GLUCOSE BEVERAGE COMPRISING EXOGENOUS FLAVOR SOURCE AND COLOR

Abstract

The present invention is directed to glucose containing beverages that closely match the sweetness, caloric and satiety sensations of sucrose-containing or high fructose corn syrup-containing beverages currently available to consumers but assist to ameliorate various disease conditions such as fatty liver disease and metabolic disease associated with fructose contained in those beverages

Claims

1. A beverage comprising an exogenous sweetening system comprising (i) glucose, (ii) optionally a glucose-based sugar polymer, (iii) a non-fructose producing high potency sweetener, (iv) optionally, a non-synthetic colorant, and (v), optionally a flavorant, wherein the beverage comprises less than 1 gram per serving of HFCS, sucrose, or any form of fructose or fructose-containing saccharide.

2. The beverage of claim 1 that is a carbonated beverage, a still beverage, a juice, a water beverage, a tea beverage, a beverage obtained from a sachet, a beverage obtained from a syrup mix, or a beverage obtained from a concentrate or syrup.

3. The beverage of claim 2, comprising about 0.6 molar glucose or less, wherein the non-fructose producing high potency sweetener is selected from the group consisting of stevioside, a rebaudioside, a mogroside, sucralose, acesulfame-K, cyclamate, aspartame or combinations thereof.

4. The beverage of claim 3 wherein the molar ratio of glucose to non-fructose producing high potency sweetener is within the range of about 200/1 to about 3000/1.

5. The beverage of claim 4, wherein the glucose-based sugar polymer is selected from the group consisting of maltose, trehalose, the malto-oligosaccharides or the isomalto-oligosaccharides or combinations thereof.

6. The beverage of claim 4 which is essentially free of fructose.

7. The beverage of claim 3, wherein the non-fructose producing high potency sweetener is selected from the group consisting of stevioside, a rebaudioside, a mogroside or combinations thereof.

8. The beverage of claim 3 wherein the non-synthetic colorant is a blue colorant derived from the Ternatea Processes.

9. The beverage of claim 8 wherein the non-synthetic colorant is a purple colorant derived from the Ternatea Process wherein the pH is adjusted to greater than about 5.4 using a citrate buffer or buffers comprising salts of malic, tartaric, phosphoric and ascorbic acids or combinations thereof.

10. The beverage of claim 3 wherein the non-synthetic colorant is also a flavoring agent.

11. The beverage of claim 11 wherein the non-synthetic colorant is a red flavoring agent obtained from water soluble paprika.

12. The beverage of claim 11 wherein the non-synthetic colorant is a green flavoring agent obtained from spinach, Swiss chard, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, escarole or combinations thereof.

13. The beverage of claim 11 wherein the non-synthetic colorant is the orange flavoring agent obtained from yams.

14. The beverage of claim 3 wherein the optional flavorant is a water soluble capsicum or a capsaicinoid.

15. The beverage of claim 15 wherein the optional flavorant comes from cold water extracted chili varieties.

16. The beverage of claim 16 wherein the optional flavorant additionally comprises the cactus flavors of blue agave.

17. The beverage of claim 3 wherein the optional flavorant is obtained from lime, lemon, orange, tangerine, raspberry, apple, pear, peach, blackberry, or strawberry fruits or combinations thereof.

18. The beverage of claim 3 wherein the optional flavorant is oleocanthal or oleacin obtained from olives.

19. A carbonated beverage comprising about 0.6 molar glucose and about 0.75 mill molar stevioside wherein the beverage comprises less than 1 gram per serving of HFCS, sucrose, or any form of fructose or fructose-containing saccharide.

20. The carbonated beverage of claim 19 further comprising a colorant obtained from C. ternatea, the carbonated beverage adjusted to a pH of about 2.7 to 4.3.

21. A still beverage comprising about 0.6 molar glucose and about 0.24 mill molar stevioside wherein the beverage comprises less than 1 gram per serving of HFCS, sucrose, or any form of fructose or fructose-containing saccharide.

22. The still beverage of claim 22 further comprising a colorant obtained from C. ternatea, the carbonated beverage adjusted to a pH of about 2.7 to 4.3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] As used herein an exogenous flavor source is a flavoring agent detectable by human taste buds obtained from a source outside of that from which glucose and/or a high potency sweetener is obtained.

