The structures of stachyose and raffinose are in the side of glucose within sucrose and there are combined two and one galactose by α - D - glycosidic linkages respectively. Stachyose, the major active component of the product, is a non-reducing galacto-oligosaccharide. The galactosidic bonds are not digestible by human digestive enzymes, but readily cleavable by colonic health-promoting resident bacteria, such as bifidobacteria. Selective use of stachyose by the beneficial bacteria would enhance their metabolic activities and proliferation. The increased metabolic activities would reduce the pH in the colon and generate factors to inhibit growth of pathogenic or harmful species and prevent the production of toxic substances so that it helps to maintain physiological balance of the microenvironment in the colon and promotes healthy status of the body. B esides, bifidobacteria can enhance absorption of vitamins and their synthesis and reduce cholesterol in blood as well as improve immune function, prevent constipation and prolong aging process.