Fiber-water—water containing soluble fiber

• US 6,248,390 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Suzanne Jaffe Stillman
• Original Assignee: Suzanne Jaffe Stillman
• Inventors: Stillman, Suzanne Jaffe
• Primary Examiner(s): BHAT, NINA NMN
• Application Number:
  US09/510,400
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 426/590, 426/73, 426/74, 426/648, 514/40
• US Class Current: 426/590
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/38 Other non-alcoholic beverages drinks from legumes A23L11/60
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/52 Adding ingredients adding preservatives A23L2/44
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/58 Colouring agents
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/21 Addition of substantially indigestible substances, e.g. dietary fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/00 Drugs for disorders of the alimentary tract or the digestive system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 1/10 Laxatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/04 Anorexiants; Antiobesity agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/06 Antihyperlipidemics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/10 for hyperglycaemia, e.g. antidiabetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 39/02 Antidotes
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/14 Vasoprotectives; Antihaemorrhoidals; Drugs for varicose therapy; Capillary stabilisers

Abstract

A shelf stable, ready to use, essentially tasteless and odorless water-like fluid for humans/animals comprised of safe water and a significant quantity of one or more water-soluble dietary fibers. Fiber-water is intended to be consumed by drinking or by enteral feeding alone, and/or in combination. The inventive liquid may be consumed directly hot or cold or after use, at any required temperature, in the preparation/reconstitution of beverages or liquid food product (e.g. coffee, tea, concentrates such as “HAWAIIAN PUNCH®”, frozen concentrates such as lemonade/orange juice, soups and pet food). It can be used to enrich foods with soluble fiber through cooking, moistening, reconstituting or imbibing dried foods (e.g. oatmeal, rice, dried fruits, powdered soups, powdered beverages, powdered milks, nutritional shakes, “GATORADE®/TANG®/KOOL-AID®” products, gelatins, custards, puddings, and pet food). Fiber-water can be consumed in the frozen state either indirectly by adding it to a beverage as a cube or crushed “ice”, or directly by licking a frozen “POPSICLE®” product). Fiber-water is safe water fiber enriched intending to be a replacement and/or adjunct to other water to ensure proper hydration while at the same time provide significant soluble fiber. Depending on the soluble fiber(s) used, and the user'"'"'s individual metabolism, the invention is non-caloric or extremely low in calories. The soluble fiber(s) used are proven to moderate the postprandial rise in blood glucose (diabetes), address weight loss (obesity), lower serum cholesterol level (cardiovascular/heart), and address constipation and bowel regularity (colon cancer).

Claims

1. A water composition for consumption by humans and animals comprising:

between 0.1% and 10% by weight water-soluble indigestible fiber; and

safe water, wherein fewer than 10 calories per 100 ml is metabolized by a human when consuming the water composition and wherein the water composition contains less than 500 mg./l of soluble salts and essentially no organic acids.

2. The water composition of claim 1 further comprising a soluble food grade color.

3. The water composition of claim 2, wherein the soluble food grade color acts as an indicator of an amount of the water soluble indigestible fiber contained in the water composition.

4. The water composition claim 1, wherein the water soluble indigestible fiber is selected from the group consisting of plant mucilage, plant gums, dextrins, maltodextrins, galactomannans, arabanogalactans, beta glucans, cellulose ethers, pectins, pectic material, water-soluble hemicellulose, inulin, alginates, agar, carrageenan, psyllium, guar gum, gum traganth, gum karya, gum ghatti, gum acacia, gum arabic, partially hydrolyzed products thereof and mixtures thereof.

5. The water composition claim 1, wherein the water-soluble indigestible fiber and water form an optically clear solution.

12. The water composition of claim 1, wherein said water-soluble fiber is selected to satisfy simultaneously both hydration requirements and fiber requirements when consumed.

13. The water composition of claim 1, wherein addition of said water-soluble fiber does not alter clarity of the water composition.

14. The water composition claim 1 formulated for managing constipation.

15. A method of managing bowel regularity comprising the step of ingesting a quantity of the water composition of claim 1.

16. A method of managing hemorrhoids comprising the step of ingesting a quantity of the water composition of claim 1.

17. A method of avoiding assimilation of toxic bowel compounds comprising the step of ingesting a quantity of the water composition of claim 1.

