How to Neutralize Tannins

Tannins are a type of antioxidant that gives red wine, beer, coffee and tea a bitter flavor. They are also found in some grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Although tannins may have some health benefits, they also act as anti-nutrients, decreasing the amount of calcium and iron your body absorbs. Taking certain steps can help limit the nutrient-binding actions of tannins.

Add Vitamin C

• Next time you drink tea, add a small amount of lemon juice. Foods high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, may help neutralize tannins when taken along with tannin-rich foods and drinks, according to a study published in the "Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences" in December 2009.

Ferment Foods

• Fermenting foods before eating them is another way to minimize the effects of tannins. For example, a study published in "Food Chemistry" in November 2004 found that when the grain sorghum was fermented, the tannin content was reduced by 15 to 35 percent. Fermentation also causes other changes in foods to make them easier to digest.

Eat With Proline-Rich Foods

• Proline is an amino acid found in high amounts in certain protein-rich foods, including gelatin, cheese, Savoy cabbage and soy products. An animal study published in "The Journal of Nutrition" in March 2005 found that when tea was served with a proline-rich food in the form of gelatin, it reduced the effects of the tea on iron absorption. Although further studies are necessary to verify this effect occurs in people as well, proline-rich foods may help neutralize the mineral-binding effects of tannin.

Potential of Milk

• Although milk is sometimes recommended as a way to neutralize tannins due to the casein it contains, not all sources agree it is effective for this purpose. For example, the "Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences" article noted that adding milk to coffee or tea has only a small effect, if any, on the tannin's mineral-binding action.