An object of the present invention is to provide a granulated product containing a dry powder of green leaves of at least one kind selected from grains, kale, sweet potatoes, mulberry trees, ashitaba, mugwort, Peucedanum japonicum, and kuma bamboo grass, and being excellent in dispersibility and smoothness, and to provide a method for producing the granulated product. The present invention allows for providing a granulated product excellent in dispersibility and smoothness and a method for producing the granulated product by producing a granulated product using a dry powder of green leaves of at least one kind selected from grains, kale, sweet potatoes, mulberry trees, ashitaba, mugwort, Peucedanum japonicum, and kuma bamboo grass, and controlling a specific gravity of the granulated product to a certain range.

The present invention is a food product comprising dried Kudzu flower powder, and having a water content of 8% by weight or less, and preferably which proportion of fractions passing a sieve having a sieve opening of 2 mm is 20% by weight or more. The food product of the present invention has good taste and odor.

The present invention is a food product comprising dried Kudzu flower powder, and having a water content of 8% by weight or less, and preferably which proportion of fractions passing a sieve having a sieve opening of 2 mm is 20% by weight or more. The food product of the present invention has good taste and odor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a solid composition that provides green layer aroma and makes one feel its aroma in a sustained way when added to a medium such as water. The solid composition comprises dimethyl sulfide and β-ionone, and has a weight ratio of β-ionone content to dimethyl sulfide content which is adjusted to be in the range of from 0.003 to 3.

An object of the present invention is to provide a solid composition that provides green layer aroma and makes one feel its aroma in a sustained way when added to a medium such as water. The solid composition comprises dimethyl sulfide and β-ionone, and has a weight ratio of β-ionone content to dimethyl sulfide content which is adjusted to be in the range of from 0.003 to 3.

A method of treating or preventing dehydration in an individual having impaired swallowing such as dysphagia can include administering to the individual having the dysphagia an effective amount of a composition containing a salivating agent and a cooling agent in a weight ratio of 1:0.06 to 1:0.2. Optionally the composition includes a tingling agent. The composition can be a powder that is reconstituted before administration, for example at the point of consumption. A thickening or thin cohesive agent can be included in the powder and/or can be included in a liquid in which the powder is reconstituted. The composition can be a beverage containing the salivating agent and the cooling agent in a total amount of at least 3.0 wt. % of the beverage, for example at least 6.0 wt. % of the beverage. The composition can be a ready-to-drink beverage or a frozen dessert on a stick.

A process for producing a dried product, optionally in the form of a flake, the process comprising (a) combining an active ingredient with a carrier, and an optional stabilizer, to create a wet mixture, wherein the active ingredient and carrier are in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:250 in the wet mixture; (b) spreading the wet mixture on a belt of a thin film belt dryer with a belt temperature in the range of about 60° C.-92° C.; and (c) drying the mixture to produce a dried product with less than about 7% moisture, optionally about 2-5% moisture, and a water activity of about 0.15 and about 0.65; as well as a dried product that can be produced by the method, and related methods and compositions.

A process for producing a dried product, optionally in the form of a flake, the process comprising (a) combining an active ingredient with a carrier, and an optional stabilizer, to create a wet mixture, wherein the active ingredient and carrier are in a ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:250 in the wet mixture; (b) spreading the wet mixture on a belt of a thin film belt dryer with a belt temperature in the range of about 60° C.-92° C.; and (c) drying the mixture to produce a dried product with less than about 7% moisture, optionally about 2-5% moisture, and a water activity of about 0.15 and about 0.65; as well as a dried product that can be produced by the method, and related methods and compositions.

The present invention provides novel use of Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 in suppression of intestinal inflammation. Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 of the present invention has the deposit number CGMCC 15650. It was discovered in the present invention that the strain alone was highly efficacious at suppressing intestinal inflammation, reducing inflammatory factors IL-6 and/or TNF-α, promoting anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, and reducing the tissue damage of colitis.

The present invention provides novel use of Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 in suppression of intestinal inflammation. Bifidobacterium lactis BL-99 of the present invention has the deposit number CGMCC 15650. It was discovered in the present invention that the strain alone was highly efficacious at suppressing intestinal inflammation, reducing inflammatory factors IL-6 and/or TNF-α, promoting anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, and reducing the tissue damage of colitis.