the following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out her invention . various modifications , however , will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art , since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a water - like drink containing significant amounts of soluble fiber . the current trend in foods is to add fiber and soluble fiber to a variety of food products . there are , however , potential drawbacks to this trend . to be fully effective soluble fiber must be combined with an adequate intake of water — certainly not available in dry goods and baked goods . this is true for both soluble and insoluble fiber . although the “ shake - like ” and other soluble fiber beverages or mixes to which water must be added do contribute water , they , like most dry goods , also contribute a significant source of calories to the diet — a major problem with today &# 39 ; s diets and something clearly not needed by our generally overfed population . while it is possible to limit the caloric content of the fiber - containing beverages through the use of non - nutritive sweeteners , this amounts to adding chemicals that may create or exacerbate health problems . therefore , the present inventor has developed a superior solution based on the unique synergistic interaction between water and soluble fiber . in experimenting with various types of soluble fiber , the inventor noticed that a number of the more refined materials , such as lower molecular weight grades of inulin ( for example see u . s . pat . no . 5 , 968 , 365 ), specialized dextrins , maltodextrins and partially hydrolyzed guar gums can actually produce a clear , or virtually clear , and virtually colorless solution in water . further , these soluble fibers are essentially tasteless at the preferred concentrations for consumption and essentially non - metabolized by the human digestive tract . . . sup . 1 thus is produced an entire new class of beverage — namely , “ fiber - water .” dissolving appropriate water - soluble fiber to a concentration of generally 0 . 1 - 10 % ( by weight ) produces fiber - water . the resulting product , fiber - water , is essentially water - like . any of the soluble fiber materials listed above can be used individually or combined so long as the resulting . sup . 1 many of these materials contain a small component of metabolizable carbohydrate . for example , inulins often contain about 1 . 6 food calories per gram . this is a tiny fraction of the calories provided by a fully metabolizable carbohydrate . in many cases the exact amount of carbohydrate absorbed varies from person to person depending on age , weight , health condition , etc . the exact number of calories absorbed can be discovered only by careful metabolic analysis . however , the maximum number of absorbed calories will not exceed the maximum given for a specific fiber type ( e . g ., 1 . 6 food calories per gram for a specific inulin ). product has the desired “ water - like ” characteristics — namely little or no taste , water - like viscosity , and few or no calories . some of the carbohydrate polymers may contain small amounts of material that is absorbed and does contribute calories to human metabolism . however , the number of calories is small compared to the significant dietary fiber contributed and can be minimized by careful selection and blending of different soluble fiber materials . fiber - water is the perfect addition to the modern human diet as well as that of appropriate animals . it adds few , if any , calories and is readily substituted for bottled water as a safe source of hydration with necessary soluble fiber . in the intestines water is withdrawn from the intestinal contents , and as the effective concentration of soluble fiber increases the viscosity increasing and sequestering properties of the soluble fiber result in slowed absorption of sugars and altered absorption of fats . this is of major significance in diabetes , heart disease and certain other health conditions . ultimately in the colon the hydrophilic properties of the soluble fiber have a softening and bulking effect on the stool . thus , fiber - water is a unique , consistent , safe , easy to use single product that simultaneously ameliorates the problems of dehydration and constipation . further , there are indications that the viscosity enhancing and carbohydrate absorption — slowing properties of the soluble fiber result in appetite suppression both by creating a feeling of fullness and by moderating swings in blood sugar . the literature is filled with positive effects of fiber on weight control both in humans and domestic animals . thus , the material is not only non - caloric or very low caloric but has additional positive effects on weight control . although the inventor contemplates fiber - water as a direct way to add water and fiber to the diet , it is also a feature of the invention that it can also be used to add fiber to other foods . for example , any packaged food or beverage can be reconstituted with fiber - water to yield a fiber - enhanced food or beverage . because fiber - water is based on safe water , it results in a safe food and / or beverage product even if the product is not heated to destroy microbes . soluble fiber polysaccharides are generally known to be stable during the cooking process . this means that if fiber - water is used to cook foods , such as grains ( rice ), oatmeal , and legumes , that imbibe water during the cooling process , these foods will also become fiber enhanced . fiber can readily be added to all types of packaged foods including gelatin products and canned concentrated foods such as soups . further , since fiber - water is heat stable it can be used to prepare fiber enriched hot beverages . in addition , it can be frozen to provide “ fiber ice cubes / products .” an important aspect of fiber - water is that it preferably has a “ water - like ” appearance . by this the inventor means that the solution is essentially