Though the word acid may sound harmful, the nutrient malic acid is a beneficial substance found in many healthy foods. In addition to its presence in foods, this acid is also broken down to lactic acid and carbon dioxide for use in winemaking, helping wines to taste less acidic. Malic acid also is associated with several health benefits, including decreasing aluminum toxicity in the brain. Aluminum toxicity is associated with serious health conditions, include Alzheimer's disease and fibromyalgia. Taking malic acid has been shown to reduce pain, anxiety and muscle fatigue associated with these and other conditions.
Fruits
Malic acid is contained in almost all fruits. It helps to give fruits a tart, crisp flavor. Examples of fruits high in malic acid include apples, lemons and other citrus fruits. Malic acid represents 85 to 95 percent of the total acid present in watermelons; 90 percent of total acid in lychee fruits; 60 percent of total acid in lychee fruits; 8 percent of total acid in kiwi fruits; 17 percent of total acid in mango fruits; 60 percent of total acid in peaches, and 9 percent of total acid in strawberries.
Even fruits that do not taste as tart, such as bananas, contain malic acid.
Additive to Chips and Candies
In addition to fruits that contain malic acid, sour candies such as Jolly Ranchers or Sour Patch Kids also use malic acid to create a mouth-puckering flavor. Malic acid also is added to foods such as vinegar/salt chips, which enhances the vinegar taste to the chips. When used as an additive, malic acid is listed as E296 on a product label.
Protein Drinks
Malic acid also is added to protein powders to take away the chalky taste that can accompany such mixes. This includes whey and protein powders.
The same principle is applied to soy milk or soy yogurt, which is mixed with malic acid to give the food a smoother, creamier taste.
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