Plant-based electrolyte compositions

Abstract

This invention relates, inter alia, to various plant-based electrolyte compositions, methods of preparing them and methods of using them. One embodiment concerns a plant-based electrolyte composition comprising a plant-derived electrolyte content high in potassium relative to sodium, and a plant-derived carbohydrate content less than about 6% weight/volume. Another embodiment concerns a method for re-hydrating an individual or preventing dehydration or over-hydration of an individual or for preventing or treating potassium deficiency in an individual, by administering to the individual a plant-based electrolyte composition. The electrolyte compositions can be prepared from sugarcane juice, sugar beet juice, sweet sorghum juice, palm syrup, maple sap, vegetable juice or fruit juice.

1 . A consumable plant-based electrolyte composition comprising:
 a plant-derived electrolyte content comprising about 0.050% to 0.200%_weight/volume potassium and about 0.000% to 0.050% weight/volume sodium; and   a plant-derived carbohydrate content less than about 6% weight/volume,_wherein the electrolyte composition is prepared from at least one of the group consisting of sugarcane juice, sugar beet juice, sweet sorghum juice, palm syrup, vegetable juice and fruit juice.   
     
     
         2 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carbohydrate content of the electrolyte composition is about 0-2% w/v. 
     
     
         3 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition comprises about 0.064% to 0.109% w/v potassium. 
     
     
         4 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition comprises about 0.002% to 0.030% w/v sodium. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition comprises about 0.000% to 0.200% w/v low molecular weight phenolic antioxidants. 
     
     
         7 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition comprises about 0.006% to 0.062% w/v low molecular weight phenolic antioxidants. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition comprises about 0.01% to 1.60% w/v organic acid. 
     
     
         10 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition comprises about 0.11% to 0.21% w/v organic acid. 
     
     
         11 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition is prepared from sugarcane juice. 
     
     
         12 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition is prepared from fruit juice. 
     
     
         13 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition is prepared from sugar beet juice. 
     
     
         14 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 12 , wherein the electrolyte composition is prepared from apple juice. 
     
     
         15 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition comprises about K + —0.064 to 0.109% w/v, Na + —0.002 to 0.030% w/v, Mg 2 +—0.02 to 0.10% w/v and about 0.5-2.0% w/v carbohydrates. 
     
     
         16 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte composition comprises about K + —0.05 to 0.100% w/v, Na + —0.002 to 0.010% w/v, Mg 2+ —0.002 to 0.010% w/v and 0.5 to 6.0% w/v carbohydrates. 
     
     
         17 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein said consumable plant-based electrolyte composition is in the form of a concentrate. 
     
     
         18 . The consumable plant-based electrolyte composition of  claim 1 , wherein said consumable plant-based electrolyte composition is in the form of a drink product. 
     
     
         19 . A method for re-hydrating an individual or preventing dehydration or over-hydration of an individual or for preventing or treating potassium deficiency in an individual, said method comprising administering to the individual a drink product according to  claim 18 . 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of preparing a plant-based electrolyte composition, wherein the method comprises the step of processing a substantially liquid extract of at least one type of plant to produce a plant-based electrolyte composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . A method of preparing a plant-based electrolyte composition in the form of a concentrate, wherein the method comprises the step of concentrating a plant-based electrolyte composition prepared according to  claim 21 . 
     
     
         23 . A method of preparing a drink product from a plant-based electrolyte composition, wherein the method comprises the step of mixing the plant-based electrolyte composition prepared according to  claim 21  with at least one other ingredient to produce the drink product. 
     
     
         24 . A method of preparing a consumable plant-based electrolyte composition, wherein steps of the method comprise:
 1. using a step of microfiltration or ultrafiltration to clarify a substantially liquid extract of a plant; and   2. using a step of nanofiltration to reduce the clarified substantially liquid extract's carbohydrate content to produce a plant-based electrolyte composition comprising an electrolyte content of about 0.050% to 0.200% weight/volume potassium, about 0.000% to 0.050% weight/volume sodium and a carbohydrate content less than about 6% weight/volume, wherein the electrolyte composition is prepared from at least one of the group consisting of sugarcane juice, sugar beet juice, sweet sorghum juice, palm syrup, vegetable juice and fruit juice; and optionally   3. using a step of evaporation or reverse osmosis filtration to prepare a concentrate of the electrolyte composition of step 2.   
     
     
         25 . A method of preparing a consumable sugarcane-based electrolyte composition, wherein steps of the method comprise:
 1. using a step of microfiltration or ultrafiltration to clarify fresh or clarified sugarcane juice; and   2. using a step of nanofiltration to reduce the clarified juice's carbohydrate content to produce a sugarcane-based electrolyte composition comprising an electrolyte content of about 0.050% to 0.200% weight/volume potassium, about 0.000% to 0.050% weight/volume sodium and a carbohydrate content less than about 6% weight/volume, wherein the electrolyte composition is prepared from at least one of the group consisting of sugarcane juice, sugar beet juice, sweet sorghum juice, palm syrup, vegetable juice and fruit juice; and optionally   3. using a step of evaporation or reverse osmosis filtration to prepare a concentrate of the electrolyte composition of step 2.   
     
     
         26 . A method for making a drink product from a substantially liquid extract of a plant using membrane filtration technology, wherein the drink product simulates plant sap and the substantially liquid extract is selected from at least one of the group consisting of sugarcane juice, sugar beet juice, sweet sorghum juice, palm syrup, vegetable juice and fruit juice, said method comprising the steps of:
 1. clarifying the substantially liquid extract of the plant;   2. using membranes selected to have pore sizes suitable to remove some of, but preferably all or most of, the sugar and organic acids of the substantially liquid extract but leaving most of the monovalent ions including potassium in the substantially liquid extract such that said substantially liquid extract comprises about 0.050% to 0.200% weight/volume potassium, about 0.000% to 0.050% weight/volume sodium and a carbohydrate content less than about 6% weight/volume; and   3. optionally, concentrating the substantially liquid extract by reverse osmosis membranes and/or evaporation to make a substantially liquid extract concentrate.   
     
     
         27 . A consumable plant juice-derived drink product that simulates plant sap in its mineral, sugar and antioxidant content, wherein said product comprises about 0.050% to 0.200% weight/volume potassium, about 0.000% to 0.050% weight/volume sodium and a carbohydrate content less than about 6% weight/volume, wherein the product is prepared from at least one of the group consisting of sugarcane juice, sugar beet juice, sweet sorghum juice, palm syrup, vegetable juice and fruit juice. 
     
     
         28 . A consumable plant-based electrolyte composition prepared from a substantially liquid extract of a plant by membrane separation technology, said consumable plant-based electrolyte composition comprising:
 a plant-derived electrolyte content comprising about 0.050% to 0.200% weight/volume potassium and about 0.000% to 0.050% weight/volume sodium; and   a plant-derived carbohydrate concentration less than about 6% weight/volume, and preferably 0-2% weight/volume plant-derived carbohydrate,   wherein the electrolyte composition is prepared from at least one of the group consisting of sugarcane juice, sugar beet juice, sweet sorghum juice, palm syrup, vegetable juice and fruit juice,   wherein the plant-based electrolyte composition comprises greater than about 80% weight/volume potassium of an original potassium concentration of the substantially liquid extract of the plant, but more preferably greater than about 95% weight/volume of the original potassium concentration of the substantially liquid extract of the plant.