The invention relates to slowly digestible starch-containing foodstuffs,
such as cereals and snacks, while a substantial percentage of the starch
phase of starch-containing foodstuffs is transformed into a slowly
digestible form in situ during foodstuff manufacture by modifying the
method typical for the respective foodstuff, and if necessary, the
recipe. During the manufacture of starch-containing foodstuffs, the
starch is most often prepared to the extent where it digested exceedingly
quickly, and converted into glucose in the process. This leads to a rapid
rise in the blood sugar level (high sugar), followed by a speedy to
severe drop in the blood sugar level (low sugar). These foodstuffs have a
high glycemic index (GI). A high number of more recent studies suggest
that foodstuffs with a high GI are a significant cause of diabetes,
obesity and cardiopulmonary diseases. The WHO believes that indicating GI
values on foodstuff packaging would effectively help in preventing the
mentioned diseases. Therefore, there is a need for starch-containing
foodstuffs that have a reduced GI, i.e., are slowly digested. Within this
context, the ideal scenario involves a foodstuff with a constant
hydrolysis over time, wherein precisely the amount of glucose consumed
for metabolism is released per unit of time. Such a foodstuff would be
exceedingly desirable in particular for diabetics. The best currently
existing solution for diabetics in this regard is uncooked, i.e., native
corn starch (WO 95/24906), which is digested relatively slowly. However,
the consumption of native cornstarch in the form of an aqueous slurry is
unattractive on the one hand, and only a limited time-constant release of
glucose can here be achieved on the other. In addition, the temperature
stability of native cornstarch is limited, so that only very limited
incorporation in processable foodstuff preparations is possible. Other
forms of slowly digestible starches include resistant starches (e.g.,
high corn, Novelose, ActiStar, CrystaLean). These starches exhibit a high
crystalline percentage, and about 50% can be digested in the small
intestine. The remainder is fermented in the large intestine. The
percentage that can be digested in the small intestine is predominantly
digested very quickly, so that it makes sense to use only a limited
amount of resistant starches as food additives for reducing the GI. Other
slowly digestible starches are described in WO 2004/066955 A2. These
starches are obtained by gelatinizing a suspension of about 5% starch in
water,