clear . people tend to relate clear solutions to purity . some soluble fiber materials yield a cloudy or murky solution . it is preferred that fiber - water utilize materials that yield essentially clear solutions . as already mentioned , several available non - digestible carbohydrates produce “ water clear ” solutions . generally partial hydrolysis or fractionation of the soluble fiber materials , already discussed ( e . g . partially hydrolyzed guar gum ), will lead to clearer solutions . to date many manufacturers of soluble fibers have been concerned with using their products in solid foods where texture of the ingredient is most important . therefore , there has been little effort in producing materials that make clear solutions . besides , universal use as a hydrating and fiber providing material fiber - water is especially useful in situations of stress . it is believed that stress , both physiologically and psychologically , wrecks havoc on the body and alters or effects bowel regularity . when under stress humans and animals are known to reduce their consumption of water . when the body is stressed by disease it actually requires additional water yet this is exactly when many individuals reduce their water / fluid intake . further , stress may influence people to prefer sugar laden beverages , comfort type foods , or caffeinated beverages for alertness . these types of beverages actually increase ones water requirement and may actually lead to dehydration . thus it is beneficial to provide fiber - water , as opposed to plain water , as part of emergency supplies which are kept on hand and are used in “ natural disaster ” situations — fire , flood , storm , earthquake , or hurricane . during such an disasters people are stressed , and often forced to move from their homes . emergency situations often dictate shortages of food ( including beverages / water ) and / or the predictability as to when they may be available . this , combined with the general shortage of fresh fruits and vegetables , a key source of dietary fiber , during such an emergency naturally leads to loss of regularity . emergency food drops rarely contain fresh fruits and vegetables . having to deal with the emergency is bad enough . adding severe constipation and / or dehydration simply makes a bad situation worse . assuring ample supplies of fiber - water is intended to alleviate many of these problems . natural catastrophes and emergencies are certainly a source of stress as are medical problems . numerous and varied medical conditions , both short tern and long term , may require feeding an individual through a tube . the two types of tubes used most commonly are the naso - gastric tube and the gastrostomy tube . in either case nutriments are supplied directly into the stomach . great efforts have been made by major corporations to provide good nutritional products for tube feeding . depending on the design of the particular tube , viscosity of the feeding liquid may be a problem . the present inventor is a named inventor on u . s . pat . nos . 4 , 315 , 513 and 4 , 393 , 873 for a percutaneous tube containing a one way valve - and is an expert on the potential problems of tube feeding . depending on the specific medical condition and / or severity of the problem , dehydration and constipation may remain constant problems . sufficient hydration and more specifically the ingestion of sufficient water are most often a problem . nasal tubes often irritate the throat . even though there have been continuing efforts to create tube feeding formulae , commercial products are often low in fiber . also , liquid foods capable of passing through a tube are frequently high in calories and low in fiber . some patients may have a high requirement for calories but others do not . therefore , one may administer excess calories in an attempt to provide adequate fiber . the solution is to supplement the feeding regime with fiber - water rather than plain water . fiber - water as described herein is very low in viscosity so that it is simple to administer . for hospital use the inventor contemplates providing fiber - water in a number of different grades — that is with different strengths / quantities of fiber . in this way a grade can be selected that will provide the optimum amount of both fiber and water adjusted to meet the patient &# 39 ; s needs . it is further contemplated that the grades could each be uniquely colored with a safe soluble food - grade color so that hospital personnel , or other caregiver , could readily recognize which grade of fiber - water was being administered . this would further ensure that the correct grade was used for a particular patient . additionally , color might be pleasing to the patient , especially a child patient , and thus may serve to distract the child from an unpleasant situation . further , these tubes are not always permanent , and if the fiber - water experience is pleasant and convenient perhaps new drinking habits will be instilled and carried forward . although the above discussion presupposes that the primary user of fiber - water would be an adult , children and infants , as well , have significant fiber requirements . children , as well as adults , are victims of the american diet , which is notoriously deficient in fiber rich fruits and vegetables . consciously or not , many parents have taught their children to reject foods that are brown , speckled or have significant textures . it is important that parents , as care givers , become aware of the amount of fiber consumed by their children . children can benefit from optimal hydration based on fiber - water . by helping control appetite it may help control childhood obesity . it may even be of aid with eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia since victims of these disorders are known to drink water because it lacks calories . fiber - water would at least help preserve proper functioning of the gastrointestinal tract while other treatment is