In the modern food industry, many different chemical additives are now used. They improve the taste and texture of dishes, protect from spoilage. Many of them adversely affect health, so some people negatively relate to all nutritional supplements. Although among them there are completely harmless. These include the sodium salt of citric acid, or sodium citrate. The harm and benefits of this supplement have been studied for a long time, so 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 beneficial properties of sodium citrate 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 - they began to use sodium citrate in the production of products. The harm and benefits of it began to be studied recently, and at first they were used wherever stabilizers, emulsifiers or anticoagulants were required. 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";
- able to regulate the acidity of other products;
- possesses the properties of an emulsifier, stabilizer, antioxidant and preservative;
- improves the taste of foods, making them more spicy, spicy;
- enhances the effect of ascorbic acid;
- quickly neutralizes the effects of intoxication.
Sodium Citrate: Application
The benefits and harms of this substance are explained by its simple composition. Get it by treating citric acid with sodium. The result is a white powder, highly soluble in water, with a special sour-salty taste. Due to these and some other properties, sodium citrate is now widely used. The harm and benefits of it are well described by scientists who have come to the conclusion that, when used correctly, 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 manufacture of medicines for cystitis;
- for blood preservation;
- as a stabilizer and acidity regulator in marmalade, pastille, jelly, yoghurts, soufflé;
- to prevent milk curdling in the production of pasteurized dairy products, canned goods, yoghurts, baby food;
- often add it to shampoos to regulate the acid-base balance and stimulate the formation of foam;
- to improve the taste of citrus-flavored carbonated drinks;
- in the production of sausages, cheeses and canned goods.
This nutritional supplement has many beneficial properties. That is why now in most finished products and in many medicines you can find sodium citrate e331.
About the benefits of a harmful substance
Despite the current view that nutritional supplements adversely affect health, sodium citrate does no harm. It does not accumulate in the body and is rapidly 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 coagulation of blood, can be used as a laxative, lowers the acidity of the stomach. Therefore, it is added to drugs for the treatment of heartburn, cystitis, inflammatory diseases of the kidneys, hangover.
Can this supplement be harmful?
So far, not a single case of poisoning has been recorded, the cause of which would be sodium citrate. Its harm and benefits are therefore considered proven, and the additive is included in the list of harmless. But still, when consuming sodium citric acid in large quantities - 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 non-toxic in its pure form, for example, in contact with skin. Only by inhalation of the powder can irritation of the respiratory tract be observed.
It turns out that sodium citrate is not only a harmless food supplement, but also a substance that benefits the body. Although it has not yet been fully studied how much can be consumed without fear. But now, most products contain this supplement, so modern people can not do without its use.