Citric acid: benefits and harms, properties and use of E330

Organic acids are products of the decomposition of substances during metabolic reactions, the molecule of which includes a carboxyl group.
The compounds act as intermediate elements and main components of metabolic energy conversion based on the production of adenosine triphosphate, the Krebs cycle.

The concentration of organic acids in the human body reflects the level of mitochondrial functioning, fatty acid oxidation and carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, the compounds contribute to the spontaneous restoration of the acid-base balance of the blood. Defects in mitochondrial metabolism cause deviations in metabolic reactions, the development of neuromuscular pathologies and changes in glucose concentration. Moreover, they can lead to cell death, which is associated with the aging process and the appearance of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

Precautionary measures

If you decide to try water with citric acid for weight loss or other purposes, you need to familiarize yourself with some important nuances in advance:

Before starting the “course of treatment”, it is worth conducting an allergy test by applying a little of the prepared solution to the inside of the wrist and the bend of the elbow. A negative reaction (redness, burning, rash) appears quickly, within 20-30 minutes.
You cannot use carbonated or mineral water to prepare a “cocktail”. Only drinking, filtered water is suitable. Minerals and acid can react in unpredictable ways.
It is better to dilute the acid with warm (35-40ºС) water. In the morning, this improves appetite, but at the same time metabolism is stimulated, so that breakfast passes without undesirable consequences in the form of deposited fats. Boiling water and cold water significantly reduce the usefulness of the “cocktail”.
You should not prepare the solution “in reserve”. The drink must be fresh every time.
If you can’t drink the drink due to the high concentration of citric acid, you can slightly sweeten it with liquid honey, but not sugar.
To minimize harm to tooth enamel and mucous membranes, it is better to drink the “cocktail” through a straw and rinse your mouth every time afterward.
It is not recommended to drink in one gulp. The drink should be sipped slowly.
To normalize the acid-base balance in the stomach, it is recommended to include porridge (especially oatmeal), chicken and meat broth, stewed, boiled, and steamed vegetables in the diet.
Having completed one course, the next one can begin no earlier than a month later.
It is strictly forbidden to combine drinking water with citric acid and fasting.

But even with minor discomfort, taking the “cocktail” should be stopped immediately.

Available contraindications

Despite all the possible health benefits, you will have to abandon the idea of starting to drink citric acid with water if you have the following contraindications:

Any chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the acute stage (gastritis, colitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers).
Increased acidity of gastric juice. Citric acid will further worsen heartburn.
A course of medications aimed at reducing the concentration of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice.
Problems and/or inflammatory processes in the excretory system (kidneys, bladder), especially kidney failure.
Pathologies of the liver and gall bladder, stones in it (and in the kidneys).
Diabetes mellitus of any type and other diseases that disrupt normal hormonal levels. It is absolutely impossible to predict how the body in such a state will react to any unusual external “stimulus”.
Stomatitis, other similar diseases of the oral cavity in which the mucous membrane suffers.
Allergy. This phenomenon is rare, but not impossible. Those who know that they have a tendency to such reactions should try the “cocktail” especially carefully.

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For any chronic disease, even if it seems that water with citric acid will not worsen your health in any way, you should consult with your doctor about the possibility of regular use.

What happens if you drink?

Despite the name, the white crystalline powder sold in small bags has nothing in common with lemons.

It is produced by biosynthesis from:

molasses,
corn hydrolysates,
cassava,
sweet potato,
crystalline sucrose.

The finished product is pronouncedly sour and is used in the food industry as a preservative, flavoring agent and acidity regulator.

On product packaging, citric acid is indicated under the code “E330”. European and American legislation recognizes it as safe for the body .

Moreover, with moderate consumption, the correct dosage and following the recommendations of nutritionists, it is even useful. Therefore, you can drink water with citric acid, but only following certain rules.

But the list has no scientific basis; it is simply a hoax . No evidence has yet been discovered that citric acid is harmful to health.

How to choose a good lemon

A good product is bought in specialized grocery stores. When purchasing, consider the packaging .

It should indicate the following information:

full name of the manufacturer;
city name;
date of manufacture;
best before date.

The product must have a marking that can be used to identify the shift that produced the product.

The purchased product is used as an ingredient to improve the taste of confectionery, meat dishes, and for canning cucumbers and tomatoes.