undertaken . at every stage of life fiber is vital to proper health and growth and development . infants and toddlers require a regular and controlled source of fiber . after babies cease to breast - feed or use liquid formulas and move on to more varied “ adult ” solid foods , they often suffer a number of painful digestive episodes which makes them fussy and difficult . fiber - water provides an ideal source of hydration for such infants because it ensures adequate hydration , and it also provides a consistent fiber source guaranteeing regularity . it should be kept in mind that typical commercial baby foods may vary widely in the amount of fiber provided . fiber - water provides an opportunity to lay the foundation of good habits of hydration and fiber intake . domestic animals , particularly cats and dogs , also suffer from problems with hydration and constipation . dogs are omnivorous and will naturally consume some fruits and vegetables . however , refined dog foods tend to be remarkably deficient in vegetable fiber . administering a source of fiber - water daily since dogs generally drink offered water can readily alleviate this problem . an alternative is to add the fiber water to dry kibble ( of the “ gravy ” forming type ) or even stir it into canned dog food . because fiber - water is essentially flavorless , it is well tolerated by dogs . cats also have serious dehydration and constipation problems . cats are obligate carnivores and generally will not knowingly consume fruits or vegetables . kidney failure is a common malady of geriatric cats resulting , in part , from inadequate hydration . constant vomiting is a common feline problem brought on by their grooming during which they ingest significant quantities of fur . in the wild cats ingest sufficient indigestible matter ( bones , cartilage and tendons ) to provide non - vegetable “ fiber .” with pet cats the owners are expected to mix fiber ( generally psyllium ) with the cat &# 39 ; s food or administer petroleum - based laxatives . neither alternative is particularly ideal . fiber - water can be given as water or mixed with the cat &# 39 ; s food to provide sufficient fiber to prevent both hairballs and constipation thus solving significant feline problems . it appears that reduction in vomiting positively contributes to the hydration of cats . it has been estimated that adult fiber requirements are between about 10 grams and about 40 grams per day . some experts have adopted a figure of around 25 grams . obviously , the requirement for fiber is related to body size , weight and health status . some attempts have been made to relate the requirement to weight . it has been estimated that between 50 and 300 mg . of fiber per kilogram of body weight per day . fiber requirements can also be estimated from daily caloric intake . current estimates call for about 25 grams per day for a 2 , 000 calorie diet ( adequate for a 125 pound person ) and about 37 grams for a 3 , 000 calorie diet ( adequate for a 175 pound person ). both approaches yield roughly similar results since a heavier person usually has a greater caloric intake . these estimates should provide adequate fiber for even a person with a very fiber deficient diet . taking a 25 g of fiber per day requirement and using the rubric of 8 glasses of water ( each glass equals approximately 250 ml of water ) one should spread the 25 g over 2 , 000 ml ( 8 . times . 250 ml ). therefore , the fiber - water used should contain 12 . 5 mg / ml of soluble fiber or approximately 1 . 25 % by weight fiber - water . for a daily caloric intake of 3 , 000 calories this translates to a fiber - water of about 2 % by weight soluble fiber . this analysis indicates that at least two different “ strengths ” of fiber - water should be produced to allow a range of average persons receive both the optimum amount of water and fiber . in actuality , it is convenient to produce a number of grades ranging from about 0 . 50 % to 2 . 5 %. this would allow a wide range of individuals to readily select a fiber - water that simultaneously supplies both the required amount of water and the required amount of fiber . depending on an individuals needs combined with the desire to drink , or not to drink , the amount of fiber can be increased by using an appropriate “ strength / grade ” of fiber - water to supply some or all of the required eight glasses of water . of course , it is also possible that an individual does not intend to spread out the fiber requirement over eight 8 oz . glasses . it may be desirable to consume the fiber at home , in the morning and evening only and not away from home . for this and similar reasons , it is desirable to make several more concentrated grades of fiber - water ranging from 5 % to even 10 % by weight fiber . this will reduce the number of daily doses needed . thus , if one does not have fiber - water available all day , hydration can be assured by drinking plain water supplemented with a higher “ strength / grade ” of fiber - water to fulfill daily fiber requirements . if necessary , the amount of fiber consumed can be a lower “ strength / grade ” of fiber - water to meat the daily required eight glasses of water . colors can be used to indicate different “ strength / grades ” of fiber in the water . it may also be advantageous to add a different food color to each grade so that the “ strength ” of the fiber - water can be identified at a glance . fiber - water for testing , according to the above scheme , was produced by dissolving the required weights of a mixture of indigestible dextrins and partially hydrolyzed guar gum in purified water . the preferred dextrins or maltodextrins are prepared by controlled hydrolysis of vegetable starches ( e . g . potato or corn ) as is described in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 620 , 873 . the hydrolyzed guar gum is of the type discussed in u . s . pat . no . 