Your grandma was right. Leftover carbs boost gut health, cut calories

Leftovers hold a special place in the Indian plate and palate, with nifty grannies whipping up delectable dishes out of last night’s rice and roti in mere minutes. Whether it’s the fermented ‘paanta bhaat’ (served as ‘smoked rice water’ in Masterchef Australia no less) or ‘roti churma’, curd rice and ‘phodnichi poli’ (tossed and tempered leftover chapati bits), every kitchen across the country has a leftover recipe or two.

Experts have now found that these leftovers are good for your gut, blood sugar levels and ever-widening waistline. In fact, leftover carbs like rice, chapatis, pasta, boiled potatoes and even overnight oats magically morph into healthier versions once left to cool for a few hours or refrigerated. That’s because all the starch in them turns into resistant starch (RS).