Benefits of citric acid

As an active food additive, lemon helps:

Activation of the immune system as the main barrier. preventing the penetration of bacteria and viruses into the body.
Removing toxic and other substances that have harmful effects from the body.
The process of cell renewal.
Strengthening metabolic processes, weight loss.
Improving human visual perception.
Reducing sugar levels.
Cleansing the cardiovascular system.
Reduced pressure.
Lower cholesterol levels.
Eliminate inflammatory throat infections.
Maintaining the balance of the alkaline environment.
Reducing the risk of developing cancer.
Elimination of consequences after severe intoxication.
Destroying bacteria in the oral cavity during stomatitis and other inflammatory infections.
Fresh breath.
Reducing possible joint problems.

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Crystalline powder is highly popular in the field of cosmetology:

The solution (1/2 tsp lemon per liter of water) has a beneficial effect on the hair structure and scalp: it gives shine and a healthy appearance to the hair.
It is used as an active component in the preparation of face and body masks.
It has the ability to eliminate pigmentation, whitening the skin.
Strengthens and protects the nail structure.
Used as a homemade facial lotion to reduce the activity of the sebaceous glands.

White powder is also used in medicine:

For the purpose of manufacturing medicines for various purposes.
To prevent blood clotting.

A wide range of uses of citric acid are observed in everyday life:

To destroy rust deposits (3-4 tsp lemon juice per liter of hot water).
As an antibacterial agent (one part powder to nine parts water).
As a descaling agent for household electronic appliances (1 tsp per liter of water).
Cleaning agent for showers and bathrooms (1/2 tbsp. lemon per 900 g of water.
To remove red wine stains: mix lemon juice with baking soda in a ratio of one to two, add a couple of drops of water, apply the mixture to the stain, leave the mixture for five to ten minutes and rinse.
You can clean the toilet by leaving the powder overnight (sprinkle 1.5 tablespoons of lemon juice over the contaminated surface).
Softens hard water.
Cleans the fabric surface from dirt.
Universal spray for cleaning windows and other glass surfaces (dilute 2 tablespoons in 2 liters of water).

Direct use of the supplement looks like this:

For preparing lemon water, compotes, juices.
When baking confectionery products.
To extend the shelf life of food products.
When canning for the winter.
As a flavoring agent for industrial beverages.

Recommendations for use

The substance is sold in packages, boxes, which indicate the rules of use and expiration date.

The rate of use is a small amount on the tip of a teaspoon per 1 glass of water. This product should not be consumed every day.

Many people ask: is lemon juice or acid better for the body? Can it be used instead of lemon?

Both products are beneficial for the body . Only acid is not a natural product; its internal content is determined by its chemical formula. The natural product contains a lot of vitamins, various acids, and nutrients.

The crystals need to be diluted with water, and lemon juice should be consumed without dilution.

The crystalline substance can be taken with you on a hike or expedition ; it is convenient for residents of the Far North: practical where there are difficulties in providing natural citrus fruits.

It is also convenient for those who are interested in cooking . There is no need to buy a whole lemon when you need 1 gram of artificial substance on the tip of a knife.

Colorless acid crystals are a preservative . Their presence in products improves the quality of taste and extends the shelf life of culinary products.

Depending on each specific case, a person himself chooses one of these products.

When losing weight

The colorless crystalline substance is an accelerator of digestive processes and chemical reactions in the body. Consumption promotes:

rapid removal of waste and toxins from the body;
improves digestion;
relieves the body of carbohydrates.

By consuming an aqueous solution of this substance and adding a little honey, a person suppresses the craving for sweets. By limiting access to carbohydrates in the body, a person increases the tendency to lose weight.

If a person is prescribed a diet, then compliance with it has a medical purpose. Before using acid solutions, consult a specialist.

How to get rid of excess weight : dilute the crystalline product in a glass of warm water, add honey - 1/2 teaspoon, ginger root - 2 grams.

Let it brew for 35-40 minutes. Use 2 times a day before meals.

In folk and traditional medicine, cosmetology

The beneficial properties of acid are widely used in many areas of human activity.

Substance E330 is used in the pharmaceutical industry . With its help, drugs are created that improve energy metabolism.

Thanks to the sodium salt (E331) of citric acid, blood reserves are preserved.

The use of a 5% sodium citrate solution helps determine the erythrocyte sedimentation rate using a special technique.

In folk medicine, crystalline dry mixture is used to maintain healthy skin and hair.

Mask for oily scalp and hair . Mixed in a bowl:

herbal decoction of chamomile petals;
honey – 2.5 tbsp. l.;
citric acid – ½ teaspoon;
yolk – 1 pc.

