Reference entry
Resistant Starch
Plain-English definitions of microbiome research vocabulary — the terms you'll see across articles, testing services, and probiotic claims.
Glossary context
Defined
in the site-wide microbiome glossary
Definition
A type of starch that resists digestion in the small intestine and reaches the colon intact, where it is fermented by bacteria to produce short-chain fatty acids. Found in cooked and cooled potatoes, green bananas, oats, and legumes.
Related terms
Prebiotic
Non-digestible food components (typically dietary fibres) that selectively stimulate the growth or activity of beneficial gut bacteria. Common examples include inulin, FOS, and GOS.
Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)
Metabolites produced when gut bacteria ferment dietary fibre. The three main SCFAs — butyrate, propionate, and acetate — are critical for colon health, immune regulation, and energy metabolism.