Abstract: A dehydrated and unprocessed food item (e.g., grain, fruit, vegetable, or portion thereof) is at least partially coated with a non-aqueous and nutritionally acceptable solvent that comprises a probiotic organism such that the fortified food item has a total probiotic content of at least 104 to 105 cfu/gram. Shelf life of such compositions is remarkably long while maintaining relatively high cfu count, and taste and flavor are remarkably preserved, even over extended periods.

Abstract: Nutritional products are prepared using a dual fermentation process in which distinct and separate botanical fermentation and probiotic fermentation steps increase nutritional value and/or quality of a vitamin or other nutritionally relevant compound. Alternatively, both fermentation steps could also be combined. Most preferably, a nutritionally desirable carrier such as cow milk, soy milk, or rice milk is used as fermentation medium, which is then subjected to a botanical fermentation with a sprout extract and a probiotic fermentation with a lactobacillus culture. It is further preferred that at least one of the fermentation steps is performed in the presence of the vitamin or other nutritionally relevant compound.

Abstract: Contemplated food products include compounds with cytokinin activity to modulate glucose and/or lipid metabolism, and in especially preferred aspects contemplated food products include one or more naturally occurring cytokinins (e.g., kinetin, N2-acetylguanine, zeatin, dihydrozeatin) at a concentration effective to prevent or treat pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes, syndrome X, and/or dyslipidemia. Methods of marketing such products are also contemplated.

Abstract: Contemplated food products include compounds with cytokinin activity to modulate glucose and/or lipid metabolism, and in especially preferred aspects contemplated food products include one or more naturally occurring cytokinins (e.g., kinetin, N2-acetylguanine, zeatin, dihydrozeatin) at a concentration effective to prevent or treat pre-diabetes, insulin resistance, type-2 diabetes, syndrome X, and/or dyslipidemia. Methods of marketing such products are also contemplated.