How to use:

rub the resulting composition into the hair roots along the entire length;
wrap in a polyethylene cap, using a towel, wrap your head;
procedure time – 30 minutes;
rinse your hair using a herbal decoction of St. John's wort.

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What is citric acid

When talking about this product, most people think of lemons. However, this substance is also present in other food products of natural origin (plants, vegetables, fruits, berries, pine needles). The leader in acid content is Schisandra chinensis . Citrus fruits were the only source of the valuable substance for a long period of time.

The first scientist to isolate acid from lemons in the 18th century was Swede Karl Wilhelm Scheele . This method required significant costs that did not justify the result obtained: from four thousand kilograms of lemons, only one hundred kilograms of bulk product was obtained.

To reduce costs and increase the final product output, the search began for an alternative source of citric acid. The attempts were crowned with success: the white powder was obtained chemically.

Today, the substance is produced on an industrial scale and has a wide range of applications: from food to household.

The food additive is synthesized from granulated sugar deliberately contaminated with mold fungus from representatives of the Aspergillius . Another product used to obtain bulk solids in the modern world is beets, the processing of which releases a by-product - black molasses - used to produce citric acid.

Citric acid is an organic additive in the form of a crystalline powder with a snow-white tint and a sour taste. Easily soluble in liquid, it has many properties that have both positive and negative effects on the human body.

Composition, chemical properties, glycemic index

Chemical formula (HOOCCH2)2C(OH)COOH . In the professional slang of chemists, it is a tribasic carboxylic acid. Externally, these are colorless crystals, similar to granulated sugar.

It dissolves well in water, ethyl alcohol, and quickly reacts with other chemicals.

Heating to 175.5 degrees leads to the formation of aconitic acid. When interacting with potassium permanganate and berthollet salt, acrylic acid and ethylene oxide are formed.

Tribasic carboxylic acid has a glycemic index of 15. The index value shows how the body absorbs sugar. For products with a lower number, absorption is slower.

Blood sugar levels will be higher when consuming foods with a higher index. For glucose this figure is 100.

Harm of citric acid

Along with a lot of positive characteristics, citric acid can cause harm. It is important to be aware of the possible negative effects of the product.

Exceeding the prescribed standards for using lemongrass can lead to destruction of tooth enamel , as well as burns of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity.
Serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the presence of an ulcer, are a direct contraindication to the use of citric acid. It is also not recommended to use it for heartburn.
Keep citric acid powder out of the reach of children to avoid negative situations where the baby may confuse it with sugar and cause serious damage to their health.
Perform household manipulations with this additive with gloves to avoid damage to the skin.
In exceptional cases, the product may cause allergic reactions .

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Be careful and harm can be avoided.

The first scientist to isolate acid from lemons in the 18th century was Swede Karl Wilhelm Scheele . This method required significant costs that did not justify the result obtained: from four thousand kilograms of lemons, only one hundred kilograms of bulk product was obtained.

How to get acid

For the first time, in the eighteenth century, this compound was discovered by a pharmaceutical worker from Sweden, Karl Scheele. The substance was extracted from unripe lemons. It contains salt and essential elements, which are called citrates. When heated, the acid breaks down into water and carbon dioxide. It can be easily mixed with various solutions and does not pose a threat to the surrounding environment when decomposed.

Initially, the lemon compound was obtained from citrus fruits, pine needles, beet juice, and the stem of tobacco plants. Currently, it is synthesized artificially from special moldy fungi (penicillin, aspergillus) and sucrose (cane sugar, molasses).

The toxicity of lemongrass is low, so it is added to food. What properties does the lemon compound have?

Features of the influence on the human body

This valuable substance is found in many products that bring many benefits to humans, but sometimes it affects our body in completely different ways.

Benefits for adult men and women

The use of citric acid in food increases the amount of calcium in the body of an adult several times.
This dietary supplement helps normalize the functioning of the endocrine system.
It is a means of preventing the development of cancer cells.
The product helps in the fight against kidney stones. It breaks down the minerals that contribute to their appearance, and also removes those already formed. The more of this substance in the urine, the more effective the alkalization process.
Citric acid also benefits the circulatory system. It reduces the risk of metabolic acidosis, thereby protecting the body from serious diseases.
The active substances of this product neutralize free radicals in the body and act as antioxidants, thereby reducing the risk of various tumors.
In men and women, with the help of citric acid, the digestive system is improved and metabolism is accelerated.
For the fair half of humanity, it is simply irreplaceable in cosmetology. When using citric acid, facial skin becomes smooth, wrinkles are removed and a rejuvenating effect is observed.
As a peeling, this substance will help get rid of age spots and acne. After cleansing the skin, the face becomes light and radiant.
Citric acid also benefits hair care. If you add a little powder to water, they will become lighter, silkier and healthier.

