Health Benefits of Cream of Tartar

Cream of tartar is a special ingredient found in most food menus. This food ingredient is used for cooking especially baking and cleaning. Let’s see about the most promising health benefits of a cream of tartar.

What Is the Cream of Tartar?

Potassium bitartrate or potassium hydrogen tartrate is the main compound found in the cream of tartar. It is a byproduct of wine preparation that precipitates out of grape skin or wine.

Even though cream of tartar is a pantry staple, most people did not know about it. It is an important ingredient to add volume or stabilization to food items like meringue, angel food cake, and macaroons.

It is also used as an alternative for baking powder by bakers. Both the baking powder and cream of tartar can be mixed with white vinegar to clean surfaces.

When grape juice gets fermented into wine in the barrels, some sediment is left at the bottom. 

Here Tartaric acid gets crystallized into a deposit during the fermentation of grapes juice, and it is not alcoholic. Then, the remaining sediment is refined and converted into a white powder called cream of tartar. 

Professional bakers use it to stabilize creams, egg whites, and ice cream, and it is also used to maintain the color of whipped cream. 

The standard baking powder is also made from the cream of tartar and baking soda. Cream of tartar is available as powder form in spice shops, nature stores, and bakery stores.

BENEFITS OF USING CREAM OF TARTAR

Treats Arthritis

Cream of tartar is the best remedy for people who suffer from chronic joint inflammation. Cream of tartar can be mixed with Epsom salt to prepare a potent salt bath which gives relief from pain due to arthritis.

The Best Remedy to Soothe Arthritis:

Ingredients: Three oranges, lemons, and grapefruits; 50g Epsom salts – magnesium sulfate, 50g cream of tartar, 1.5 liters of water

How to use: Just scrub the fruits to ensure that all medicinal sprays or other contaminants are removed. Then, blend the fruits, including skins and seeds, and keep the blended fruit mixture aside overnight. On the next day, boil some water and add Epsom salts and cream of tartar to it. Add this water mixture to the blend of fruits, and then place it in a container and freeze it. Then, consume two teaspoons of the frozen mixture every morning. After that, drink water with a half teaspoon of vitamin-C powder for about two months. By doing so, you can get rid of arthritis.

For Urinary Tract Infection

People who face urinary tract infections frequently can use a cream of tartar to get relief from its symptoms. It also prevents these repeated infections by changing the pH level of the urine. The primary use of tartar is the ability to balance the pH in your urine, i.e., converting the condition in which the bacteria cannot live, which is the main reason for minimizing infection.

How to use:

To treat a urinary tract infection, you have to mix one and a half teaspoons of tartar’s cream and a cup of warm water. Add fresh lime juice and drink it once or twice a day.

For Migraine Headaches

Cream of tartar is a rich potassium source that is important to the body, and it maintains hydration and blood pressure levels. For people who suffer from migraines, potassium might help in reducing migraine attacks. Studies say that hydrating the body with potassium and salt can remove migraine pain. Yet, people who consume a cream of tartar must remember its side effects also. Cream of tartar has high potassium, which can become toxic, thus leading to life-threatening problems like hyperkalemia. So, better consult your doctor before adding cream of tartar to your diet.

To Quit Smoking

Most people have tried to quit smoking many times in several ways. But those methods could not have given effective results, at that time, try Cream of tartar which will provide the right solution.

Smoking cigarettes will minimize the body’s capacity to utilize potassium when consuming foods. Several health conditions related to smoking are due to low potassium levels. Researchers say that intaking an adequate amount of potassium is essential for your digestion process. Further, it helps in the proper excretion of waste products and balances the body’s fluid levels. Cream of tartar is useful in eliminating nicotine from the bloodstream through bowel movements, urine, sweat, and adds potassium to your body. Thus by eliminating nicotine, it cleans the lungs that have got affected due to cigarette toxins.

How to use:

During waste elimination, your body also removes essential minerals and nutrients, specifically Vitamin C. Therefore, mixing a Cream of tartar with a cup of orange juice will give needed vitamins and minerals; and help you quit smoking. Drink it before going to bed every night. It’ll help you boosts your immune system and cleanses your body.

For Skin

Cream of tartar possesses acidic and antibacterial properties which fight against acne-causing agents. Most people ingesting Cream of tartar say that they have felt an improvement in their skin appearance. Cream of tartar is a major ingredient in skincare products such as fizzing bath bombs and Epsom salts.