[0052] As used herein a non-fructose producing high potency sweetener is a non-nutritive or low calorie agent which provides a greatly enhanced sweet sensation to an animal compared to the sweet sensation of an equal concentration of sucrose, but does not produce fructose upon it metabolism. The sweetener is considered to be non-nutritive because of amount used to obtain its sweetening effect is small compared to the calorie load provided otherwise by the beverage.

[0053] Examples of such non-fructose producing high potency sweeteners obtained from plant sources are stevioside, the rabaudiosides and the mogrosides. Other examples of such sweeteners are aspartame, neotame, sucralose, acesulfame-K, saccharin, advantame and sucralose. Other non-fructose producing high potency sweeteners are protein based. Examples of such protein based sweeteners include miraculin, monellin, brazzein, and thaumatin.

[0054] Each of these non-fructose producing high potency sweeteners, and all combinations thereof, are considered useful for the invention.

[0055] As used herein, the term steviol glycosides refers to the family of chemical compounds responsible for the sweet taste of the leaves of the South American plant Stevia rebaudiana. Such compounds have been identified specifically, for example, as stevioside, rebaudiosides A-E, and dulcoside A, all of which are identified as glycosides of steviol.

[0056] As used herein the term stevioside is a steviol glycoside sweetener identified by the chemical name: 13-[(2-O-beta-D-Glucopyranosyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]kaur-16-en-18-oic acid beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester. Stevioside is contained, for example, in the commercial products Stevia and Truvia along with other sweeteners and flavors. The sweetening power of stevioside is estimated to be roughly 250-300 times that of sucrose.

[0057] As used herein, the term rebaudioside refers to any and all of the family of steviol glycosides isolated from the plant Stevia Rebaudiana used as sweeteners, identified, for instance, by the chemical names rebaudoside A, rebaudoside B, rebaudoside C, rebaudoside D, rebaudoside E and rebaudoside M.

[0058] As used herein the term mogroside refers to compounds from the family of curcurbitane glycosides, used as sweeteners, found in plants such as the gourd vine Siraitia grosvenori. For example, pure mogroside-5 is considered to be as much as 400 times as sweet as sucrose.

[0059] Additionally, other non-fructose producing high potency sweeteners include the plant protein sweeteners such as miraculin, monellin, brazzein, and thaumatin. According to the invention, such sweeteners will be useful for the invention at ranges from 20 nanomolar to 500 nanomolar.

[0060] As used herein, a carbonated beverage is a beverage which contains carbon dioxide and or carbonic acid, produced, for example, by bubbling carbon dioxide gas through an aqueous beverage solution.

[0061] As used herein, a still beverage is a non-carbonated beverage, typically an aqueous beverage. In either case, the carbonated or still beverages may comprise alcohol (ethanol).

[0062] As used herein, tea is an aromatic beverage commonly prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over the leaves of the Camellia sinensis and then steeping of which there are many types. A tea, more generally, is any infusion of leaves, fruit or herbs parts made by extracting such with water.

[0063] As used herein, a sachet is a porous bag filled with flavoring components such as sweeteners, herbs or aromatic ingredients that may be extracted to create a flavored and/or sweetened beverage.

[0064] As used herein the term essentially free of fructose means as including unavoidable levels of fructose as an impurity, but no more than that level.

[0065] As used herein, the term about is taken to include an approximate value within normal operating ranges, that is, unless otherwise indicated, a range of 10% around a stated value. For instance, about 0.6 molar would generally mean in the range of 0.54 molar to 0.66 molar.

[0066] As used herein, the term glucose (dextrose) refers to the aldohexose D-glucose, the form occurring widely in nature, in either its more stable glucopyranose forms or its acyclic form obtained in mixture, for instance, by hydrolyzing sucrose to obtain glucose and fructose.

[0067] As used herein, the term fructose (fruit sugar) refers to a-D-fructopyranose and its structural isomer -D-fructofuranose, as well as its acyclic forms, obtained in mixture, for instance, by hydrolyzing sucrose to obtain glucose and fructose. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener which may be made from corn starch that has been processed by glucose isomerase to convert some of its glucose into fructose. For example, HFCS 55 (containing 55% fructose) is predominantly used for sodas in the United States.

[0068] As used herein, the term oligosaccharide refers to a carbohydrate comprising two to ten monosaccharide residues with a defined structure. As used herein, the term malto-oligosaccharide or MOS refers to glucose oligomers with -D-(1,4)-linkages and mixtures thereof. As used herein, the term isomalto-oligosaccharide or IMO refers to glucose oligomers with -D-(1,6)-linkages and mixtures thereof.

