Low-calorie boiled cereal, preferably rice gruel, with reduced carbohydrate, particularly a saccharide component. The cereal is useful as low-calorie food for the therapy and prevention of obesity and therapy of diabetes. The cereal is prepared by adding to one part by weight of boiled cereal, 2-10 parts by weight of water or diluted aqueous acid heated at 60.degree. C. or higher, warming the mixture of 60.degree. C. or higher for 1 to 30 min. while maintaining the viscosity of the water of diluted aqueous acid at 200 cP or below, removing the liquid part and adding 0.05-5 parts by weight of water containing 0.1-10 parts by weight of water-soluble dietary fiber.
A calorie intake-controlling food is disclosed which comprises low-calorie cereals having reduced carbohydrate content, a water-soluble dietary fiber and protein having an isoelectric point in the acidic region, the cereals being contained in a predetermined amount corresponding to the calorie intake to be controlled, and in which said water-soluble dietary fiber and said protein are in such proportions that an aqueous solution of said food is gelatinized when contacted with gastric juice.
Water-soluble, high-viscosity grade cellulose ether compositions are useful for the reduction of serum lipid levels, particularly total serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels and/or attenuate the postprandial rise of blood glucose levels in animals. The pharmaceutical uses of compositions for reducing cholesterol levels additionally include the treatment of diabetes and/or hypercholesterolemia, with avoidance of many of the undesirable side effects associated with other forms of treatment. The composition may be in the form of a prehydrated ingestible composition, such as a gelatin, or a comestible, such as a cookie. In addition, the compositions of the present invention are palatable to the patient, thereby enhancing patient compliance with the regimen.
A method for reducing the cholesterol level in mammalian blood by administering a water soluble cellulose ether thereto. The cellulose ethers have a viscosity, measured as a 2% aqueous solution at 20.degree. C., of at least about 35 cps. Oral administration is preferred, and, in one embodiment the high viscosity water soluble cellulose ether is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, contained in a nutritious foodstuff.
