Fructo-oligosaccharides in Food Aid Nutrient Absorption in the Body

You are at your peak when you’re in your 20’s, and you hardly ever worry about your health. When you hit your 40’s or 50’s, however, you begin to feel the signs of aging, and often that’s the only time most will take their health and diet seriously. Few people know that preventive health maintenance should be done much earlier in life.

Studies have shown a drastic decrease in nutrient absorption as we age, thereby causing poor overall health especially in the older population. Certain bodily functions such as nutrient ingestion, absorption, metabolism and elimination are affected as the years go by. Some of the diseases associated with the body’s inefficiency in absorbing nutrients include sarcopenia, a decline in muscle mass; atrophic gastritis, where the stomach’s basic function of secreting gastric juices becomes impaired; osteoporosis, especially for post-menopausal women; and a host of other illnesses.

These are further magnified by the many psychological impacts of aging such as a feeling of being useless as a result of limited physical movements, negative outlook in life and hopelessness. Often, people in their 40’s and above feel unable to enjoy and live life fully.

All of these negative physical and psychological outcomes can be traced to one culprit: inefficient and inadequate nutrient absorption. No matter how conscious we are of eating the proper diet, exercising regularly and taking all the necessary supplements, we may still be in danger of not achieving our optimum health. In truth, as we age, our bodies absorb less and less of the vital nutrients which eventually becomes an unaddressed body need, what is referred to as “nutrition gap”.

Click here to read more.

[previous|page|next]

Bridging the Gap
To help bridge the nutrition gap among aging individuals, we need to boost the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. This effectively results in revitalized energy, enhanced body functions and ultimately, improved health.

Fortunately, fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), a prebiotic, soluble fiber was discovered to aid in nutrient absorption. FOS stimulates the growth of bifidobacteria, a beneficial kind of bacteria that is essential in maintaining balance in the digestive tract, paving the way for more nutrients to be absorbed by the body. The increase of beneficial bacteria also improves detoxification and elimination processes and enhances the immunse system. And since FOS is not digested in the upper gastrointestinal tract, it becomes lower in caloric value, while adding to the fiber bulk of one’s diet.

The British Journal of Nutrition regards FOS as one of the important functional food components that have beneficial effects to the aging body. FOS naturally occurs in some foods such as onions, wheat, bananas and tomatoes.


Ensure with FOS
Recommended by most doctors as an adult nutritional drink, Ensure, with its FOS, helps enhance nutrient absorption and supports healthy digestive system. It also provides a complete and balanced nutrition for healthy-aging adults and helps reduce risk of coronary heart disease. It is an excellent source of 28 vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants Vitamin C and E, selenium and beta-carotene to help strengthen the immune system and promote recovery from illness and infection. Low in sodium and cholesterol. it is ideal for individuals who need an energy boost to maintain an active lifestyle, who skip meals because of busy schedules, who are under diet modification to manage weight and who have limited access to natural healthy foods.

If you want to enjoy life longer with your partner and children, take care of your health now, It’s never too early to start.