[0069] As used herein, the term glucose-based sugar polymer refers, by example, to oligomeric glucose containing molecules such as maltose and trehalose and the like, and more complex molecules such as the malto-oligosaccharides and the isomalto-oligosaccharides, that is molecules comprising predominantly subunits of glucose linked via different configurations.

[0070] Stevioside concentrations ranging from 0.1 millimolar to 1.0 millimolar, used in combination with glucose concentrations ranging from 0.06 molar to 0.7 molar, are of utility for the invention. Such concentration ranges for stevioside and glucose span the compositions envisioned for full calorie sodas and reduced calorie sodas of the invention.

[0071] Rebaudioside concentrations, including rebaudoside A, rebaudoside B, rebaudoside C, rebaudoside D, rebaudoside E and rebaudoside M. ranging from 0.1 millimolar to 1.0 millimolar (and a Monk fruit glycoside, such as mogroside), used in combination with glucose concentrations ranging from 0.1 molar to 0.7 molar, are of utility for the invention. Such concentration ranges for rebaudiosides and glucose span the compositions envisioned for full calorie sodas and reduced calorie sodas of the invention.

[0072] Within the scope of the invention are suitable colorants and flavorants, preferably obtained from edible plant or vegetable sources. In many cases, the colorants also function as flavorants. Examples of suitable colorants and flavorants are those obtained from dried blossoms of C. ternatea (Stock Colorant Solution), the red flavorant which comes from water soluble paprika (which is a rich source of the carotenoid lycopene, associated with multiple health benefits, and is low in fructose). Other flavorants/colorants come from spinach, Swiss chard, collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens and escarole (vegetables which provide green and red colors and are all low in fructose and also provide the carotenoid lutein associated with brain and cognitive health and improved vision). Still other examples of flavorants/colorants suitable for the invention, singly or in combination, are those obtained from lime, lemon, orange, tangerine, raspberry, apple, pear, peach, blackberry, and strawberry fruits. The colorant caramel (containing 4-methylimidazole), which has been associated with cancer in humans, is an excluded embodiment of the invention.

[0073] Other examples of flavorants/colorants suitable for the invention are the orange colorant obtained from yams (which are low in fructose and high in the carotenoid -carotene, a physiologically regulated source of vitamin A), the hot/spicy flavor which comes from a water-soluble capsicum (for instance, that sold by Kalsec Inc., 3713 West Main, P.O. Box 511, Kalamazoo, Mich. 49005-0511, under the trade designation oleoresin capsicum, water soluble) or other capsaicinoids that are naturally water soluble; flavorants that come from cold-water extracted chili varieties such as NuMex Big Jims, NuMex Joe E Parker, NuMex Heritage 6-4, sandias, poblanos and jalapenos). Other desirable flavorants include extractants from olives including the antioxidants and anti-inflammatories oleocanthal and oleacin. Additional flavorants are cactus flavors obtained from the blue agave, for example, Repasado and Anejo flavors (such cactus flavors resonate with the chili and pepper flavors regionally).

Example 1

Stevioside and Glucose Sweetened Still Beverage

[0074] Glucose, sucrose and stevia were ACS reagent-grade compounds. These sweeteners were dissolved in water (Millipore) and maintained at 20 degrees Celsius. All solutions were prepared at least 24 hours prior to use to allow for complete mutarotation of tautomers.

[0075] A test solution was prepared containing 0.6 M glucose and 0.24 mM stevioside in water. A reference solution containing 0.32 M sucrose in water was also prepared. The concentration of sucrose reflects the concentration of sugar in popular sodas. The concentration of glucose was chosen to match the concentration of sucrose in grams per liter.

[0076] Based on pilot testing, the addition of 0.24 mM stevioside to the glucose mixture made the mixture equally sweet compared to the sucrose solution.

Example 2

Stevioside and Glucose Sweetened Carbonated Beverage

[0077] A test solution was prepared as in Example 1 but containing 0.6 M glucose and 0.75 mM stevioside. Solutions were carbonated with a commercial carbonation device (SodaStream) which was used according to the product instructions. Carbonation was found to exacerbate the difference in sweetness between the solutions, so the concentration of stevioside was increased to 0.75 millimolar. The reference solution contained 0.32 M sucrose.

