Cheap vitamin 'C'!

DGGS_2

It seems that shops mark up the price of anything that contains vitamin 'C' because it is more marketable and so attracts a premium price. But it doesn't have to be like that! Vitamin 'C', technically, is simply CITRIC ACID and the good news is that this is readily available from pharmacies and other shops (citric acid is used in home brewing amongst other things) without the "vitamin" name and therefore markedly cheaper! Now this is not a fiddle, citric acid really is vitamin 'C' and comes in a white, granular form that looks a bit like sugar.

The best way to handle it is to take it at the very first sign of a cold (I tend to get a scratchy throat as the first sign). Simply take about 1/4 teaspoon of the citric acid, dissolved in about a third of a glass of squash or other non-fizzy drink. Once or twice a day (you can't overdose on it) will be enough to give you a boost and I find it invaluable and MUCH cheaper than orange flavoured vitamin 'C' tablets. It's that time of year again so it's worth getting in a supply (you can buy a 50gm packet of citric acid monohydrate B.P. for 49p at Tesco's pharmacy)!

firespire

Vitamin C I think is ASCORBIC ACID not citric acid.

kforshaw

Yeap - it is ascorbic not citric acid.

http://www.anyvitamins.com/vitamin-c-ascorbicacid-info.htm

DGGS_2

kforshaw wrote:

Yeap - it is absorbic not citric acid.

http://www.anyvitamins.com/vitamin-c-ascorbicacid-info.htm

It's nice to know that you take such an interest but for the avoidance of any doubt (and to avoid any confusion) CITRIC ACID AND ABSCORBIC ACID are the SAME THING. So please don't get them confused, just buy the cheapest! :j

firespire

DGGS wrote:

CITRIC ACID AND ABSCORBIC ACID are the SAME THING. So please don't get them confused, just buy the cheapest! :j

I am sure they are not. If you look at Wikipedia they have different articles, different chemical formula and different european clasification numbers
as classified on this table -
http://www.food-info.net/uk/e/e300-400.htm

Whitefiver

DGGS wrote:

It's nice to know that you take such an interest but for the avoidance of any doubt (and to avoid any confusion) CITRIC ACID AND ABSCORBIC ACID are the SAME THING. So please don't get them confused, just buy the cheapest! :j

Sorry to disillusion you but citric acid is "2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid" and vitamin C is L-Ascorbic acid, perhaps better known as "2-oxo-L-threo-hexono-1,4-lactone-2,3-enediol". They are most definitely NOT the same thing.

Regards,

White

Ted_Hutchinson

Citric acid does play a pivotal role in metabolism as these animations of the krebs cycle show.
Citric Acid Cyle
Citric Acid Cycle
Interactive Citric Acid Cycle

Those people who have bought citric acid in the mistaken belief it will provide them with cheap vitamin c can still use their purchase to make
UKTV Food: Recipes: Elderflower Cordial
BBC - Food - Recipes - Elderflower cordial
next spring.

Those who are taking vitamin c need to be aware that once it's in the blood stream it has a half life of around 30 minutes. It follows that if you wish to raise your vitamin c status your best bet is to take a time release formulation 2/3 times daily to ensure there is a continual supply. You will be aware of the push to get everyone to eat at least 5 a day and the benefit of this is that it provides (as well as fibre and other goodies) a slow release of vitamin c. This is one of the reasons why however much fruit juice you drink it only counts as one item of your 5 a day. Juicing speads up the metabolic process and ideally you need your vitamin c imput staged.
If you have a stash of non time release vitamin c tablets you could always split them in half or quarters and take them every few hours.

kforshaw

It's not the case that I "take such an interest", it's the fact you are recommending people inbibe certain things which you pertain has some kind of medical effect, when you are clearly misunderstanding what the item is you are recommending.

Citric Acid http://www.chemicalland21.com/lifescience/foco/CITRIC%20ACID,%20MONOHYDRATE.htm

Ascorbic Acid http://www.chemicalland21.com/lifescience/foco/ASCORBIC%20ACID.htm

Different - totally different.
The only "use" for citric acid I can find on the 'net, apart from an additive to foods where is doesn't occur naturally is for use in the injection of heroin.

Seakay

You can use citric acid to make bath bombs and it's also useful for home made wine etc except that you can never buy it in large quantities now because of it's association with heroin use. I used to get it at the local home brew shop, but since that shut and Boots stopped stocking it I have tried every pharmacy in the area without luck. Will probably have to start getting it online and pay postage.

kforshaw

OOps -sorry forgot about that. Friend did indeed use it making bath bombs with her brownie group.

firespire

Seakay wrote:

I have tried every pharmacy in the area without luck.

Maybe you look shifty! (Only joking). Maybe try saying your use of wine making (alternately jam making) when enquiring as it may help.
The OP did say they get it in Tesco Pharmacy but I have heard I think you can get it in some health food shops locked away in glass cabinets to keep the druggies and terrorists at bay.