5 , 260 , 279 ( available in the united states as benefiber ® from novartis nutrition of minneapolis , minn . ; available in other countries as sun - fiber ® from taiyo of japan ). the resulting solution , ( fiber - water ) in the strengths explained above , is essentially colorless and clear having the basic appearance of plain water . the liquid is either flavorless or may have a very slight “ sweetness ” depending on the strength of the particular solution and the proportion of the soluble fibers used . the partially hydrolyzed guar gum is essentially flavorless while the maltodextrin has a slight sweet taste . in addition , some individuals can detect a slightly different “ mouth feel ” because of the slight viscosity increase resulting from the soluble fibers . however , for all practical purposes the resulting solution looks and behaves like bottled water and can readily be used in place of bottled water . if it is desired to ensure the microbial status of the fiber - water , it can be autoclaved or sterile filtered like plain water . starting with a good quality drinking water preferably one with little or no sodium can ensure palatability . addition of trace of “ essence ” or flavor such as lime or lemon can enhance palatability without adding any calories or otherwise detracting from the beneficial properties of the product . the product should look , behave and be used like high quality drinking water . to this end any “ naturally occurring ” water can be used as a starting . thus , it is possible to start with a mineral water and produce “ fiber mineral water .” such mineral waters may have up to 500 mg / l of dissolved salts . infants also have distinct fiber requirements . until recently , no specific guidelines for dietary fiber in children were available . recommendations have recently been developed , based on age , weight , and height of the child . it is now recommended that children older than two years consume a minimum amount of fiber equal to the age plus five grams a day . the recommended “ safe dose ” is between this and age plus ten grams a day . above that symptoms of excess fiber ( e . g ., loose stool ) may become apparent . it is the intent of the various grades of fiber - water provided in the present invention to enable a person or a caregiver to “ titrate ” the amount of fiber by looking for symptoms of excess fiber consumption . since infants and small children are generally unable to directly tell us of their digestive distress , constipation and other results of inadequate fiber are often exhibited as fussiness or similar undesirable behavior . this is especially true when infants are just being weaned from fiber - free milk to a fiber containing diet . there can be significant advantage to providing a fiber source in the water consumed by the infant . because infants have a constant requirement for water the addition of fiber - water to the typical diet can provide a more constant , even source of fiber while ensuring adequate hydration . further , the use of fiber - water can ensure adequate fiber without adding significant calories — an inevitable consequence of other fiber sources . consistent dietary fiber can provide for more even operation of the infant &# 39 ; s digestive process . in contrast , a more traditional infant diet is one that alternates between low fiber formula and high fiber “ adult ” foods may have an uneven or cramping effect . a useful amount of soluble fiber is ¼ - 1 gram per 8 oz ( a considerably lower concentration than for the adult fiber - water ). the “ baby fiber - water ” is produced by dissolving the required amount of soluble fiber consisting of a mixture of partially hydrolyzed guar gum and inulin ( frutafit ® from imperial - sensus of sugar land , tex . is a preferred inulin for this purpose ) in safe ( e . g ., purified ) water . the slight sweetness of the inulin makes the water especially palatable . the intent here is not to treat specific diseases but to ameliorate constipation — and only disease states known to cause constipation . for example , hirshprung &# 39 ; s syndrome is caused by a loss of motor cells in the lower rectum ; therefore there is a loss of thrust . children born with congenital problems , or children still suffering from incompletely healed accidents , benefit from fiber - water as it provides bulk and hydration to help overcome serious constipation that may result from such causes . actually babies are extremely sensitive to a variety of stresses and changes and get constipated as a result . alternating bouts of regularity and or constipation is not uncommon . a baby &# 39 ; s system may be under stress , and that alone can be the cause . infants can sense stress in their surroundings be it the home , etc . : 1 ) dysfunctional : homes where there is divorce , alcoholism , family abuse etc ., may be noted in the babies refusal to eat , defecate , crying spells etc . 2 ) changes in custodial care : baby sitters , new sibling , and or step parent etc . 3 ) changes due to normal childhood illnesses : colds , flu , teething , fever , measles , mumps , chicken pox , etc . while these illnesses may not be the direct cause of constipation they may be the indirect cause . with illness come changes in eating , sleeping , behaviors , and habits . 4 ) travel : when a babies environment is changed , from going to grandparents to international travel , sensitivities to the new can throw off a system that is used to regularity . international travel bears with it the dehydration of long hours on an airplane etc . the future holds even more stressing travel such as space travel . 