Examples 3 and 4

Sweetness Discrimination Studies

[0078] A first study was made to determine if a palatable, fructose free non-carbonated mixture comprising glucose and the high potency sweetener stevioside (of Example 1) could be discriminated by taste from an equicaloric solution of non-carbonated sucrose.

[0079] A second study was also made to determine if a fructose free carbonated beverage (soda) (of Example 2) could be found comparable to a sucrose sweetened soda in overall taste and palatability. It was sought to determine whether a carbonated glucose and stevioside sweetened beverage could be generated that was comparable in palatability to a sucrose sweetened beverages.

[0080] For the first study, 12 subjects of both sexes were recruited. For the second study, 10 subjects were recruited in a similar fashion. Subjects were paid to participate and provided informed consent. Subjects were asked to refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking for one hour prior to each session. Prior to enrollment in the experiment, subjects were asked to rate the intensity of five concentrations of NaCl increasing in half logarithmic steps.

[0081] Subjects whose ratings did not increase monotonically with NaCl concentration were excused, on the assumption that they had abnormal taste or were unable to follow instructions.

[0082] For the first study, the reference solution contained 0.32 M sucrose. The test solution of Example 1 contained 0.6 M glucose and 0.24 mM stevioside. As noted above, the concentration of sucrose in the reference solution reflects the concentration of sugar in popular sodas. The concentration of glucose was chosen to match the grams of sucrose used per liter.

[0083] Based on pilot testing, the addition of 0.24 mM stevioside to the glucose mixture made the mixture equally sweet compared to the sucrose reference solution.

[0084] For the second study, samples were carbonated using a commercial carbonation product. Carbonation exacerbated the difference in sweetness between the solutions, so the concentration of stevioside was increased to 0.75 millimolar. The reference solution contained 0.32 M sucrose. The test solution (Example 2) contained 0.608 M glucose and 0.75 mM stevioside.

[0085] A Duo-Trio Taste Discrimination Protocol was practiced. Subjects participated in two test sessions per day with 6 sessions per week for a total of 12 sessions. Each session comprised 5 discrimination trials. In total, each subject performed 60 trials. Subjects rinsed the whole mouth thoroughly with water prior to testing. 10 mL samples were presented in I ounce (30 ml) medicine cups.

[0086] For each trial subjects were presented with a referent sample, followed by two coded samples. One of the two coded samples matched the referent. Subjects were asked to indicate which coded sample matched the referent. Solutions were tasted from left to right, with water rinsing between each cup. Subjects rinsed three times between stimuli. Answers were scored as correct or incorrect.

[0087] The proportion of correct answers for each participant was analyzed using binomial distribution tables and chi square tests (both methods gave similar results. binomial tables indicated 37 correct answers minimum, chi square gave 38 correct answers minimum.).

[0088] A minimum of 37 correct answers out of 60 repetitions was required to indicate that a difference existed between the solutions at an =0.05 level. A minimum of 40 correct answers was required to indicate a difference at an =0.1 level.

[0089] In the study of non-carbonated beverages, seven of twelve participants gave at least 37 correct answers and were thus able to discriminate between 0.32 M sucrose and 0.608 M glucose+0.235 mM stevioside. Of the 720 total trials, there were 457 correct answers (63% correct). Results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Results of duo-trio test comparison of 0.32M sucrose and 0.608M glucose and 0.232 mM stevioside Subject ID 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Total Correct 27 34 56 45 40 35 29 41 42 41 37 30 457 Incorrect 33 26 4 15 20 25 31 19 18 19 23 30 263 % Incorrect 45% 57% 93% 75% 67% 58% 48% 68% 70% 68% 62% 60% 63%

[0090] Twelve participants were each tested in 60 replicates. 7 of 12 participants were able to discriminate between sucrose and glucose+stevioside.

