LDL / WATER DISPERSIBLE STEROL/STANOL ENRICHED POLYPHENOL RICH HERBAL TEAS IN AQUEOUS OR POWDERED FORMS TO REDUCE TOTAL AND LDL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

摘要

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of herbal tea products in aqueous or powder form comprising polyphenol rich herbal tea extracts and hydrophobic plant sterols / stanols with improved water insolubility. The process comprises dispersing or suspending hydrophobic plant sterols in an emulsifier containing an aqueous polyphenol-rich herbal tea extract or in a delivery medium of a water and emulsifier mixture which is then blended with the tea extract, generating a high shear force to impact Exposing to microparticles having a particle size substantially 30 μm or less, preferably 10 μm or less, substantially following the bell curve distribution. Optionally, the process may require heating, but heating is preferably pasteurized to prevent microbial rot. Thus, the process may require one or more heating steps, which may be applied before or after homogenization or by heating together. In a further embodiment, these aqueous homogeneous dispersions, including predominantly plant sterols and herbal tea extracts, are spray dried or lyophilized or vacuum dried to obtain water dispersible sterol fortified powder tea. Plant sterol fortified herbal tea extracts and dried forms thereof may be used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical or nutritional products and beverages and for the medical application of such products.