What Is Citric Acid?
Citric acid is a naturally occurring sugar found in fruits and vegetables. It is used as a preservative in some foods. Citric acid has been used since ancient times because it helps preserve foods without spoiling them too quickly.
In fact, citric acid was first discovered when a farmer noticed that apples kept better after being stored in barrels with lime. Later, it was found out that the acidity of lemon juice had similar effect on fruit preservation. Citrus fruits are very acidic and produce large amounts of citric acid which is then converted into lactic acid during fermentation.
The most common use of citric acid is as a preservative in dried fruits and vegetables. Other uses include flavoring alcoholic beverages, preserving meat products, and making vinegar. Citric acid is also used in the production of detergents, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and many other consumer goods.
Is Citric Acid Bad For Me?
There have been reports that citric acid may cause stomach irritation or even ulcers if consumed regularly over long period of time. If consumed excessively, citric acid can cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.
Tooth enamel can also be damaged by citric acid if it is consumed in large quantities. The acid may also cause a loss of calcium in bones when taken in very high dosages.
Citric acid is not recommended for people with kidney disease or kidney failure as it can lead to an increase in the levels of oxalate and potassium in the body.
Citric acid is considered safe for pregnant women to consume in moderate amounts. It is found naturally in many fruits and vegetables, so always consult your doctor before changing your diet drastically.
Is citric acid found in lemons?
Citric acid is found in most fruits and vegetables because it is a natural preservative. There is no scientific evidence that citric acid can cause heartburn or any other serious side effects when consumed in small quantities. Always consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medication.
What is citric acid? Is it an antioxidant?
Citric acid, otherwise known as 2-Hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, is a natural organic chemical compound that serves as a pH balancing agent used to regulate the acidity or alkalinity of different products. It is a weak organic acid that can be used in foods, beverages, and pharmaceutical products. While citric acid does serve as an antioxidant, it is not as strong as other more commonly known antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, or beta-carotene.
Citric acid is found in many different fruits such as lemons, limes, and even mangos. It can also be found in certain vegetables like spinach, potatoes, and tomatoes. While it can be found in other foods like tea, coffee, and cereal, the citric acid found in these products is often produced from synthetic materials. It is not known exactly how or why citric acid occurs in different foods, however it is believed that bacteria play a large role in the natural fermentation of foods containing citric acid.
Various health benefits have been attributed to this organic compound. It is believed to ease the pain caused by intestinal gas and can be taken orally or used topically on skin as a treatment for minor burns, sunburns, and insect bites. When it comes to improving athletic performance or preventing the common cold, however, more research needs to be done to determine whether or not citric acid actually helps in these areas.
Is lemon juice acidic?
Yes, lemon juice is acidic. It has a reputation for being a bit sour and it can certainly provide a shock to your system if you aren’t used to it. It can also give you a burning sensation when it gets in contact with your skin. Whether it’s from a cut or just your hands, don’t try to soothe the pain by getting yourself MORE burnt because you thought that maybe this time you wouldn’t get burned. It’s a good idea to always wear gloves when doing any type of cleaning that involves lemon juice.
How do you get stains out of plastic containers?
Citric acid is often used as a component in certain types of cleaners because it is believed to break down and dissolve difficult to remove stains caused by coffee, tea, fruit juices, and other organic substances trapped in plastic or stainless steel containers.
Cleaning counters with citric acid:
1.Wash your hands and clean the area of the counter that you wish to clean.
2.Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto the stained area.
3.Sprinkle a liberal amount of citric acid onto the rubbing alcohol. Rub this in using a damp cloth.
4.Rinse off the area with clean water and dry using a dry cloth or paper towels.
5.Apply a light coating of furniture polish to the counter using a soft cloth.
How do you remove a wine stain from clothing?
Red wine is one of the most difficult stains to remove because it contains both organic and mineral ingredients. Fortunately, you can use some common household ingredients to help lift this stain out of fabrics such as cotton, wool, or silk.
1.Start by pouring a little salt directly onto the stain.
2.Use a wooden stick or spoon to gently press the salt into the fabric until the area around the stain turns damp.
3.Blot up as much of the moisture as you can using a clean white cloth.
4.Soak the fabric in warm water containing ¼ cup of vinegar for at least 15 minutes.
5.Rinse out the stain with cold water and then add 1 tablespoon of ammonia to the fabric.
Sources & references used in this article:
Root canal irrigation with citric acid solution by M Yamaguchi, K Yoshida, R Suzuki, H Nakamura – Journal of endodontics, 1996 – Elsevier
Look before you clone: A comment on ‘Properties of Aspergillus niger citrate synthase and effects of citA overexpression on citric acid production’ by GJG Ruijter, H … by C Ratledge – FEMS microbiology letters, 2000 – academic.oup.com
Inactivation of foot-and-mouth disease virus by citric acid and sodium carbonate with deicers by JK Hong, KN Lee, SH You, SM Kim… – Applied and …, 2015 – Am Soc Microbiol
Clinical evaluation of a citric acid inhaler for smoking cessation by FM Behm, C Schur, ED Levin, DP Tashkin… – Drug and Alcohol …, 1993 – Elsevier
