citric acid

What You Need To Know About Citric Acid

  • Origin: There two main sources of citric acid: natural and manufactured. Roughly 99% of Manufactured Citric Acid (MCA) comes from a process using Aspergillus niger, or a form of black mold. MCA may contribute to inflammatory reactions. Always check your labels.
  •  Form: Citric acid usually comes as liquid or powder as well as a variety of fruits like pineapples and strawberries and, of course, citrus fruits like lemons or limes.
  • Potential Benefits:
    • Extra Vitamin C
    • Skin Care
    • Environmentally-friendly cleaning agent
  • Side Effects & Interactions: Always consult with a licensed healthcare provider.
  • Research: Acidpedia

What You Might Want To Know

What Benefits Might I Get From Citric Acid?

There are a variety of benefits we can derive from citric acid, from Vitamin C for our bodies to fragrant and healthy skin to environmentally-friendly cleaning agents. Not bad!

Manufactured Citric Acid

But you must be careful in shopping for citric acid. Manufactured Citric Acid (MCA) is as concern. Most manufacturing processes use a form of black mold, Aspergillus niger, which may actually harm your heath.  

Vitamin C

Our bodies like vitamin C and since we cannot make our own, we need vitamin C from our diets. Luckily there are many tasty ways to get vitamin C, especially from citrus fruits (e.g., lemons, limes) as well as other fruits like pineapples and strawberries.

Vitamin C promotes a number of healthy body functions, from our immune systems and wound healing to guarding against the common cold and perhaps even various cancers. In the 1970’s Nobel laureate and famed vitamin C proponent, Dr. Linus Pauling, argued for at least 250 mg/day and optimally 2,000 mg/day. More recently, the Linus Pauling Institute weighs in at 400 mg/day.

Skin Care

In addition to healthy benefits inside our bodies, citric acid can help on the outside too. People have used fruits and fruit juices for thousands of years to promote beautiful skin. Many fashionable boutiques offer (fairly pricey) skin treatments based in citric acid. You can enjoy much of the same in the comfort of your own home (and for less money). Here is a recipe for a homemade peel for your skin’s health… you might consider replacing the aspirin with willow tree bark powder if you want to avoid grinding the aspirin tablets.

Environmentally-friendly Cleaning Agent

Not only can citric acid help clean your skin but it can clean around the house too! As a cleaning agent, citric acid is friendlier to our environment than many conventional cleaning agents. As an added bonus, you can even make your own! Check out this recipe from wikiHow.

Additional Information & References

You are in charge of your health. Doing a little extra research will not only let you make better decisions but also empower YOU with knowledge. To help you learn more about citric acid let HealthCare Too start you with some links:

Citric Acid Products

 

When you are ready, here are some products that may help you experience some of citric acid benefits for your own health and household.

Citric Products for Pets

And don’t forget that our non-human loved ones who might also enjoy the benefits of citric acid.