Nutritional supplement sodium citrate: harm and benefit, application

In the modern food industry, many different chemical additives are now used. They improve the taste and consistency of dishes, protect them from spoilage. Many of them have an adverse effect on health, so some people are negative about all food additives. Although among them there is absolutely harmless. These include the sodium salt of citric acid, or sodium citrate. The damage and benefit of this additive has been studied for a long time, therefore it is allowed in many countries for use in the food industry and even in the manufacture of medicines.

Characteristic of this substance

For the first time, the useful properties of the sodium salt of citric acid were discovered in the early 20th century. This substance was first used as an anticoagulant for blood transfusion. Only later - in the second half of the century - began to be used in the production of sodium citrate products. Harm and benefit of it began to be studied recently, and at first applied wherever stabilizers, emulsifiers or anticoagulants were required. The sodium citrate is a white powder with a fine crystalline structure. This substance has special properties:

• Quickly soluble in water, but very poorly - in alcohol;
• The powder has an acid-salty taste, for which it was nicknamed "acid salt";
• Is able to regulate the acidity of other products;
• Has the properties of an emulsifier, stabilizer, antioxidant and preservative;
• Improves the taste of food products, making them more spicy, spicy;
• Enhances the action of ascorbic acid;
• Quickly neutralizes the consequences of alcoholic intoxication.

Sodium citrate: application

The benefits and harms of this substance are explained by its simple composition. It is obtained by treating the citric acid with sodium. As a result, a white powder is obtained which is highly soluble in water, with a special acid-salty taste. Because of these and some other properties, sodium citrate is now widely used. Harm and benefit of it are well described by scientists who came to the conclusion that with proper application, sodium citrate is harmless. Therefore now this substance is used in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries:

• To regulate the level of acidity in coffee machines;
• In the production of cystitis drugs;
• For canning blood;
• As a stabilizer and acidity regulator in marmalade, pastille, jelly, yogurt, soufflé;
• To prevent the folding of milk in the manufacture of pasteurized dairy products, canned food, yoghurt, baby food;
• Often add it to shampoos to regulate the acid-base balance and stimulate the formation of foam;
• To improve the taste of carbonated beverages with citrus aromas;
• At manufacture of sausages, cheeses and canned food.

Many useful properties have this food additive. That is why now in most finished products and in many medications you can find sodium citrate e331.

The benefits of harmful substances

Despite the current belief that food additives have a negative effect on health, sodium citrate does not do any harm. It does not accumulate in the body and is quickly excreted by the kidneys. And even has a beneficial effect on health. Therefore, many drugs use sodium citrate. The benefit and harm of it is that it prevents the blood clotting, can be used as a laxative, lowers the acidity of the stomach. Therefore, it is added to preparations for the treatment of heartburn, cystitis, inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, hangover syndrome.

Can this additive hurt

So far, no cases of poisoning, caused by sodium citrate, have been documented. The harm and benefit of it is therefore considered to be proven, and the additive is included in the list of harmless. But still, when sodium citrate is consumed in large amounts - more than 1.5 g per day, unpleasant side effects are possible:

• Decreased appetite;
• Pain in the abdomen;
• nausea and vomiting;
• dizziness;
• Fluctuations in blood pressure;
• diarrhea.

Most often this happens after the use of drugs with sodium citrate, and in products it is contained in very small quantities. Also this substance is nontoxic in its pure form, for example, if it gets on the skin. Only if inhaled powder can be irritated respiratory tract.

It turns out that sodium citrate is not only a harmless food additive, but also a substance that benefits the body. Although not yet fully understood, how many can be consumed without fear. But now most of the products contain this additive, so modern man can not do without its use.