Abstract: An object of the present invention is to utilize strong water and moisture holding property and oil and fat holding property—that is to say, binding effects—of pith fibers (ground stem or stalk internal fibers) separated from sunflower stems or stalks, which are natural products, in order to enhance binding capacity of processed meat products, and especially processed chicken products. Another object of the present invention is to apply the use of the pith fibers to other processed foods, such as noodles and sweets. The present inventor found that lipophilic pith fibers (ground stem or stalk internal fibers) separated from sunflower stems or stalks have strong water and moisture holding property and oil and fat holding property; that is to say, binding effects.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a safe and inexpensive substance exhibiting the effects of discharging in vivo cholesterol and neutral fat. The present inventors have discovered that the above object can be achieved using the sunflower stem internal fibers (pith) of plants of the family Compositae. According to the present invention, the discharge of in vivo neutral fats and cholesterol can be accelerated and thus excellent slimming effects can also be obtained.