How to use:

To clear your skin, drink a glass of water or orange juice with a teaspoon of Cream of tartar regularly.

It detoxifies and removes impurities from the body; therefore, the Cream of tartar can treat acne problems. Just mix one tablespoon of Cream of tartar with 250 ml of water and drink it every morning for a month.

For Potassium

The United States Department of Agriculture claims that one teaspoon of Cream of tartar has 495 milligrams of potassium. In fact, Potassium deficiency people are prescribed 100 milligrams per day. Potassium deficiency occurs due to excessive sweating or using over laxatives or diuretics. Here, a Cream of tartar is the best remedy.

For Belly Fat

Cream of tartar has a diuretic property that can reduce excess body water; this results in the reduction of belly fat. It also aids in controlling candida which makes weight loss more difficult.

For Candida Treatment

Candidiasis will occur when Candida yeast gets increased in the intestines; it is due to a weak body immune system that can’t be able to control yeast growth. Here, a Cream of tartar is an excellent ingredient to remove yeast from the body.

For Constipation

Cream of Tartar possesses mild laxative properties, which aids in constipation. It also has small quantities of magnesium that aids in managing bowel movement.

For Heartburn

A cream of tartar has the ability to treat heartburn. Just add half a teaspoon of Cream of tartar and half a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink one teaspoon of this combination.

For Keto Diet

When starting a keto diet, some people may feel overtired due to an electrolyte balance change. Potassium is an electrolyte that can be affected during this diet. The symptoms of lower potassium levels and salts are muscle cramps and fatigue. A cream of tartar is the best for sodium and potassium balance and thus treats fatigue.

Culinary Uses of Cream Of Tartar

• Cream of tartar is a powdered form of tartaric acid, an essential ingredient in baking powders, and it’s added chiefly to bakery products.
• It’s commonly added in white eggs to achieve its full volume potential and stabilizes its stiffness.
• In baking or bakery products, cream of tartar acts as a leavening agent, which produces the softest and fluffiest baked cookies/cakes without yeast.
• Cream of tartar can also be incorporated into frostings, icings, or syrups to prevent the formation of sugar crystals.
• Adding the cream of tartar to powdered or granulated materials prevents lumps.
• It also acts as a thickening agent in liquids dishes like soups and sauces.
• Adding a 1/2 teaspoon of potassium bitartrate into the water while cooking veggies will help them keep their bright colors!
• Commercially, it’s added in candies, soft drinks, gelatin-based desserts, and still photography products.

Possible Side Effects

There are some side effects while consuming a Cream of tartar. They are

Eye irritation: A cream of tartar is categorized as a hazardous chemical. It can cause mild to moderate eye irritation, swelling, and redness to your eyes. If this symptom arises, then immediately wash your eyes for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Hyperkalemia: A cream of tartar has too high a potassium level, which may result in hyperkalemia (excess potassium level in the blood). So intake a sufficient amount of it.

Dehydration: It has purgative and diuretic properties, which may cause an excess liquid loss in the body and leads to dehydration.

Skin damage: The acidic property of a Cream of tartar causes mild to moderate skin irritation. If you feel any irritation in your skin, then immediately wash your skin with water and soap.

Ingesting or consuming a small quantity of raw cream of tartar will make you feel nauseous. If large amounts are consumed, then it will cause toxicity, and you may experience dizziness, cramps, and difficulty in breathing. If this happens, consult your doctor immediately.

Nutrition Facts of Cream of Tartar (approximately for 100 g)

• Water: 1.7 g
• Energy: 1079 kJ
• Ash: 36.8 g
• Carbohydrate: 61.5 g
• Total dietary Fiber: 0.2 g
• Calcium: 8 mg
• Iron: 3.72 mg
• Magnesium: 2 mg
• Phosphorus: 5 mg
• Potassium: 16500 mg
• Sodium: 52 mg
• Zinc: 0.42 mg
• Copper: 0.2 mg
• Manganese: 0.21 mg
• Selenium: 0.2 µg

Conclusion

Cream of tartar can be used in many ways. It is one of the major ingredients used in baking or cleaning. It can be used as a stabilizer in the baking industry, and also it removes stains from clothes or floors. Even though it is a little expensive, it’s worthy.