But we now also know that because of this slow digestion, cold pasta also acts as food for the gut microbiome. Scientist Dr Emily Leeming explains: “Starch is how plants store energy, and makes up a big part of potatoes, rice, wheat, maize, and cassava. “Not all starch is digested the same way. Some break down quickly and some more slowly. Resistant starch isn’t digested in the small intestine like most starches and other nutrients. Instead, it travels to the large intestine, feeding your gut microbes and helping them make healthy molecules like short-chain fatty acids.” Having a healthy gut is a key driver of overall health.