US-12616729-B2 - Psyllium husk granule, method for producing same, and powdered drink containing psyllium husk granule

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a psyllium husk granule whose affinity for water is significantly improved, and a method for producing the psyllium husk granule. In addition, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a powdered drink in which the psyllium husk granule is used. The psyllium husk granule is obtained by performing granulation using powdered sugar which has passed through a 120 to 280-mesh Tyler screen. The method for producing the psyllium husk granule comprises fluidizing a mixture containing a psyllium husk and powdered sugar which has passed through a 120 to 280-mesh Tyler screen, then spraying water, and finally drying the mixture for granulation.

Inventors

• Shoki KODAMA
• Nobuko INOIKE
• Takato SHIMIZU

Assignees

• NISSIN FOODS HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20210208

Priority Date

20200325

Claims (3)

1. 1 . A psyllium husk granule obtained by performing granulation using powdered sugar, wherein the powdered sugar has passed through a 120 to 280-mesh Tyler screen prior to the granulation, thereby providing a dispersibility of the psyllium husk granule in water that is greater than a dispersibility of a psyllium husk granule prepared using powdered sugar having a particle size larger than a size corresponding to a 120-mesh Tyler screen.
2. 2 . A powdered drink comprising the psyllium husk granule according to claim 1 .
3. 3 . A method for producing a psyllium husk granule, the method comprising: fluidizing a mixture containing a psyllium husk and powdered sugar that has passed through a 120 to 280-mesh Tyler screen; then spraying water to the resulting mixture; and then drying the mixture, thereby the psyllium husk granule being formed, wherein a dispersibility of the psyllium husk granule in water is greater than a dispersibility of a psyllium husk granule prepared using powdered sugar having a particle size outside the 120 to 280-mesh Tyler screen range.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a psyllium husk granule, and a method for producing the psyllium husk granule. More specifically, the present invention relates to a psyllium husk-containing composition whose affinity for water is improved. BACKGROUND ART In recent years, the intake of dietary fiber has decreased with the change in dietary habit. In Dietary Reference intakes for Japanese (2015 edition), the tentative dietary goal for preventing life-style related diseases in intake of dietary fiber is 19 g or more for an adult male and 17 g or more for an adult female. However, according to National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2017, the daily intake of dietary fiber per adult human was 15.2 g for a male and 14.8 g for a female, showing that the tentative dietary goal for preventing life-style related diseases was not attained. The tentative dietary goal for preventing life-style related diseases in intake of dietary fiber has been established because there have been many reports that insufficient intake of dietary fiber is associated with the onset of lifestyle related diseases. Dietary fiber is known to have an effect such as an intestinal regulation action, and it is also known that the intestinal regulation action is positively correlated with water retentivity. Thus, incorporation of dietary fiber-enriched food into the regular diet may be beneficial for persons who suffer from constipation or diarrhea due to bad dietary habits, westernized dietary habits, increased stress and the like. Examples of the supply source for ingestion of dietary fiber include psyllium husks. In general, a psyllium husk is dissolved in water and ingested. However, addition of water to a psyllium husk is likely to form an undissolved lumps of powder (lump). Since the surface of the undissolved lump of powder is hydrated to turn into a gel, the undissolved lump of powder is difficult to crush once it is formed. Therefore, dispersion of a psyllium husk in an aqueous solution requires that a container with a lid be charged with water and the psyllium husk and vigorously shaken, or the contents of the container be stirring by apparatus such as a magnetic stirrer. Thus, it can be hardly said that a psyllium husk is easily ingested. SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem On the other hand, there have appeared commercial products whose dispersibility is advertised to be improved by applying various measures such as granulation so that a psyllium husk-containing composition is even slightly more easily dispersed in water. However, these commercial products may be somewhat improved as compared to conventional products, but is not dramatically improved. Therefore, a psyllium husk granule whose dispersibility in water is further improved is strongly desired. An object of the invention of the present application is to provide a psyllium husk granule whose affinity for water is significantly improved. Solution to Problem For solving the above-described problem, the present invention provides a psyllium husk granule obtained by performing granulation using powdered sugar which has passed through a 120 to 280-mesh Tyler screen. A powdered drink is preferable in which the granule is used. Here, the 120 to 280-mesh Tyler screen corresponds to a screen aperture size of 53 to 125 μm as calculated on the basis of JIS. Therefore, the grain size of powdered sugar which has passed through the 120 to 280-mesh Tyler screen is equivalent to 53 to 125 μm. The same applies hereinafter. According to such a configuration, affinity for water can be significantly improved by performing granulation using powdered sugar having a small grain size. The good affinity for water results in excellent dispersibility, so that the psyllium husk granule can be easily used as a powdered drink. For solving the above-described problem, the present invention provides a method for producing a psyllium husk granule, the method comprising fluidizing a mixture containing a psyllium husk and powdered sugar which has passed through a 120 to 280-mesh Tyler screen, then spraying water, and finally drying the mixture for granulation. According to such a configuration, a psyllium husk granule whose hydrophilicity is improved can be easily produced with existing equipment only by changing the grain size of powdered sugar. Advantageous Effects of Invention According to the present invention, a psyllium husk granule whose affinity for water is significantly improved can be obtained by performing granulation using powdered sugar having a small grain size. Since the affinity for water is improved, the psyllium husk granule can be dispersed in an aqueous solution without using a shaker. This enables a psyllium husk to be easily ingested as long as water is available. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described. <Psyllium Husk> The psyllium husk is a dietary fiber material containing a