Features of prevention

Citric acid surrounds a person everywhere, so it is very important to know what measures will help avoid poisoning with this product.

Measures:

When working with this substance, you must use rubber gloves and eye protection.
If a person decides to clean the kettle with this product, then it is necessary to warn all his close people at home.
The substance should be stored in places that are difficult to reach for children and animals.
When using citric acid in cooking, the dosage must be observed.

Do not forget that poisoning with such a poison can lead to human death. Therefore, it must be treated with the utmost care and precision.

Citric acid poisoning does not occur often, but it does happen. As a rule, the cause is simple human inattention. However, if you follow certain rules, it is quite possible to avoid intoxication. If signs of poisoning are detected, first aid should be provided to the victim and a doctor should be called.

Recommendations for use. What is healthier – citric acid or lemon?

To avoid disastrous consequences with this product, you should always adhere to the daily intake, which is about 4-5 grams. Before use, you should thoroughly dissolve it in water and divide it into several parts. You need to drink this drink 20-30 minutes before meals.

If we compare two such valuable products as lemon and citric acid, then, of course, lemon will outweigh its advantages. It contains some vitamins and minerals that are not found in the food substance, but it also has beneficial properties that are not found in this fruit.

Every housewife always has an indispensable product in her kitchen – citric acid. Many people don’t even realize that it is used not only for preparing various dishes, but also for medicinal purposes, cosmetology, in everyday life and even in the oil industry. The substance has a white crystalline structure and has many benefits, but there are some precautions when using it.

3. Warm drinking water with a nutritional supplement cleanses the liver. This drink promotes the production of bile and is useful for the normal digestive process. Drinking one glass of this water daily on an empty stomach will help improve the functioning of your intestines and relieve constipation and heartburn.

How and from what are they made?

Initially, citric acid was made from the unripe fruits of the lemon tree. The additive can be obtained from the juice of not fully ripened lemons, citrus plants, Chinese lemongrass, berries, as well as from coniferous tree species.

On an industrial scale, a food additive is made by complex synthesis of sugary substances (or simple sugar) with a strain of mold.

Why do they add it to dishes and drinks?

Citric acid is added to dishes and drinks to improve or adjust the taste (if the food is over-sweetened or lacks sourness); the additive is also used as a preservative and acidity regulator.

In borscht

When preparing borscht, acid is used not only to add a piquant taste, but also to preserve the bright color of the beets. One small pinch of acid is enough for a medium pan, which must be added during the preparation of frying vegetables, immediately after the beets have been placed in the pan.

What are the benefits of the supplement?

Citric acid as a food additive has many beneficial properties. Like vitamin C, this substance is the strongest natural antioxidant, and, therefore, helps strengthen protection against negative environmental factors. In moderate doses, it does not affect the mucous membranes of the digestive system, but it perfectly stimulates its work, in addition, it promotes the removal of harmful substances, free radicals, salts and other nasties (including alcohol toxins, which is why it is used for hangover syndrome), inhibits the development of atypical cells and even improves vision.

It is useful to know what vitamins should be taken during menopause, for vision problems, during pregnancy, during breastfeeding, for diabetes, to increase immunity, to increase growth, for hair, nails, for memory and brain, for joints and ligaments, for the heart and blood vessels, for the liver.

Once in the stomach and absorbed into the blood, the acid has a stimulating effect on all metabolic processes, which is why it is often used in various methods of quick and healthy weight loss.

Men will be interested to know that this dietary supplement helps improve sperm quality and, accordingly, makes pregnancy more likely. By the way, a mother expecting the birth of a baby, on the contrary, should refrain from consuming citric acid, especially if pregnancy is accompanied by heartburn, nausea, pressure surges and allergic dermatitis.

Use in cosmetology

Adding citric acid to homemade masks helps whiten the skin, make it smoother and firmer, and also remove traces of acne. Using acid, you can not only lighten your hair, but make it silky and shiny. In addition, the dietary supplement helps remove rough skin from the feet and heels.

Citric acid has a subtle sour aroma that can only be detected when you first open the package. After this, the smell of the food additive is practically not felt.

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