Resistant type of starch may decrease colon cancer risk, Adding potatoes or beans to a healthy serving of steak may decrease your risk of colon cancer, a new study has found. Prior studies established a link between red meat consumption and colon cancer. “The researchers found that eating a diet high in red meat changed levels of a type of genetic material called microRNA in rectal tissue. Specifically, the scientists found an increase in certain microRNAs linked to colon cancer. However, adding resistant starch to the diet mitigated some of this increase.” Resistant starches are found in foods like “bananas that are still slightly green, cooked and cooled potatoes [such as those in potato salad], whole grains, beans, chickpeas, and lentils.” While the study didn’t collect data for long enough to know if these starches actually decreased how often people developed colon cancer, future studies are in the pipeline to see if resistant starch has long-term benefits.

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