inulin
noun
in·u·lin ˈin-yə-lən 
: a white, mildly sweet, indigestible polysaccharide that occurs chiefly in the roots or tubers of various plants (such as chicory or Jerusalem artichoke), that on hydrolysis yields levulose, and that is used as an additive in low-fat and low-sugar foods to improve the flavor and texture, and as a diagnostic agent in a test for kidney function
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Garlic contains the fiber inulin, a prebiotic, which is known to boost good gut bacteria. 
Amy Fischer Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, 18 July 2022 The RepHresh Probiotic, which contains 50 billion live cultures from 12 different species, has both the prebiotic inulin and the prebiotics in it. The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 June 2022 The food science writer Harold McGee says that, like onions, shallots contain the fructose polymer inulin, a polysaccharide that breaks down into multiple simple sugars when heated, increasing the overall sweetness. New York Times, 23 May 2022 Our bodies are less equipped to break down inulin, so eating raw Jerusalem artichokes, or eating too many of them, can cause gastrointestinal distress. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Apr. 2020 Unlike potatoes, that are rich in starch, Jerusalem artichokes are full of another carbohydrate called inulin. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Apr. 2020 Since inulin is a soluble fiber that holds water, it can be used as a low-calorie option to replace fat in certain recipes. Adele Jackson-gibson, Good Housekeeping, 3 Feb. 2020 But inulin is an enormous molecule, and yeasts prefer to feast on dainty morsels. Ali Bouzari, SFChronicle.com, 30 Dec. 2019 Blue agaves amass fat caches of inulin but are unlike other species that guard those riches with tough fibers and harsh-smelling chemical deterrents. Ali Bouzari, SFChronicle.com, 30 Dec. 2019 See More
Amy Fischer Ms, Rd, Cdn, Good Housekeeping, 18 July 2022 The RepHresh Probiotic, which contains 50 billion live cultures from 12 different species, has both the prebiotic inulin and the prebiotics in it. The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 June 2022 The food science writer Harold McGee says that, like onions, shallots contain the fructose polymer inulin, a polysaccharide that breaks down into multiple simple sugars when heated, increasing the overall sweetness. New York Times, 23 May 2022 Our bodies are less equipped to break down inulin, so eating raw Jerusalem artichokes, or eating too many of them, can cause gastrointestinal distress. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Apr. 2020 Unlike potatoes, that are rich in starch, Jerusalem artichokes are full of another carbohydrate called inulin. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Apr. 2020 Since inulin is a soluble fiber that holds water, it can be used as a low-calorie option to replace fat in certain recipes. Adele Jackson-gibson, Good Housekeeping, 3 Feb. 2020 But inulin is an enormous molecule, and yeasts prefer to feast on dainty morsels. Ali Bouzari, SFChronicle.com, 30 Dec. 2019 Blue agaves amass fat caches of inulin but are unlike other species that guard those riches with tough fibers and harsh-smelling chemical deterrents. Ali Bouzari, SFChronicle.com, 30 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
probably from German Inulin, from Latin inula elecampane
First Known Use
1813, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
inulin
noun
in·u·lin ˈin-yə-lən
: a white mildly sweet plant polysaccharide that resists digestion in the stomach and small intestine, is extracted commercially especially from the roots and rhizomes of composite plants (as chicory), and is used as a source of levulose, as a diagnostic agent in a test for kidney function, and as a food additive to improve the flavor and texture of low-fat and low-sugar processed foods see oligofructose