What is Modified Citrus Pectin?
The American Cancer Society recommends that adults eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day in order to help reduce cancer risk.4 One way to get some of the benefits of citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits is with modified citrus pectin. Pectin is a naturally occurring substance found in the cell walls of most plants and especially concentrated in the peel and pulp of citrus fruits (lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits), plums, and apples. It was first identified in 1825, but home cooks had long used fruits with high levels of pectin in jams and marmalades because of their gelling properties. While pectin provides little nutritional content, this carbohydrate acts as a beneficial type of soluble dietary fiber. Researchers attempted to find a process to alter pectin to create a food supplement that would allow the body to benefit from its various health-promoting properties. Recently, scientists have been able to use pH and temperature modifications to break down