5 ) accidents : also upset regular habits and can result in constipation . water probably can be given to the baby as early as one month , although it &# 39 ; s not usually started between 2 - 4 months after birth . in some instances fiber - water may be of especially significant value . fiber - water can serve as a great pacifier without the dangers of dental harm posed by traditional formula or beverages . diarrhea , which is often caused by contaminated water supplies , can be life threatening to infants . therefore , there are great advantages to using safe bottled water for any infant formula , etc . using safe packaged fiber - water is even better where it is desired to avoid excessive caloric intake . in the case of the “ fat baby ”, the fiber - water may well do more than provide a low or non caloric , hydrating agent . the soluble fiber in fiber - water has been shown to slow the absorption of fats and sugars . therefore , the fiber - water may also help to counteract an overly rich diet . as the infant becomes a toddler and moves towards more a more adult diet , the requirement for fiber increases . fiber - water again serves as the ideal source of both hydration and fiber . unlike soft drinks or fruit juices fiber - water does not add calories to the diet nor does it cause dental caries . it is most convenient to package toddler / young child fiber - water in flexible pouches or laminate boxes because these containers are shatter proof and can be easily used by small children . as with adult fiber - water , it is advantageous to provide the infant and child fiber - water in a number of “ grades ” so that the amount of fiber administered can be readily adjusted . again , it is advantageous to add identifying color so that it is apparent to the parent precisely which grade of fiber - water is being used . in the case of children the color is inherently appealing and may mitigate in favor of using transparent packaging so that the child can appreciate the color of the fiber - water being consumed . it is permissible and often advantageous to blend an assortment of different soluble fibers to create any particular fiber - water . it is believed that the various soluble fibers have essentially identical properties when it comes to providing bulk and hydration to the stools . however , it is not yet clear which soluble fibers will prove superior in altering lipid or sugar absorption . of the soluble fibers presently available the indigestible dextrins , inulins and partially hydrolyzed guar gum appear to provide the most “ water clear ” solutions . however , many dextrins and inulins contain a small amount of a metabolizable component and have a slight sweet taste . therefore , there can be an advantage of providing a portion of the soluble fiber in the form hydrolyzed guar gum or some other flavorless and totally non - metabolizable compound . even though some of these materials may produce a less clear solution , a combination with a “ clear ” soluble fiber can yield a solution that is both high in fiber and clarity and low in sweetness or other taste . other soluble fibers can be combined to realize the advantages of the different fibers . inulins have a slightly sweet taste and while not appreciably metabolized by humans , bacteria in the colon metabolize inulins . in some cases such colonic metabolism may provide a distinct advantage and would mitigate towards including inulins in the mixture . until the advent of fiber - water the advantage of a clear or nearly clear soluble fiber was not appreciated . as mentioned above , it is anticipated that partial hydrolysis and fractional refining of the various soluble fibers mentioned above will rapidly lead to a greater variety of “ water clear ” soluble fibers . the present invention discloses the hitherto unappreciated advantages of using fiber - water as an essentially non - caloric source of fiber and water . in other words , a new dietary component that simultaneously provides hydration and dietary fiber . while the examples have dealt with prepackaged fiber - water , there is nothing that precludes fiber - water from being prepared by the end user from a concentrated source of soluble fiber and potable water . the soluble fiber can be in the form of a powder or a slurry / suspension or a concentrated solution or syrup to which a predetermined quantity of water is added . in the past such fiber sources have been added to solid food items and to various beverages . however , such concentrated sources of fiber have never been used to prepare potable fiber - water for direct consumption as a water comprising of safe water and soluble dietary fiber . in addition to the equivalents of the claimed elements , obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements . the claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above , what is conceptually equivalent , what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention . those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just - described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention . the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that should not be taken as limiting the invention . therefore , it is to be understood that , within the scope of the appended claims , the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein .
a water - like fluid containing safe water and a significant quantity of soluble dietary fiber . the resulting solution is generally optically clear and has physical properties similar to potable water . the fluid is intended as a replacement for bottled , or other water , as a means to ensure proper hydration . depending on the soluble fiber used the fluid is either non - caloric or extremely low in calories . the amount of soluble fiber is adjusted to a specific amount of water so that consumption of an adequate amount of fluid ensures hydration will also providing an optimal amount of dietary fiber . this is particularly valuable in stressed situations where the diet may not provide adequate fiber without supplementation . the constant metered supply of fiber provided throughout the day is preferable to , and more convenient than , “ bolus ” administration of fiber through laxatives , etc . additionally , the constant presence of soluble fiber in the digestive tract provides the known beneficial effects of moderating the postprandial increase in blood glucose , modulating serum lipid levels , and suppressing appetite .