Citric acid is such a common acid that most of the foods and drinks we consume contain it. For people with acid reflux, this can be a disadvantage. Below, Nawon will suggest drinks without citric acid for you to enjoy.
What is citric acid
Citric acid is a weak organic acid found naturally in citrus fruits like lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits… It’s often used as a food additive to give a sour taste to foods and beverages. Besides its culinary uses, citric acid is also utilized in various other industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and cleaning products. Its acidic properties make it useful for tasks like cleaning and preserving, and it’s commonly found in household cleaners and personal care products.
Type of acid citric
Natural citric acid
It’s not just sour citrus fruits that have naturally occurring citric acid, it seems that all plants and animals have small traces of citric acid. Foods that contain a lot of natural citric acid are citrus fruits, especially lemon juice. Other fruits and vegetables also contain some natural citric acid.
- Lemon
- lemon
- Oranges
- grapefruit
- Berry
Artificial citric acid
Citric acid is added to foods and beverages, medications, personal care products, and cleaning products as artificial citric acid. Artificial citric acid is usually produced in the following two ways:
- Fermentation: One of the most common methods for producing citric acid is using the bacteria Aspergillus niger. This bacteria is grown in a medium containing glucose or other sugars. During fermentation, Aspergillus niger will convert glucose into citric acid through a series of biological reactions. The citric acid is then harvested from the fermentation solution through an extraction or crystallization process.
- Chemical process: Citric acid can also be produced through chemical reactions from chemical sources such as sugar, oil, or petroleum-derived carbon. This chemical synthesis involves a series of complex chemical reactions to produce citric acid.
Uses of citric acid
Food and beverage: Citric acid is often used as a natural sour agent or preservative in foods and drinks. It can be added to soft drinks, juices, pasta, jams, and many other food products to improve flavor and prolong shelf life.
Pharmaceuticals: Citric acid is used in the pharmaceutical industry as a pH regulator and as a secondary ingredient in many medications and capsules.
Personal Care: In personal care products such as toothpaste, shampoo, toner and other cosmetics, citric acid can be used as a pH regulator, antioxidant or skin softener. soft.
Cleaning products: Citric acid is commonly used in cleaning products such as household cleaners, detergents, and personal hygiene products such as soap, because of its ability to remove residue and build-up as well as Surface Cleaning.
Bleaching and beautifying agents: In the beauty industry, citric acid can be used in skin bleaching products, hair care products, and other skin care products.
Brightening and softening agent: Citric acid can also be used in brightening and softening fabrics, especially when washing clothes or in cleaning the dishwasher.
Drinks without citric acid
Citric acid is a prevalent additive — not only is it in most fruits and vegetables, but it is also in many soft drinks, energy drinks and juice drinks. Since most fruits have citric acid, a natural fruit juice without citric acid are difficult to find. And because it is also used for both taste and preservation, citric acid use in drinks is widespread. According to Toxicology Reports, it is the second ingredient after water in some energy drinks.
For individuals who may be sensitive to citrus or acidity, there are a few options of drinks without citric acid. Because there tend to be more drinks that do have citric acid than don’t, the easiest way to double-check is to read nutrition labels before buying or consuming drinks.
Water
Purified water does not contain citric acid because it has a neutral pH. Therefore, it is the safest choice for people sensitive to citric acid. Water is part of a healthy daily routine, as staying hydrated is important to keep vital body functions running efficiently. Water is also the world’s most consume beverage.
Root beer
Root beer is a carbonated soft drink that is usually sweet and slightly spicy. It is made from a combination of water, sweeteners (such as sugar or high fructose corn syrup), and various flavorings, including root and herb extracts. Traditional root beer recipes typically do not include citric acid as an ingredient. Instead, their flavor is created from a combination of plant extracts, spices, and sweeteners. However, it is essential to check the ingredient list on commercially produced root beer products because the formula can vary between brands.
Green Tea
Green tea naturally has antioxidant properties that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Green tea is alkaline and does not contain citric acid. However, care should be taken to distinguish green tea from fruit tea, flavored tea may have added citric acid. So it is safer to choose natural, unflavored green tea.
Milk and Milk Alternatives
In general, milk and many milk alternatives like almond milk, soy milk, and oat milk do not contain citric acid as an ingredient. These products are primarily made from water and the respective source of milk (e.g., dairy, almonds, soybeans, oats) along with any additional ingredients like sweeteners, stabilizers, and fortifiers.
However, it’s always a good idea to check the ingredient list on the packaging, especially for flavored or processed varieties of milk alternatives. Some flavored or fortified versions may include citric acid as a preservative or flavor enhancer, but it’s not a standard ingredient in plain milk or basic milk alternatives.