Starch
Starch is a biochemical substance that is extracted from plants. It is extracted from grains such as corn, rice, wheat and barley, or from plants with tubers such as potatoes. It belongs to the group of carbohydrates and consists of long chains of amylose sugar and amylopectin sugar to form the polymer of starch, which is one of the most complex sugars and the longest carbon chains in organic chemistry, and the chemical formula of starch is: (C6H10O5n).
All types of starch from different sources contain 98% of starch, and the rest is protein, sugar and other elements. Starch is a white powder that is slightly soluble in cold water. The water is turbid until it precipitates, but it quickly dissolves in hot water. It forms a gelatinous, gelatinous substance that quickly dries and becomes solid at lower temperature. The most producing countries of starch are the United States of America, Canada, Australia and Japan.
The benefits of starch
Starch is a complex polysaccharide that is digested in more than one part of the digestive system; The first stage takes place in the mouth, where the alpha-amylase enzyme is secreted, and the second stage in the small intestine is converted into double sugar by the alpha-amylase enzyme present in the intestine, the third and final stage is the conversion of the double sugar into simple sugar in the small intestine, which is easy for the body to absorb and use in operations Vitality through a group of enzymes such as sucrase and lipase.
Uses of starch
- In the past, humans used starch to fortify flaxseeds more than two hundred years before Christ.
- Starch is the primary ingredient in making bread, pasta and biscuits.
- Starch is used in the food industry as a binder for ingredients due to its gel-like properties at high temperatures.
- Starch is used in many industries such as paper, cardboard, tanning and packaging.
- Starch is widely used in the pharmaceutical industries and in chemical analysis laboratories. The samples to be subjected to chemical analysis using devices are diluted with a calculated amount of starch and then pressed and placed in the analyzer using radiation.
The benefits of starch for humans
- Starch is a high-calorie compound, as it provides cells with the energy needed to complete their vital processes, and is found in grains such as corn, rice, wheat, and potatoes and sweet potatoes, but you should be careful not to over-eat starchy substances because they lead to weight gain.
- Starch is made from some types of sweets, such as pudding, which provide the body with the necessary energy, especially in the winter season.
- Starch helps get rid of excess sebum secretions from the scalp; By spreading starch on the scalp and leaving it for a quarter of an hour to absorb the fat, then the hair is washed.
- Starch is included in the work of many home masks for the skin that give the skin freshness and work mainly on tightening the skin, making a paste of starch, olive oil and warm water and spreads on the face.
