A synergistic combination of butyric-acid-producing prebiotics and probiotics, which is used in the fields of foods, dietary supplements and drugs. Specifically, a composition containing probiotics and prebiotics, a food, dietary supplement or pharmaceutical preparation including the composition, and the use of the composition for alleviating and improving a disease or a discomfort, or reducing the occurrence of a disease or a discomfort, wherein the disease or discomfort is related to insufficient butyric acid in the intestine, or to insufficient butyric-acid-producing microorganisms in the intestine. A method for promoting Bifidobacterium lactis HNO19 to produce butyric acid, the method including using a galactooligosaccharide and lactulose as carbon sources for the cultivation of Bifidobacterium lactis HNO19, wherein the weight ratio of the galactooligosaccharide to lactulose is 1:1 to 4:1.

A synergistic combination of butyric-acid-producing prebiotics and probiotics, which is used in the fields of foods, dietary supplements and drugs. Specifically, a composition containing probiotics and prebiotics, a food, dietary supplement or pharmaceutical preparation including the composition, and the use of the composition for alleviating and improving a disease or a discomfort, or reducing the occurrence of a disease or a discomfort, wherein the disease or discomfort is related to insufficient butyric acid in the intestine, or to insufficient butyric-acid-producing microorganisms in the intestine. A method for promoting Bifidobacterium lactis HNO19 to produce butyric acid, the method including using a galactooligosaccharide and lactulose as carbon sources for the cultivation of Bifidobacterium lactis HNO19, wherein the weight ratio of the galactooligosaccharide to lactulose is 1:1 to 4:1.

A cocoa substitute in which a supplementary raw material produced in a step for manufacturing a food product is used. A cocoa substitute containing a protein composition derived from beer lees can be used as a raw material in a chocolate-like food product, etc.

A composition for human consumption that combines various ingredients that boost stem cell activity. Illustrative ingredients may for example include high cacao content chocolate, medicinal mushroom extracts, substances containing or promoting DHEA, pine bark extract to convert arginine from cacao into nitric oxide to improve circulation. DHEA boosting substances may include truffle powder and/or pine pollen. An illustrative composition may have about 75% chocolate by weight, with cacao content of 73% or more, at least 10% truffle powder or pine pollen, at least 10% medicinal mushroom extracts, the remainder pine bark extract. The composition may be formulated into sublingual tablets of about 1 gram, and daily consumption may for example consist of 5 tablets for 5 grams total. Includes a method of supporting cardiovascular health, improving sexual performance and sexual health, and improving athletic performance by administering a therapeutic amount of the compound to a subject.

The present invention provides the use of a composition obtainable from the pulp of a plant in the theobroma genus or an extract of said pulp, as an ingredient in a foodstuff product.

The invention discloses preparations for use in enhancing formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in a subject for treating or preventing a disease or disorder comprising at least one omega-3 fatty acid salt having an organic counter ion selected from lysine, arginine, ornithine, choline and mixtures of the same, wherein the omega-3 fatty acid is selected from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and a colon-specific delivery system.

The present invention relates to a composition for preventing and/or treating a stroke or a degenerative brain disease comprising: at least two substances selected from the group consisting of egg yolk lecithin, glycerol, sodium oleate, medium chain triglyceride and refined fish oil; olive oil; and soybean oil. The composition of the present invention has an excellent neuroprotective effect but no toxicity or side effects, and thus can be effectively and safely used for preventing, treating or ameliorating a stroke or a degenerative brain disease.

The present invention relates to a composition for preventing and/or treating a stroke or a degenerative brain disease comprising: at least two substances selected from the group consisting of egg yolk lecithin, glycerol, sodium oleate, medium chain triglyceride and refined fish oil; olive oil; and soybean oil. The composition of the present invention has an excellent neuroprotective effect but no toxicity or side effects, and thus can be effectively and safely used for preventing, treating or ameliorating a stroke or a degenerative brain disease.

Described are Pichia kluyveri yeast strains with advantageous properties useful in cacao fermentation processes, and related methods and products, including fermented cocoa beans having a ratio of isobutyl acetate/isobutanol higher than 1 and/or a ratio of isoamyl acetate/isoamyl alcohol higher than 0.005, and cocoa-based products prepared therefrom, as well as methods for the fermentation of cocoa beans comprising using at least one Pichia kluyveri yeast strain, fermented cocoa beans obtainable thereby, and cocoa-based products prepared therefrom and obtainable thereby.

Described are Pichia kluyveri yeast strains with advantageous properties useful in cacao fermentation processes, and related methods and products, including fermented cocoa beans having a ratio of isobutyl acetate/isobutanol higher than 1 and/or a ratio of isoamyl acetate/isoamyl alcohol higher than 0.005, and cocoa-based products prepared therefrom, as well as methods for the fermentation of cocoa beans comprising using at least one Pichia kluyveri yeast strain, fermented cocoa beans obtainable thereby, and cocoa-based products prepared therefrom and obtainable thereby.