Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are prebiotics made up of plant sugars linked in chains. They're found in dairy products, beans, and certain root vegetables.
Prebiotics act as food for "good" bacteria in the intestine. They pass undigested into the colon where they increase bowel mass and promote growth of certain bacteria.
People use GOS for eczema, colic, hay fever, food allergies, constipation, obesity, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses.
Don't confuse GOS with other prebiotics, such as fructo-oligosaccharides, inulin, and polydextrose. Also, don't confuse prebiotics with probiotics such as lactobacillus, bifidobacteria, and saccharomyces, which are live organisms.
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