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ZOE health and nutrition experts warned most people aren’t getting enough of a vital nutrient that “your gut microbes love”. This is resistant starch. Starches are mostly known as

carbohydrate-heavy foods like bread, pasta and potatoes that are often avoided when dieting or a crucial food group for those using excess energy, such as athletes. However, resistant

starches work a bit differently and can benefit everyone, regardless of their activity levels. The experts explained: “Resistance starch resists digestion in the small intestine, so it

reaches your gut intact where it feeds beneficial microbes and supports digestion, blood sugar balance and fullness after eating.” These resistant starches are usually found in green

bananas, cooked and cooled potatoes but are especially abundant in canned beans like butter beans. As the experts noted: “Pre-cooked beans are one of the simplest and most powerful

ingredients for your gut.” Beans are particularly useful because they also contain soluble fibre and insoluble fibre. Which help to support other areas of digestion, blood sugar management

and feeding microbes. Resistant starches don’t pass through you entirely intact though. When it hits the large intestine, it is fermented into short-chain fatty acids. These compounds reduce

inflammation and support the gut lining. Resistant starches can also act like a prebiotic, helping beneficial bacteria grow in the gut microbiome and supporting immune function. ZOE experts

also shared an easy lemon butter bean dish that can ensure you get your fill of resistant starches. And the recipe only takes around 10 minutes to make according to the experts. In the

comments, mainly people excitedly noted that they’d be trying the recipe soon. ZOE’s founder Professor Tim Spector also added that it looked “delicious”. The professor previously shared a

handy trick that can change your normal starchy food items into resistant starches. You can kickstart the process on a molecular level by freezing your loaves. He explained: “Sliced and

stored in the freezer, it won’t go stale, and the starch converts to resistant starch, which may slow blood sugar spikes and support your gut health. "Some of the healthiest foods can

be frozen foods. This idea that it has to be fresh and is going to be expensive (is wrong). Peas and green beans, spinach when frozen - it has all the nutrients - sometimes even more than

the fresh stuff because by the time the fresh one's got to you, wherever you are living, it won't be as fresh. The frozen stuff is often better. Tinned beans and things are

sometimes better than the dried ones."