Sweet potato, also known as sweet potato, sweet potato, sweet potato, etc., is a common food crop. Its root tubers are rich in starch, and the general content is about 10%-30%. As a natural starch resource, sweet potato starch has unique properties and wide application value. With the increasing demand for healthy food, the application of sweet potato starch in the food health and nutrition industry has attracted more and more attention and has a wide range of application prospects. In this issue, we will introduce the properties of sweet potato starch and its application in food health nutrition industry in detail, in order to provide reference for the further application of sweet potato starch in the field of food health care.

Properties of sweet potato starch

sweet potato starch, also known as sweet potato starch, sweet potato starch, etc., is made from sweet potato as raw material, through cleaning, peeling, grinding, separation, dehydration, drying and other processes.

Chemical composition: Sweet potato starch is mainly composed of amylopectin and amylose, of which amylopectin content is high, generally about 70%-80%, and amylose content is about 20%-30%. In addition, sweet potato starch also contains a small amount of protein, fat, cellulose, minerals and other ingredients.

Physical properties: sweet potato starch granule size is different, generally between 1-100 microns, round or oval. Its color is usually white or light yellow, with a certain degree of transparency and gloss. Sweet potato starch has strong hygroscopicity, and it is easy to absorb moisture in the air and agglomerate, so it is necessary to pay attention to moisture during storage.

Gelatinization characteristics: The gelatinization temperature of sweet potato starch is generally about 60-80 ℃, and the paste formed after gelatinization has high viscosity and stability. The gelatinization process can be divided into three stages: reversible water absorption stage, irreversible water absorption stage and starch granule disintegration stage. In the reversible water absorption stage, the starch granules absorb water expansion, but the structure of the starch granules has not been destroyed; in the irreversible water absorption stage, the starch granules further absorb water, the particle structure begins to disintegrate, and the starch molecular chain gradually unfolds; in the disintegration stage of the starch granules, the starch granules are completely disintegrated to form a uniform paste.

Nutritional Value of Sweet Potato Starch

1, rich in vitamins

vitamin C: Sweet potato starch contains a certain amount of vitamin C. This vitamin has an antioxidant effect, which can help the human body resist the damage of free radicals, enhance immunity, promote the synthesis of collagen, and help maintain the elasticity and health of the skin. It can also promote the absorption of iron and prevent iron deficiency anemia.

B vitamins: in addition, sweet potato starch also contains vitamin B1, B2, B6 and other B vitamins. Vitamin B1 can maintain the normal function of the nervous system and promote the metabolism of carbohydrates; vitamin B2 participates in the respiration of cells and is beneficial to the health of skin, eyes and mouth; vitamin B6 plays an important role in protein metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis.

2, rich in minerals

potassium: Sweet potato starch is rich in potassium. Potassium plays an important role in maintaining the normal function of the heart, regulating blood pressure and maintaining the body's water balance. Potassium can promote the excretion of sodium, help lower blood pressure, prevent hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Magnesium: Magnesium is one of the essential minerals in the human body, involved in a variety of physiological processes, such as bone and tooth formation, nerve conduction, muscle contraction and so on. The magnesium in sweet potato starch helps maintain bone health, prevents osteoporosis, and relieves muscle spasms and fatigue.

Iron: Sweet potato starch contains a certain amount of iron. Iron is an important raw material for the synthesis of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin can carry oxygen and provide oxygen for various tissues and organs of the body. Adequate intake of iron can prevent iron deficiency anemia and improve the body's immunity.

3. Dietary fiber

sweet potato starch contains more dietary fiber, this dietary fiber can stimulate intestinal peristalsis, help digestion, clean up the waste in the intestine, so that it can be discharged smoothly, so as to prevent constipation and intestinal diseases. At the same time, dietary fiber can also increase satiety, reduce the intake of other foods, and help control weight.

4. Other nutrients

sweet potato starch also contains a certain amount of protein, fat, sugar and other nutrients. Protein is an important part of body cells, which plays an important role in the growth, repair and immune function of the body; fat is the energy reserve material of the body, and also participates in the composition of cell membrane and hormone synthesis; carbohydrate is one of the main energy sources of the body.

Health care efficacy of sweet potato starch

provide energy: The main component of sweet potato starch is starch, which is a carbohydrate. After entering the human body, it will be decomposed into glucose to provide energy for the body and maintain normal physiological activities. It is suitable for manual workers or people who need a lot of energy.

Promote digestion: contains a certain amount of dietary fiber, can promote intestinal peristalsis, increase the volume of stool, help prevent and relieve constipation. At the same time, it can also stimulate the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, improve the intestinal microecological environment, and help maintain intestinal health.

Lower cholesterol: The dietary fiber in it can combine with cholesterol in the intestine to reduce the absorption of cholesterol, thereby reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood and helping to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Control blood sugar: Compared with other fine grains, sweet potato starch has a relatively low glycemic index. This is because its dietary fiber can delay the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates and make the blood sugar rise more smoothly. For diabetic patients, moderate consumption can help control blood sugar.

Supplemental nutrition: contains a variety of minerals and vitamins, such as potassium, magnesium, B vitamins, etc. These nutrients play an important role in maintaining the normal physiological functions of the human body, and can supplement the nutrients needed by the human body and enhance the body's resistance.

Application of Sweet Potato Starch in Food Industry

as a natural food raw material, sweet potato starch has been widely used in food and health nutrition industry because of its unique properties and rich nutrients.

1, Applications in the Food Industry

traditional food processing: sweet potato starch has good cohesiveness, film formation, emulsification and gelation, etc., is the main raw material for making vermicelli, vermicelli, vermicelli and other traditional foods. Its high viscosity and elasticity make the processed products have strong toughness, boiling resistance and good taste. In addition, sweet potato starch can also be used to make noodles, cakes and other foods to improve the texture and taste of food.

Baked goods: In baked goods, sweet potato starch can be used to make biscuits, cakes, etc. It can increase the softness of food, and as a natural ingredient, it meets the consumer's demand for healthy food.

Food additives: Sweet potato starch has good film-forming properties and freeze-thaw stability, and can be used as food additives to improve the quality of food. For example, in the production of food packaging paper bags, sweet potato starch can be used to improve the strength and water resistance of paper bags

2. Application in health nutrition industry

functional food: sweet potato starch is rich in dietary fiber and resistant starch, which can regulate intestinal flora, promote digestive health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. In addition, sweet potato starch has a low glycemic index and slow energy release properties, which are suitable for people who need to control blood sugar levels such as diabetics.

Health care products: The antioxidant components in sweet potato starch can be extracted and used to make health care products. These ingredients can help remove free radicals from the body and prevent the occurrence of chronic diseases.

As a source of dietary fiber: Resistant starch in sweet potato starch belongs to dietary fiber. It is not hydrolyzed by digestive enzymes in the human digestive tract and reaches the colon, which can promote intestinal peristalsis, increase the volume of feces, prevent constipation, and maintain the normal physiological function of the intestinal tract. At the same time, resistant starch can also provide nutrition for beneficial bacteria in the intestine, promote the growth and reproduction of beneficial bacteria, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, help maintain the balance of intestinal microecology, and enhance intestinal immunity.

Summary

in general, sweet potato starch, as a natural starch resource, has a wide application prospect in the food health and nutrition industry. It plays an important role in the field of traditional food processing, baking food, food additives and health nutrition. As consumers' demand for healthy food continues to increase, the application of sweet potato starch will be more diversified and provide more possibilities for the development of the food health and nutrition industry.