Inulin in the plant kingdom is a big deal, storing energy in the root systems of some 36,000 floral species, while also functioning as an osmotic buffer against the kind of extreme cold that would otherwise destroy the plant. Inulin in the human body is likewise an energetic presence, converting in the large intestine to short-chain fatty acids that feed the microbial good guys and ward off the bad guys, all the while providing the furniture-moving benefits of a world-class soluble fiber.