[0091] In the study of carbonated beverages, seven of ten participants (70%) gave at least 37 correct answers and were thus able to discriminate between carbonated 0.32 M sucrose and 0.608 M glucose+0.75 mM stevioside. Of the 600 total trials, there were 400 correct answers (67% correct). Results are shown in Table 2.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Results of duo-trio test comparison of carbonated 0.32M sucrose and 0.608M glucose + 0.75 mM stevioside. 12 participants were each tested in 60 replicates. 7 of 10 participants were able to discriminate between sucrose and glucose + stevioside. Subject ID 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Total Correct 36 48 37 42 30 45 44 38 33 47 400 Incorrect 24 12 23 18 30 15 16 22 27 13 200 % Incorrect 60% 80% 62% 70% 50% 75% 73% 63% 55% 78% 67%

[0092] To help eliminate excess fructose intake from the diet, we demonstrate here that sucrose, a disaccharide of glucose and fructose, is indistinguishable from an equicaloric glucose solution mixed with the natural non-caloric sweetener stevioside for approximately half of subjects. This observation demonstrates that despite being considerably less sweet, glucose can serve as a fructose-free, equicaloric sweetener system.

[0093] In the first study, five of twelve participants gave fewer than 37 out of 60 correct answers (>65% correct) when trying to distinguish a glucose+stevia sweetened beverage from a sucrose sweetened beverage matched for sweet intensity. Of the seven participants who gave 37 or more correct answers, four gave no more than 41 correct answers (68% correct). The remaining three participants gave 42 or more correct answers. Thus, overall nine of the 12 subjects had great difficulty discriminating between these two sweetener systems. On average, subjects could discriminate noncarbonated sucrose from a mixture of glucose and stevia in 457 of 720 trials (63%).

[0094] When the solutions were carbonated to better reflect the major sensory qualities of soda, seven of ten participants gave fewer than 37 out of 50 correct answers. Hence, these seven subjects were not able to discriminate between the two sweetener systems. Of the five remaining participants who gave 37 or more correct answers, two gave fewer than 40 correct answers. Thus, again nine of the 12 subjects had great difficulty discriminating between the glucose+stevia and the sucrose sweetener systems in a model soda.

[0095] In total, participants could discriminate carbonated sucrose from carbonated glucose+stevia in 400 of 600 trials (67%).

[0096] These results provide proof-of-principle that it is feasible to produce a fructose free soda, which is similar to sodas made with sucrose or HFCS. It is important to note here that the two-alternative forced-choice techniques employed enable subjects to detect and discriminate with high sensitivity. Therefore, for these nine subjects the two types of beverages were indistinguishable or extremely similar. The glucose plus stevia sweetened beverage has the same total sugar content as the sucrose sweetened beverage and, therefore, the same amount of calories. Substituting glucose sweetened beverages for those sweetened with sucrose or HFCS would not reduce caloric intake, but would reduce fructose intake by an average of 26 grams per day and 9.5 kilograms per year [14]. This reduction relieves a major stress on the liver and could delay or prevent the onset of the metabolic syndrome risk factors associated with excessive fructose intake [8].

[0097] These risk factors, including elevated blood pressure, dyslipidemia, visceral adiposity, and insulin resistance are promoted by high fructose intake but not high glucose intake [4-8]. A recent clinical study [8] found that iso-caloric substitution of starch for sugar in obese children with metabolic syndrome reduced their diastolic blood pressure, plasma triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, hyperinsulinemia and glucose intolerance, and body weight. All of this was accomplished simply by reducing their daily fructose intake.

[0098] Water is an ideal replacement for both HFCS and sucrose sweetened sodas because it contains neither fructose nor calories. Yet, asking Americans to decrease ingestion of sugar sweetened beverages voluntarily is unlikely to succeed at a national level. Bottled water and diet soda is widely available yet caloried soda consumption widely persists.

[0099] Diet sodas were developed to satisfy the need for sweet but reduce energy density. Though non-nutritive sweeteners can match the sweetness intensity of sugars, diet soda is not as popular as caloric soda [14]. Theories as to why diet sodas are not as preferred as much as sugar sodas include: a) the fear that artificial sweetener systems are less healthy than sugar and may cause diseases, b) the dislike of high potency sweetener system taste profiles [16], c) fear of eating foods that are deemed unnatural, and d) the lack of caloric reward or reinforcement to drive future consumption [19].

[0100] Some evidence suggests that non-caloric sodas do little to reduce appetite and may in fact promote it [20, 21]. Conversely, other evidence shows that diet soda is more effective than water in promoting weight loss. Presently, diet sodas comprise only 10-30% of the soda market. Presently, diet sodas comprise only 10-30% of the soda market. Because diet sodas have failed to replace HFCS sweetened sodas in the United States, they have done little to curb rates of obesity or metabolic syndrome. Although an equicaloric, glucose sweetened beverage will not reduce energy intake, it will have much greater appeal than diet sodas and can feasibly replace a larger proportion of fructose in the American diet by removing HFCS and sucrose sweetened beverages. Moreover, an equicaloric glucose sweetened beverage will reduce plasma dyslipidemias, HDL cholesterol, insulin insensitivity, and promote weight loss.

