Cream of tartar is an ingredient that often
crops up on menus when we’re dining out, but we never tend to think
about what it actually is. When grape juice is fermented into wine
inside barrels, sediment is left behind. This acidic by-product of wine
production is then refined and turned into a white powder, which is
known as cream of tartar. It gets its name from its chemical makeup,
which is called potassium hydrogen tartrate . In addition to its
applications in cooking, you can also reap various health benefits from
consuming cream of tartar. Keep reading to find out all about it.
Professional bakers use cream of tartar to
stabilize egg whites, creams and ice cream, and to maintain the white
color of whipped cream. Even the baking powder we all know is made up of
cream of tartar and baking soda. Cream of tartar is usually labeled
with the code E336i on the list of ingredients. Cream of tartar (which
comes as a powder) can be found in spice shops, nature stores, and
specialty bakery stores, and is sometimes also available in large retail
chains.
The Health Benefits of Cream of Tartar
1. Treats Urinary Tract Infections
Out of the many cream of tartar uses that
exist, a primary one is its ability to change the pH level in your
urine, turning it from an environment in which bacteria thrive, to one
that is totally hostile to them (which is what you want). All you need
to do to treat a urinary tract infection is to mix 1½ teaspoons of cream
of tartar in 1 cup of warm water. Squeeze in some lemon or lime juice
and drink the solution once or twice daily until you are cured.
2. Soothes Arthritis 
Use this recipe to soothe your painful
arthritis:
Ingredients
• 3 oranges
• 3 lemons
• 3 grapefruits
• 50g Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate)
• 50g cream of tartar
• 1.5 liters of water
Method
1. Scrub the fruits very well to ensure that all sprays or other
contaminants are removed.
2. Blend the fruits well, including skins and seeds.
3. Leave the blended fruit mixture to stand overnight.
4. On the following morning, boil some water.
5. Add the Epsom salts and cream of tartar to the boiled water.
6. Add this mixture to the blend of citrus fruits.
7. Place in a suitable container and freeze.
How to take it
Consume two dessert spoons of the frozen mixture each morning, then
follow up by drinking a glass of tepid water with ½ a teaspoon of a good
vitamin C powder added to it. The batch you created and froze should
last you for about two months.
3. Helps You Quit Smoking
If you’ve tried to quit smoking numerous
times, but with little success, you’ll be pleased to know that the cream
of tartar can provide a solution. It is extremely effective at removing
nicotine from the bloodstream, so all you need to do is mix some cream
of tartar with a glass of orange juice and drink it before you go to bed
each night. Doing so will strengthen your immune system and cleanse
your body of toxins.
4. Fights Heartburn
Forget relying on heartburn pills – cream
of tartar uses include the ability to naturally treat heartburn. Mix ½ a
teaspoon of it with ½ a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. As
soon as you feel the onset of heartburn, simply drink 1 teaspoon of the
solution.
5. Treats Acne
Due to its ability to detoxify and remove
impurities from the body, cream of tartar can be used to treat acne. Mix
1 tablespoon of it with 8 ounces of water and drink the solution each
morning. Do this for a month and you’ll notice fewer acne outbreaks and
much clearer skin.
6. Prevents Gallstones
This tip is more of a preventative health
benefit than a cure. Prevent gallstones from forming by mixing the juice
of six lemons in a quart-sized jar with 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt and 3
tablespoons of cream of tartar. Top the rest of the jar up with water
and place it in the refrigerator. Get into the habit of drinking a small
glass of the solution each night and you should be able to eat whatever
you want without gallstones forming.
7. Treats Bacterial Infections
Bacterial infections can cause a whole range of problems, from inflammation to swelling and fever. Cream of tartar can return much-needed alkalinity to your body. Simply mix ½ a teaspoon of it with ½ a cup of warm water and drink the solution to create a hostile environment for the offending bacteria that gave you the infection in the first place.
Bacterial infections can cause a whole range of problems, from inflammation to swelling and fever. Cream of tartar can return much-needed alkalinity to your body. Simply mix ½ a teaspoon of it with ½ a cup of warm water and drink the solution to create a hostile environment for the offending bacteria that gave you the infection in the first place.
8. Lowers High Blood Pressure
In many instances, high blood pressure arises as a result of a potassium
deficiency. If this applies to you (obviously you need to consult your
doctor to establish this, who will likely administer a blood test), then
you can return potassium to your body by drinking 1 teaspoon of cream
of tartar mixed in a glass of water.
Using Cream of Tartar in Cooking
Cream of tartar has a number of uses when cooking or baking, and here
are some of the most common uses:
• Sprinkle a small amount on vegetables before cooking them to help
preserve their natural color.
• Add volume to meringue by adding 1/8 of a teaspoon of cream of tartar
for each 2 egg whites you use.
• Adding a pinch to whipped cream will stabilize it and prevent it from
deflating.
• Add a small amount to frosting in order to give it a more creamy
texture.
Making Baking Powder
Cream of Tartar health benefits warnings and uses - how to make baking
powder
Cream of tartar (potassium bitartrate) and baking soda (sodium
bicarbonate) are two products that are closely related at the molecular
level. They also serve very similar functions for many different
purposes. However, this does not mean that they are the same thing.
When it comes to baking, they serve different purposes too, since baking
soda has a far weaker stabilizing effect than cream of tartar does.
