FOS Stands For Fructooligosaccharides. These Are Non-digestible Naturally-occurring Sugars. Often, FOS Are Used As Food Additives Due To Their Flavor And Sweetener Enhancing Properties. The Digestive Enzymes Secreted By The Human Stomach Cannot Digest FOS And For This Reason, They Are Often Regarded As Dietary Fibers. They Also Have Dietary Fiber-like Functions Since They Cause A Decline In The Hydrolysis Of Sucrose And Maltose. FOS Helps To Keep The Stomach And Bowels Healthy. Other Health Benefits Reported That Are Associated With Fructooligosaccharides Include Production Of Volatile Fatty Acids, Increase In Bifidobacteria And Other Beneficial Microorganisms In The Intestine, Lowering Of Intestinal PH, Reduction In Constipation, Amelioration Of Antibiotic-associated Diarrhea And A Reduction In Serum Triglycerides And Cholesterol.The Role Of FOS In Promoting Intestinal FaunaThe FOS Molecule Is Large And Complex And This Is Perhaps The Reason For Its Many Desirable Characteristics. Unlike Simple Sugars, Such As Fructose And Glucose, Fructooligosaccharide Is Not Easily Absorbed By The Body. FOS For The Most Part Is Indigestible And Therefore Acts As A Non-digestible Fiber In Our Diet. As The Sugar Travels Through The Digestive Tract, Stomach Enzymes Are Unable To Digest It Until It Reaches The Large Intestine And The Colon. Once At This Place, The Bacteria Found There Start To Break Down The FOS. During FOS Metabolism, The Bacteria Produces Enzymes Needed To Break Down The Sugar. The Bacteria, Called Bifido Bacteria And Lactobacilli Have Been Reported To Use FOS As An Important Source Of Energy. In Turn, It Is Believed That Foods Promoting Growth Of The Bifido Bacteria Are Good For The Health. Studies Have Shown That FOS Is An Important Part Of The Human Diet. However, Exactly How FOS Exerts Its Many Benefits Remain To Be Seen. Several Researchers Believe That Increasing The Numbers Of Beneficial Bacteria In The Lower Intestine, Changes In The PH Of The Intestinal Contents; Together With Increases In Enzyme Levels That May Be Related To The Detoxification Of Carcinogens In The Diet All Have Been Cited As Reasons To Increase The FOS Levels In The Diet.The PrebioticThe Ability Of FOS To Ward Off Infection In The Digestive System Has Caused Many To Consider It As A Prebiotic. Prebiotics Are Quite Popular In Japan. And In The United States, Prebiotics Have Only Started To Become Available. Probiotic Products Containing FOS Are Also Gaining Widespread Popularity. These Include Live Microbial Foods Found In Various Foods. One Commonly Recognized Example Of A Probiotic Product Is Yogurt, Containing Acidophilus. Both Prebiotics And Probiotics Are Beneficial By Modifying The Composition Of Intestinal Bacteria.General Interaction And CautionThe Good Thing About FOS Is That It Apparently Does Not Have Any Side Effects. It Is Not Known To Interact With Any Known Drugs Or Nutrients That May Produce Adverse Side Effects.FOS Supplementation Is Generally Safe. However, Some Users Have Reported Experiencing Unpleasant Stomach Cramps, Gas, Or Bloating When They First Start Taking Them. To Avoid These Reactions, Its Best If You Take FOS In Small Dosages, Then Gradually Increasing Intake As Time Goes. Recommended Dosage Of FOS To Treat Flatulence Is 2,000 Mg Twice A Day. The Same Dosage Is Needed For Yeast Infection Treatment. 2,000 Mg A Day With Meals Is Recommended For Irritable Bowel Syndrome.TOTAL WORD COUNT - 542KEYWORDS "FOS" - 20 (density 3.7)