Example 5

Preparation of Stock Colorant Solution (Ternatea Process)

[0101] 25 g of dried butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) flowers was added to 500 ml of reverse osmosis (Millipore) filtered water. After boiling for 20 minutes, an additional 500 ml was added and boiling proceeded for another 10 minutes. The extract was filtered through several layers of cheese cloth into a sterilized bottle and allowed to cool. This concentrated extract is Stock Colorant Solution in water. The Stock Colorant Solution may be used immediately or stored at 2-8 degrees Celsius until use.

[0102] Stock Colorant Solution has a very dark indigo color. When diluted 10:1 with water the stock solution gives a dark indigo solution with pH of 5.36. The diluted solution provided a purple pink color when the pH of the solution was lowered to 2.46 with the addition of L-ascorbic acid.

[0103] The 10:1 diluted Stock Colorant Solution was buffered to 3 different pH values using a citric acid and sodium citrate buffer system. The colors at different pHs was as follows: pH 2.72, purple pink; pH 3.2, blue; pH 4.25, darker blue.

[0104] Examples of other suitable systems for pH adjustment of compositions of the invention are malic, tartaric, phosphoric and ascorbic acids and their salts and other organic and inorganic acids and their salts known to the artisan.

Example 4

Preparation of Soda Syrup of Different pHs

[0105] The composition for 1 liter of the pH 3.1 Soda Syrup was as follows: 3.04 M Glucose, 0.0005 M Sucralose, 12 g Citric acid, 5 g Na Gluconate, 40 drops Vivid Wild Raspberry, 20 drops Vivid Tangerine and 10 drops Vivid Lemon Juice.

[0106] The composition for 1 liter of the pH 5.4 Soda Syrup was as follows: 3.04 M Glucose, 0.0005 M Sucralose, 5 g Na Gluconate, 40 drops Vivid Wild Raspberry, 20 drops Vivid Tangerine and 10 drops Vivid Lemon Juice.

Example 5

Preparation of Pink/Purple Soda

[0107] Pink/Purple Soda was prepared by combining 200 ml of pH 3.1 Soda Syrup with 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of Stock Colorant Solution in water. The mixture was diluted to 1000 mL using reverse osmosis filtered water. This solution was carbonated using a Soda Stream carbonator and then stored in capped 12 oz. sterilized bottles.

Example 6

Preparation of Blue Soda

[0108] Pink/Purple Soda was prepared by combining 200 ml of pH 3.1 Soda Syrup with 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of Stock Colorant Solution in water. The mixture was diluted to 1000 mL using reverse osmosis filtered water. This solution was carbonated using a Soda Stream carbonator and then stored in capped 12 oz. sterilized bottles.

[0109] In one embodiment of the invention, a full-caloried beverage comprises about 0.61 M Glucose and 0.75 mM stevioside for a 12 ounce (355 ml) serving. This beverage is equally caloric to a soda containing 39 g of HFCS. According to the invention, stevioside sweetener may be replaced with rebaudioside D (the least bitter natural sweetener in Stevia) and/or other related sweeteners such as the mogrosides from Luo Han Guo (Monk Fruit), or others as described previously herein as high potency sweeteners.

[0110] Alternatively, the high potency sweetener added to this glucose beverage could be of the synthetic variety such as sucralose, acesulfame-K, cyclamate, aspartame or any combination thereof.

[0111] As envisioned within the scope of the invention, lower calorie versions of this beverage can be created by lowering the level of glucose in the beverage with concomitant increases in high potency sweetener. Such beverages would comprise less than about 0.6 M glucose. According to the invention, for a satisfactory result, glucose should not be lowered to less than a bout 10% of its caloric value, not less than a concentration of about 60 millimolar.

[0112] Further as envisioned within the scope of the invention, beverages containing glucose can be substituted up to 10% with maltose and small chain malto-oligosaccharides (MOS). MOS are comprised entirely of glucose polymers, and contain no fructose, but have a different flavor/taste profile from glucose that people find reinforcing.

[0113] This invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments. Variations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the foregoing detailed description of the invention. It is intended that all of these variations and modifications be included within the scope of the appended claims.

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