Fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS)

The compound known as fructo-oligosaccharide or FOS in short - is a complex sugar. This sugar is very widely used in more than four hundred fifty different food products in Japan. FOS is a complex sugar derived from plants and is very good for the human body in contrast to the commonly used refined sugar. The complex sugar is even marketed nowadays as nutritional supplements as it is so healthy and has so many beneficial effects. FOS goes by other names including neosugar or inulin. Good plant sources for this sugar include the Jerusalem artichokes; it is also obtained albeit in smaller volumes from many different types of vegetables and fruits. The complex sugar FOS is considered unique among the sugars as it is not degraded by the digestive juices. FOS instead is transported directly to the gut, where "good" bacteria are involved in digesting it; this tends to encourage a population spurt among the populations of “good” bacteria.

Large populations of these bacteria are found in the human body, populations of billions of microorganisms, some beneficial and some deleterious inhabit the human body. Many vital tasks are performed by the “good” bacteria found in the human body, these microorganism boost digestion, they also strengthen the functioning of the immune system, they help in controlling the growth of diseases caused by "bad" bacteria and inhibit the growth of fungi and other pathogens. These microorganisms are also said to prevent the onset of cancer by helping to keep the acidity levels in the gastrointestinal tract stable. The gut of the average man or woman contains at least four hundred different species of bacteria in the gut, the most beneficial microorganism include the Bifidobacterium bifidum species, the Lactobacillus acidophilus, and the Lactobacillus bulgaricus species. The Bifidobacteria species is especially important as these bacteria are the main agents responsible for the degradation of the B vitamins in the body.

It is very important to maintain the correct balance in the populations of “good” and “bad” bacteria, for optimal health - a sudden spike in the population of a pathogenic strain can bring on serious disorders in the body. The consumption of large amounts of refined sugar, meats, and the highly processed foods typical of most modern diets will tip deter friendly bacterial populations and boost the growth of bad bacterial populations, with attendant results. When this delicate balance leans a little towards the population of “bad” bacteria, the risks of developing yeast infections, various gastric disorders, and even the deposition of carcinogens in the liver and colon increases - this can induce cancer in the affected organs. The populations of “good” bacteria tends to decline with the progress of age, this could be one explanation for the increased susceptibility to the various disease seen in older individuals. In clinical studies, older people who were administered doses of FOS supplements on a daily basis, showed an increase in the Bifidobacterium count - which is a positive sign and a potential remedy for treating age specific illnesses. In this study, it was found that FOS supplementation also led to a reduction in the absolute pH of the lower intestine, this increase in acidity made the environment very difficult for “bad” bacteria populations - thus offsetting the likelihood of disease due to unrestricted bacterial multiplication.

In clinical studies conducted by the Japanese, it was found that consuming just three to six grams of FOS per day led to a great reduction in the level of toxic carcinogenic compounds normally present in human feces - the levels of these carcinogenic compound decreased by a factor of forty percent within three weeks of the use of supplements. The best effect of FOS by far is its amazing ability to normalize elevated blood sugar levels. For example, it is well known that consuming too much of refined sugar products can bring on abnormalities in the blood sugar levels leading to the onset of metabolic problems including Type II diabetes and insulin resistance. FOS, as found in some studies, can actually help bring down high blood sugar levels in diabetics; in addition, it cuts down elevated cholesterol levels and normalizes blood fat content.