition of dietary fiber? How exactly is “resistant starch” different? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-resistant-starch-just-fiber/569295/2 "2011-01-28T13:46:22Z")
No. Fiber is indigestible. “Resistant starch” – why do I see a food fad in the making? – is digested more slowly than sugars, but is eventually digested. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-resistant-starch-just-fiber/569295/3 "2011-01-28T13:54:05Z")
Try these sources: What are Resistant Starch foods? - International Business Times Jan 27, 2011 … The properties (and benefits) of Resistant Starch foods is similar to that of dietary fiber, something the general public is more familiar … [www.ibtimes.com/articles/105986/.../what-are-resistant-starch-foods.htm](http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/105986/.../what-are-resistant-starch-foods.htm) NuVim Inc. (NUVM.PK) is “One to Watch” - International Business Times Jan 12, 2011 … NuVim’s clinically proven natural prebiotic fiber, NutraFlora®, promotes immune … and distribution of NuVim beverage dietary supplements in refrigerated and … ‘V for Victory, You are the Resistance’ to fight DHS … [www.ibtimes.com/articles/.../nuvim-inc-nuvm-pk-is-one-to-watch.htm](http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/.../nuvim-inc-nuvm-pk-is-one-to-watch.htm) Sweet Potato Ranked First in Nutrition - [IBTimes.com](http://IBTimes.com) Dec 3, 2010 … The sweet potato took first place due to its dietary fiber, naturally occurring sugars, … So, next time you’re looking for a starch to include in your meal, … ‘V for Victory, You are the Resistance’ to fight DHS … [www.ibtimes.com/articles/88535/.../sweet-potato-ranked-first-in-nutrition.htm](http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/88535/.../sweet-potato-ranked-first-in-nutrition.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2011, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-resistant-starch-just-fiber/569295/4 "2011-01-28T15:58:46Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > But wait. An indigestible, long-chain carbohydrate? Isn’t that the definition of dietary fiber? Nope. Dietary fibre is, by definition, a non-starch polysaccharide. Starch can never be dietary fibre. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > No. Fiber is indigestible. “Resistant starch” – why do I see a food fad in the making? – is digested more slowly than sugars, but is eventually digested. It can be, but many resistant starches are totally indigestible to human beings. Raw potato starch or green bananas are the classic examples. Both are loaded with starch, and a human being will starve to death faster on a diet of either. The starches in potatoes and green bananas are totally and perpetually indigestible to mammalian gut enzymes. The supposed benefits behind recalcitrant starches is that they provide a ready food source for gut bacteria.