Methods of Dispersing Protein in Water

Abstract

An easily dispersible granule of soybean protein comprises powdery soybean protein whose surface is coated with a carbohydrate, which is not readily digestible, wherein the carbohydrate is present in an amount of at least 5 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the powdery soybean protein. A method for preparing such an easily dispersible granule of soybean protein in which powdery soybean protein is granulated while the powder is sprayed with an aqueous solution containing a carbohydrate which is not readily digestible and which is characterized by using at least 5 parts by weight of the hardly digestible carbohydrate per 100 parts by weight of the powdery soybean protein is also disclosed. An Alternative method involves spraying a dry mix of soybean protein and not readily digestible carbohydrate with lecithin in water, and removing the water from the resultant lecithin-coated mix.

1 . A method of dispersing a protein in water, comprising: 
 adding a dry blend comprising a protein and a compound selected from the group consisting of an emulsifier, a carbohydrate and a combination thereof to water; and    agitating the dry blend in the water, thus dispersing the protein in the water.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsifier is lecithin.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the lecithin is selected from the group consisting of crude lecithin, deoiled lecithin and a combination thereof.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the carbohydrate is a not readily digestible carbohydrate.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the protein is soybean protein or a hydrolyzed soybean protein.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the not readily digestible carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of pine fiber, Fibersol-2, Fibersol-2H, beta glucan, inulin, hemicellulose and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       7 . A method of preparing easily dispersible granules of protein comprising: 
 spray granulating a blend of soybean protein, a not readily digestible carbohydrate, and lecithin in water; and    drying the blend.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the protein is soybean protein or a hydrolyzed soybean protein.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the not readily digestible carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of pine fiber, Fibersol-2, Fibersol-2H, beta glucan, inulin, hemicellulose and combinations of any thereof.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising adding salts of calcium or iron to the blend.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising adding a compound selected from the group consisting of sterols, stanols, steryl esters, stanol esters, vitamins, minerals, isoflavones and combinations of any thereof to the blend.  
   
   
       12 . A method of dispersing a protein in water, comprising: 
 mixing a blend comprising a soy protein having a total protein content of at least fifty percent by weight, lecithin, and a not readily digestible carbohydrate with water; and    agitating the blend in the water, thus dispersing the protein in the water.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , where in the protein is soybean protein or a hydrolyzed soybean protein.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the protein content of protein is at least ninety percent by weight.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the protein is capable of passing through a sieve of 100 mesh at least 90 percent by mass.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the blend is capable of being uniformly dispersed within 5 to 10 seconds.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the lecithin is selected from the group consisting of deoiled lecithin, crude lecithin, purified lecithin and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising mixing a mineral selected from the group consisting of a salt of calcium, a salt of iron, and a combination thereof with the water.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the not readily digestible carbohydrate is selected from the group consisting of pine fiber, Fibersol-2, Fibersol-2H, beta glucan, inulin, hemicellulose and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising mixing calcium lactate pentahydrate with the water.