However, when mixed together, they can create baking powder, which has a
whole wealth of uses.
To make baking powder, simply add 2 teaspoons of cream of tartar and 1
teaspoon of baking soda to a bowl. Then, you only need to mix it
vigorously until thoroughly combined, before using it immediately.
Is Cream of Tartar Gluten-Free?
If you are sensitive to gluten or have celiac disease, then you'll need
to do your best to avoid ingesting any form of gluten, a certain type of
protein. It primarily comes from rye, barley, and wheat, yet it can
also be found in products that may have come into contact with these
grains at some point.
In isolation, the cream of tartar is actually gluten-free. However, it's
important to be aware that the food it is frequently found in may not
be. That's why it is important to check the label of anything you plan
on eating since the law requires manufacturers to list all
gluten-containing ingredients.
Using Cream of Tartar as a Cleaning Product
1. Gets Stains Out of Clothes
You can clean stains from a variety of clothes by using a wonderful
cream of tartar. To do this, add a little 3% hydrogen peroxide to a
small dish with cream of tartar until you get a paste and apply it to
the stain that you want to remove. Leave the paste on the stain for 5-10
minutes then wash in the washing machine. The paste is good for all
stains, even those that you’re not too sure where they came from. Note
that it’s best to check that the paste won’t damage the garment fabric
first by doing a patch test.
2. Cleans the Bathroom
In order to restore your bathroom’s gleam, mix an equal amount of cream
of tartar with baking soda, add a few drops of lemon juice, and you’ll
have an awesome homemade bathroom cleaner. The solution is effective
against traces of limescale that stick to baths, sinks, and toilets.
Apply the solution to the dirty areas of your bathroom, wait about 30
minutes, rinse with water and wipe with a dry cloth.
3. Cleans Stainless Steel and Aluminum
Stainless steel and aluminum appliances sometimes accumulate water
stains and dirt that distort their appearance. To remove these stains,
mix cream of tartar with a little water to create a thick mixture and
use it to clean the stainless steel in your home. The paste can be used
to clean jewelry, cutlery and large kitchen appliances such as sinks and
ovens. Additionally, you can mix cream of tartar with a few drops of
hydrogen peroxide to make a cutlery polish and a rust remover.
4. Fixes Scratched Kitchenware
To remove scratches from plates and cups, mix cream of tartar with a
little water to form a paste, and apply it to the damaged areas with a
cloth. After a slight wipe and a short wait, you’ll see a significant
improvement in the condition of your kitchenware.
5. Keeps Ants Away
In addition to all its other qualities, cream of tartar’s make up repels
insects in general, and ants in particular. To keep ants out of your
house, all you have to do is sprinkle a little tartar powder near where
they come in from.
Warnings
While the cream of tartar has plenty of fabulous uses, it can also pose a
few risks to human health if used incorrectly or irresponsibly. As a
result, it should be kept well out of reach of children.
Here are 3 ways that cream of tartar can harm your health:
It is an eye irritant.
Cream of tartar carries an NFPA rating of 2, which means that it is
technically classified as a hazardous chemical. As a result, it could
actually cause mild to moderate eye irritation, including swelling and
redness if it were ever to get into your eyes. If this happens to you,
you should immediately flush your eyes with water for at least 15
minutes. Make sure to remove any contact lenses first though!
It can cause skin damage.
Due to its acidic nature, cream of tartar is able to cause mild to
moderate skin irritation too. If you find that your skin is showing
signs of being irritated, then you should immediately wash that area
with water and soap, covering it with some skin moisturizer afterward.
If your skin is sensitive to cream of tartar, then it may be a good idea
to use gloves when handling large amounts of it.
It can harm through ingestion or inhalation.
Ingesting or inhaling small amounts of raw cream of tartar could make
you feel nauseous . However, if large amounts are inhaled or ingested,
then toxicity could occur, meaning that you may experience dizziness,
stomach cramps, or even difficulty breathing . If this happens to you,
get some fresh air and seek immediate medical attention. Avoid inducing
vomiting unless a medical professional instructs you to do so.
Side Effects of Cream of Tartar
While cream of tartar is relatively safe to use, there are a few side
effects associated with it that you should be aware of:
It Has a Laxative Effect
Due to the way that cream of tartar interacts with the digestive system,
it can be considered to be a rather mild laxative . This is perfect for
anyone who suffers from constipation but could be unpleasant for anyone
else. If you opt to use cream of tartar as a laxative, you should avoid
using it for extended periods of time, because its overuse may be
detrimental to your bowel health.
It Increases Water Loss
Cream of tartar has been found to have a diuretic effect, which means
that your body will begin to lose water at an increased rate. In fact,
that is why cream of tartar is often taken as a natural remedy for edema
, which is a condition where fluid becomes retained within your
tissues. Make sure to stay hydrated while using cream of tartar, since
losing too much fluid may cause an electrolyte imbalance or dehydration.
It May Increase Your Potassium Levels
Since it is made up of potassium bitartrate, taking large amounts cream
of tartar could result in your body's potassium levels becoming too
high. Your body naturally tries to balance out your electrolyte levels,
which is why such disruptions typically have a negative impact. Cream of
tartar should be particularly avoided if you suffer from any kidney
problems.
If you found this information useful, don't forget to share it with your
friends and family too!