Highly refined cellulose neutraceutical compostions and methods of use

1 . An edible food product comprising at least a) 0.05%-5% by total weight highly refined cellulose product defined by a fiber material that has a total dietary fiber (TDF) content greater than 30% as measured by AOAC 991.43 and a water holding capacity greater than five parts water per part fiber as measured by AACC 56-30 and comprises less than 90% soluble fiber, and at least b) 0.05% by total weight of a nutraceutical.

2 . The edible food product of claim 1 wherein the highly refined cellulose (HRC) has a lignin concentration of at least 1% by weight and a water retention capacity of at least about 20 g H 2 O/g dry HRC.

3 . The edible food product of claim 2 wherein the HRC has an oil retention capacity of at least about 10 g/g dry HRC.

4 . The edible food product of claim 2 wherein the HRC is dehydrated or a dispersion.

5 . The edible food product of claim 2 wherein the HRC has a Langmuir surface area of at least about 7 m 2 /g.

6 . The edible food product of claim 2 wherein the HRC has an average pore diameter of at least about 5 angstroms.

7 . The edible food product of claim 1 wherein the nutraceutical is provide an expectation of a health benefit selected from the group consisting of:

a. Antioxidation;

b. Cancer prevention;

c. Arterial health improvement;

d. Cholesterol lowering;

e. Reduced blood pressure;

f. Skin and wrinkle treatment; and

g. Prolonging and/or delaying release of a nutrient into the bloodstream.

8 . The edible food product of claim 2 wherein the nutraceutical is provide an expectation of a health benefit selected from the group consisting of:

a. Antioxidation;

b. Cancer prevention;

c. Arterial health improvement;

d. Cholesterol lowering;

e. Reduced blood pressure; and

f. Skin and wrinkle treatment.

9 . The edible food product of claim 1 wherein the nutraceutical is selected from the class consisting of: 1) gastrointestinal agents; 2) antibiotics; 3) antiviral agents; 4) antifungal agents 5) antineoplastic agents; 6) analgesics; 7) tranquilizers; 8) narcotic antagonists; 9) antidepressants; 10) antihistamines; 1) antimigraine; 12) cardiovascular drugs; 13) calcium channel blockers; 14) appetite suppressant; 15) contraceptive agents; 16) corticosteroids; 17) local anaesthetics; 18) diuretics; 19) antihypertensive agents; 20) steroids; 21) prostaglandins; 22) anti-inflammatory drugs; 23) antithrombotic agents; 24) cardiac glycosides; 25) antiparkinsonism drugs; 26) chemical dependency drugs; and 27) peptides.

10 . The edible food product of claim 2 wherein the nutrceutical is selected from the classes consisting of: 1) gastrointestinal agents; 2) antibiotics; 3) antiviral agents; 4) antifungal agents 5) antineoplastic agents; 6) analgesics; 7) tranquilizers; 8) narcotic antagonists; 9) antidepressants; 10) antihistamines; 11) antimigraine; 12) cardiovascular drugs; 13) calcium channel blockers; 14) appetite suppressant; 15) contraceptive agents; 16) corticosteroids; 17) local anaesthetics; 18) diuretics; 19) antihypertensive agents; 20) steroids; 21) prostaglandins; 22) anti-inflammatory drugs; 23) antithrombotic agents; 24) cardiac glycosides; 25) antiparkinsonism drugs; 26) chemical dependency drugs; and 27) peptides, 28) energy supplements.

11 . A method of providing a mass an edible food product comprising providing:

a) 0.05%-5% by total weight highly refined cellulose product (HRC) having a lignin concentration of at least 1% by weight and a water retention capacity of at least about 20 g H 2 O/g dry HRC, and blending or mixing a) with b) a nutriceutical to form an edible mass.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the edible mass is added to gluten products to form a cookable mass and the cookable mass is cooked to provide a consumable product.

13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the HRC has an oil retention capacity of at least about 10 g/g dry HRC.

14 . The method of claim 11 wherein the HRC is dehydrated or a dispersion.

15 . The method of claim 11 wherein the HRC has a Langmuir surface area of at least about 7 m 2 /g.

16 . The method of claim 11 wherein the nutraceutical is provide an expectation of a health benefit selected from the group consisting of:

a. Antioxidation;

b. Cancer prevention;

c. Arterial health improvement;

d. Cholesterol lowering;

e. Reduced blood pressure;

f. Skin and wrinkle treatment; and

g. prolonging and/or delaying release of a nutrient into a bloodstream.

17 . The method of claim 11 wherein the nutrceutical is selected from the classes consisting of: 1) gastrointestinal agents; 2) antibiotics; 3) antiviral agents; 4) antifungal agents 5) antineoplastic agents; 6) analgesics; 7) tranquilizers; 8) narcotic antagonists; 9) antidepressants; 10) antihistamines; 11) antimigraine; 12) cardiovascular drugs; 13) calcium channel blockers; 14) appetite suppressant; 15) contraceptive agents; 16) corticosteroids; 17) local anaesthetics; 18) diuretics; 19) antihypertensive agents; 20) steroids; 21) prostaglandins; 22) anti-inflammatory drugs; 23) antithrombotic agents; 24) cardiac glycosides; 25) antiparkinsonism drugs; 26) chemical dependency drugs; and 27) peptides.

18 . A method of improving the health or well-being of an animal comprising providing the food product of claim 1 to an animal and the animal ingesting the food product.

19 . An edible dietary supplement or tablet product comprising at least a) 0.05%-5% by total weight highly refined cellulose product defined by a fiber material that has a total dietary fiber (TDF) content greater than 30% as measured by AOAC 991.43 and a water holding capacity greater than five parts water per part fiber as measured by AACC 56-30 and comprises less than 90% soluble fiber, and at least b) 0.05% by total weight of a nutraceutical.

20 . The edible dietary tablet of claim 19 further comprising a plant sterol.