18. The water composition of claim 1 formulated for management of diabetes.

19. The water composition of claim 1 formulated for management of obesity.

20. The water composition of claim 1 formulated for appetite suppression.

21. The water composition of claim 1 formulated for lowering serum cholesterol levels.

22. The water composition of claim 2, wherein the soluble food grade color acts as an indicator of a type of the water-soluble indigestible fiber contained in the water composition.

6. A water composition for consumption by humans and animals comprising:

between 0.1% and 10% by weight water-soluble indigestible fiber selected from the group consisting of dextrins, maltodextrins, galactomannans, cellulose ethers, inulin, alginates, agar, carrageenan, psyllium, guar gum, gum traganth, gum karya, gum ghatti, gum acacia, gum arabic, partially hydrolyzed products thereof and mixtures thereof; and

safe water, wherein the water and the water-soluble indigestible fiber form an optically clear solution, wherein fewer than 10 calories per 100 ml are metabolized by a human when consuming the water composition and wherein the water composition contains a nutritionally insignificant amount of soluble minerals and essentially no organic acids.

7. The water composition of claim 6 further comprising a soluble food grade color.

8. The water composition claim 7, wherein the soluble food grade color acts as an indicator of an amount of the water soluble indigestible fiber contained in the water composition.

23. The water composition of claim 6, wherein the water-like fluid contains fewer than 500 mg./l of soluble salts.

24. The water composition of claim 6, wherein said water-soluble fiber is selected to satisfy both hydration requirements and fiber requirements when consumed.

25. The water composition of claim 6, wherein addition of said water-soluble fiber does not alter clarity of the water composition.

26. The water composition of claim 6 formulated for managing constipation.

27. A method of managing bowel regularity comprising the step of ingesting a quantity of the water composition of claim 6.

28. A method of managing hemorrhoids comprising the step of ingesting a quantity of the water composition of claim 6.

29. A method of avoiding assimilation of toxic bowel compounds comprising the step of ingesting a quantity of the water composition of claim 6.

30. The water composition of claim 6 formulated for management of diabetes.

31. The water composition of claim 6 formulated for appetite suppression.

32. The water composition of claim 6 formulated for management of obesity.

33. The water composition of claim 6 formulated for lowering serum cholesterol levels.

9. A water composition for consumption by humans and animals comprising:

between 0.1% and 10% by weight water soluble indigestible fiber selected from the group consisting of dextrins, maltodextrins, inulin, guar gum, partially hydrolyzed products thereof and mixtures thereof; and

safe water, wherein the water and the water soluble indigestible fiber form an optically clear solution, wherein fewer than 10 calories per 100 ml are metabolized by a human when consuming the water composition and wherein the water composition contains a nutritionally insignificant amount of soluble minerals and essentially no organic acids.

10. The water composition claim 9 further comprising a soluble food grade color.

11. The water composition of claim 10, wherein the soluble food grade color acts as an indicator of an amount of the water soluble indigestible fiber contained in the water composition.

34. The water composition of claim 10, wherein the soluble food grade color acts as an indicator of a type of the water-soluble indigestible fiber contained in the water composition.

35. A water composition for consumption by humans and animals comprising:

between 0.1% and 10% by weight water-soluble indigestible fiber; and

safe water, wherein fewer than 10 calories per 100 ml is metabolized by a human when consuming the water composition and wherein the water composition contains a nutritionally insignificant amount of soluble minerals and essentially no organic acids.

36. The water composition of claim 35, wherein said water-soluble fiber is selected to satisfy simultaneously both hydration requirements and fiber requirements when consumed.

37. The water composition of claim 35, wherein addition of said water-soluble fiber does not alter clarity of the water composition.

38. The water composition of claim 35 formulated for management of constipation.

39. A method of managing bowel regularity comprising the step of ingesting a quantity of the water composition of claim 35.

40. A method of managing hemorrhoids comprising the step of ingesting a quantity of the water composition of claim 35.

41. A method of avoiding assimilation of toxic bowel compounds comprising the step of ingesting a quantity of the water composition of claim 35.

42. The water composition of claim 35 formulated for management of diabetes.

43. The water composition of claim 35 formulated for management of obesity.

44. The water composition of claim 35 formulated for appetite suppression.

45. The water composition of claim 35 formulated for lowering serum cholesterol levels.