Nutritional supplements from green leafy vegetables

Abstract

This invention discloses packaged nutritional supplements that have nutritional ingredients derived from green leafy vegetation that shall collectively or singly be useful to fulfill the daily need of supplementation from one or more of a nutrient from green leafy vegetation. One embodiment of this invention discloses a novel packaged composition that comprises at least one fraction of a green leafy vegetation and at least one more ingredient to improve its usability and is source of at least one nutritional ingredient selected from the group dietary fiber, beta carotene, iron, calcium, xanthophylls, folic acid and lysine plus methionine and cystine; wherein the fraction comprises a fibrous fraction, a water soluble deproteinized juice fraction and a water insoluble high protein low fiber fraction as fourth primary fraction. In one embodiment of invention, the contribution of at least one nutrient to the nutrient content of the composition from green leafy vegetation or its fraction is a least 15% of at least content of one nutrient of the composition. Also disclosed is a novel packaged composition comprising pulp of whole edible green leafy vegetation and at least one component of flax-seed in the form of a soup or a food bar. The component of flax seed may be one or more selected from the group of whole flax seed, flax seed cake or flax oil,

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composition that comprises at least one fraction of a green leafy vegetation and at least one more ingredient, wherein
 the fraction is selected from a group consisting of first four primary fractions as well as sub-fraction or a modified fraction of the four primary fractions of the green leafy vegetation;
 the primary fraction being obtained in a process of green crop fractionation, wherein the fractionation process comprises the steps of:
 a. comminuting fresh green crop material, 
 b. separating a moist fibrous fraction as first primary fraction from the juice as second primary fraction, and treating the juice fraction to separate a water soluble deproteinized juice that is high in water content as third primary fraction from a water insoluble high protein low fiber fraction as fourth primary fraction; 
 
   and wherein,   the at least one more ingredient comprises ingredient/s that would improve usability of the fraction by overcoming organoleptic property of the fraction that is unfavorable for its consumption;   and further wherein,   100 gram of the composition on dry weight basis would comprise at least one nutritional ingredient being selected from the group (a) dietary fiber at least 3 gram, (c) beta carotene at least 500 microgram, (d) iron at least 3 mg, (e) calcium at least 150 mg, (g) xanthophylls at least 4 mg, (h) folic acid at least 35 microgram, and (i) lysine at least 900 mg and Methionine plus cystine at least about 550 mg.   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein overcoming the fraction's organoleptic or other property that is unfavorable for its consumption to improve the usability by use of at least one more ingredient comprises:
 a. making the composition an organoleptically palatable product by facilitating modifying unfavorable taste, or unfavorable color, or unfavorable flavor or unfavorable solubility in water, or unfavorable dispersibility in water of the fraction, or   b. facilitating a topical application of the fraction.   
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the primary fractions being either microbiologicaly stabilized before use as an ingredient in a dry mix or they are wet processed to make high moisture compositions, packaged and the packages are microbiologically stabilized either by sterilizing at 120° C. under a pressure of 15 pounds per square inch for at least 20 minutes, or by adding permitted preservatives or deep freezing below 0° C. to up to −40° C. or by expelling moisture until moisture content of the composition is below 10% up to 5%. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising the fibrous fraction as a primary fraction or modified fraction of a green leafy vegetation comprising a component of any one of the following compositions:
 a. composition A comprising fibrous fraction dry powder and ingredients of a soup further comprising (i) fibrous fraction dry powder, (ii) one or more thickeners enough to improve stability of suspension when diluted and brought to boil in a defined quantity of water under conditions of use as a soup, (iii) spices and condiments,   b. composition B comprising fibrous fraction dry powder and a curd,   c. composition C comprising fibrous fraction dry powder and a cheese or paneer,   d. composition D of a “Ready-to-Eat” recipe comprising fibrous fraction dry powder and a mix of a cooked snack.   
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , comprising deproteinized juice fraction as at least one ingredient comprising any one of the following compositions:
 a. composition E of bottled soft drink comprising carbonated or non-carbonated deproteinized juice, and one or more of additional ingredients for improved flavor, taste and a preservative,   b. composition F of a syrup comprising the deproteinized juice and one or more of additional ingredients for improved flavor, taste and a preservative,   c. composition G of a soft drink dry concentrate intended to be diluted before consumption comprising dry powder of the deproteinized juice and one or more of additional ingredients for improved flavor and taste.   
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1  for topical use for application to skin or hair for nourishment wherein the fraction of a green leafy vegetation comprises the sub-fraction of the high protein low fiber fraction (LPC) comprising an edible oil extract of LPC and the ingredient for improving its usability comprises a carrier for topical application and optionally fragrances. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the carrier is a hair oil, petroleum jelly or another cream base. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fraction of the green leafy vegetation comprises an edible oil extract of high protein low fiber fraction (LPC) and the ingredient for improving its usability comprises excipients and ingredient/s for making a soft gelatin capsule. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising high protein low fiber fraction (LPC) and at least one ingredient for improving its usability comprises as at least one ingredient comprising any one of the following compositions:
 a. composition I comprising: (i) high protein low fiber fraction (LPC), and the ingredient/s for improving its usability comprises (ii) buttermilk, (iii) optionally one or more thickeners to improve stability of suspension to be used as a soup, (iv) spices and condiments, 
 b. composition J comprising high protein low fiber fraction (LPC) and curd, 
 c. composition K comprising high protein low fiber fraction (LPC) and cheese or paneer, 
 d. Composition L of a Ready-to-eat recipe comprising high protein low fiber fraction (LPC) and a cooked snack recipe. 
 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the green leafy vegetation used comprises a conventional green leafy vegetable or a forage crop or a by-product leaves of cole crops or leaves of legume crops or other non-toxic vegetation. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is a packaged composition. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is shelf stable. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the fraction of a green leafy vegetation comprises the deproteinized juice modified as dry powder and the ingredient for improving its usability comprises ingredients for making a capsule or ingredients for making a tablet.