Abstract: With an object of providing a coffee substitute imparted with the distinctive coffee flavor and taste while also having a reduced amount of component such as caffeine, which is included as a main component of coffee but sometimes undesirable for reasons of physiological activity and health, the present invention solves the object by producing a coffee substitute by subjecting a raw material composition formed by combining an amino acid, chlorogenic acid and sugar to a roasting process. More specifically, the present invention produces a product having the taste of coffee by Maillard reaction of a sugar and amino acids in the presence of a chlorogenic acid. Since caffeine is not included in the product, foods and drinks produced using this product consequently have a coffee-like taste without including caffeine, thereby achieving foods and drinks for consumers to enjoy the coffee flavor without ingesting caffeine.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide an antiallergic composition useful to prevention/treatment of allergy, its preparation method, and its use as foods or drinks or the like. As for means for solving the object, it is to provide an antiallergic composition comprising as active ingredients the lactic acid bacteria showing equal interleukin 12 production level compared to when Lactobacillus paracasei KW 3110 strain is used as the lactic acid bacteria to be tested, or showing 60% or more of interleukin 12 production level compared to when Lactobacillus paracasei KW 3110 strain is used, and showing less than 50% of interleukin 4 production level of a control wherein the lactic acid bacteria are not added, in case lymphocytes derived from mouse spleen sensitized with ovalbumin are suspended in a medium containing ovalbumin, and cultured by adding the lactic acid bacteria to be tested.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are dietary lipid digestion-absorption inhibitory agents and ingesta, comprising as an active ingredient a mixture of chitosan and ascorbic acid or a salt thereof. Also disclosed is a therapeutic method for obesity, which comprises administering an effective amount of a mixture of chitosan and ascorbic acid or salt thereof to a person who requires treatment for obesity.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are dietary lipid digestion-absorption inhibitory agents and ingesta, comprising as an active ingredient a mixture of chitosan and ascorbic acid or a salt thereof. Also disclosed is a therapeutic method for obesity, which comprises administering an effective amount of a mixture of chitosan and ascorbic acid or salt thereof to a person who requires treatment for obesity.