Whatever nutritionists and fans of healthy diets claim, starch is an important component in the human diet. It is considered an important source of energy for people. But, according to doctors, the use of this component can cause metabolic disorders. Therefore, it is important to know the composition of starch, as well as the rules for its use.
Description
It is a white loose substance, sometimes yellowish. The powder is odorless and tasteless. The component does not dissolve in cold water, but when interacting with it, it emits colloidal particles, the concentration of which forms a viscous, dense mass. If the starch is rubbed with your fingers or squeezed in the palm of your hand, creaking will appear. The sound is obtained due to the friction of grains against each other. They do not collapse even with such an impact.
Starch is found in various plants:
- bananas;
- peas;
- mango;
- Beans
- tubers and root crops.
The composition of starch affects its calorie content - 313 kcal per 100 g. This indicator is great for active and strong people who constantly spend a lot of energy. In this case, the product will be useful for the body.
Kinds
Starch happens:
- potato;
- corn;
- wheat;
- rice;
- soybean;
- tapiocov.
Wheat starch is used for baking bread. It has the property of absorbing water during kneading dough. In the baking process, the substance is gelatinized, participating in the formation of the crumb of bread. When storing the product, the paste ages, which is why the bread is stale.
Rice starch is ideal for making sauces, desserts, syrups. Tapioca is created from cassava tubers. The paste will be more viscous compared to the corn product. Apply it for cooking soups, gravy.
Starch refers to complex carbohydrates, which are divided into natural (vegetables, fruits, legumes) and refined (flour and products from it). The second type of product is considered harmful.
What does potato starch consist of?
The composition of starch is diverse. It contains many simple sugars collected in long chains. These are the composition and structure of starch. The unit of 1 chain is glucose, which in the body is a source of energy. The composition of potato starch is as follows:
- Trace elements - phosphorus, calcium, potassium.
Corn Starch Composition
To check the quality of the product, GOST 32159-2013 is used. In stores you need to purchase products made on the basis of this document.
According to it, the composition of corn starch is as follows:
- water - 14-16%;
- acidity - 20-25 cubic meters. cm;
- protein - 0.8-1%;
- SO2 - 50 mg / kg.
Admixtures of other starches should not be. The composition of starch of this type includes a little selenium, manganese, magnesium, sodium, zinc.
Receipt options
The chemical composition of starch may vary depending on the feedstock. After all, it happens to be potato, corn, rice, wheat, sorghum. Each product is distinguished by its properties and the presence of additional components.
If the product is obtained from grains, the mass is soaked and ground to remove the seeds from the seeds. The residue is ground again, and then substances are isolated from it and dried. As a result, it may contain mineral components and vitamins. This procedure is performed with potatoes, but instead of eliminating the embryos, juice and peel are removed.
Usually the creation of starch is based on the processing of potatoes. Tubers contain about 25% of this substance. And in cereals it is present in the range of 65-80%. Potatoes are used more often because, due to their chopping, the equipment does not break quickly compared to grinding cereals.
Using
The product is used in the food industry. They make jelly, sauces, creams, sausages, and pastries. In most sausages, it is starch that is added to obtain a dense consistency. It usually serves as a thickener for the product and the binding of fluid in it. For example, to get jelly or mayonnaise. For this, modified starch is used.
This carbohydrate is also used in other areas:
- In pharmacology, it is used as a filler in drugs in the form of tablets. It is added to baby powders, ointments. Syrups, potions, sorbitol and glucose are prepared with it.
- In medicine, it is used for intoxication, gastritis, ulcers. Starch perfectly protects the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. The product eliminates spurs on the heels, relieves skin irritation, diaper rash.
- In cosmetology, masks and creams are prepared from the product. Such formulations have a nourishing and emollient effect. Means do not cause allergies, are used for all skin types.
- In the pulp and textile industry. The product is needed for paper processing and is considered to be its filler. The composition of starch and cellulose allows their use in various fields. In the textile sector it is used for processing materials.
Benefit and harm
It is important to know the composition and properties of starch. The product is energizing. It is because of its presence in grains, cereals that bread, pastries and cereals are nutritious. Starch with a high content of amylose is the so-called bowel massager. It breaks down worse compared to a product that contains amylopectin, therefore it forms a lump in the intestine, stimulating its work and improving digestion. A useful property of the product is the ability to restore the body after a change in blood sugar in diabetes.
But starch also has harmful properties. With it, a person quickly gains weight due to the content of a large number of calories. The product is perfect for people who move a lot. Otherwise, he has no contraindications.
Daily rate
Under the influence of acid, starch undergoes hydrolysis, after which it turns into glucose. She will be the main source of energy of the body. Therefore, to feel good, a person needs to consume a certain amount of starch.
It is enough to eat cereals, bakery and pasta, legumes, potatoes and corn. At least a little bran should be added to the food. The daily norm is considered to be 330-450 grams.
Since starch is considered a complex carbohydrate, it is consumed if there is no possibility of frequent nutrition. The product is transformed due to gastric juice, releasing the glucose necessary for the body. The need for the product decreases with liver diseases, small physical exertion, as well as during work that requires a quick flow of energy.
Shortage and excess
It is necessary to use the product in moderation so as not to harm the body. With a deficiency, a person suffers:
- weakness
- fatigue;
- frequent depression;
- decreased immunity;
- decreased sex drive.
But there is an excess of starch. Then the following symptoms are observed:
- headache;
- heavy weight;
- decreased immunity;
- irritability;
- problems in the small intestine;
- constipation.
The choice
When buying, you should pay attention to the date of manufacture, packaging integrity, lack of lumps. The product should not have hardening. It is important to have a white powder. With grinding, a characteristic creak is formed. The product is stored up to 5 years in a sealed container.
For the preparation of cream and biscuit dough, corn starch is excellent. Appearance is similar to the highest quality flour. Kissels are made from potato starch. The product is used for baking cottage cheese and fruit cakes. It has a snow-white color.
Cooking
You can cook starch at home. This requires small, frozen and injured potatoes. It must be washed, cleaned. Rotten and very dirty areas must be removed. Then the potatoes are grated, passed through a meat grinder. But you can crush it.
Pour cold water into a wide basin or pan. A little bit of the mass should be laid out in a sieve and immersed in a container, rubbing the pulp, wash the starch, pour water on top. The pulp should be wrung out.
Clear water should be drained from the basin so as not to shake the starch at the bottom. Then it is poured with cold water, stirred and allowed to settle. The water is drained, and the starch is transferred to paper or a towel for drying. Then the product is sieved and stored in a dry place.