Citric acid has been used as a preservative for meat and fish for centuries. There are infinite bacteria in our body, and citric acid makes it difficult for the microbes to survive and even reproduce by increasing the acidity of the bacterial environment.
Citric acid monohydrate is a healthy acid that works as an alkalizing agent, helping decrease acidity levels in body fluids and also binds the excess calcium and allows it to leave the body.
Citric Acid: A Healthy Acid There are natural ways as well as artificial ways to obtain citric acid. It could be obtained from both plants and human tissues or body fluids. However, if one wants to get the benefits of citric acid through natural foods, than the best sources are limes, grapefruits, raspberries, pears, apples, kiwis, cherries, strawberries and also vegetables such as mushrooms, tomatoes, peas, mushrooms, potatoes, asparagus.
Citric acid is often used as a mineral supplement in food as an acidity regulator and as a flavoring ingredient. Though it is not an antioxidant, citric acid plays a huge role in enhancing the working of several antioxidants that are beneficial to our health.
The following properties are very beneficial. Let’s have a look at each one of them:
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Boosts Renal Health: Citric acid makes sure that the kidneys function well, and it also reduces the chances of kidney stones. Its alkalizing properties and the ability to bind to calcium are very useful in the treatment of many other kidney ailments.
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Fighting Free Radicals: As an antioxidant, citric acid could eliminate the effects of free radicals, which are quite damaging. These are unstable compounds that trigger the growth of cancerous tumors.
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Improving The Absorption Of Minerals: Experts say that citric acid mixes with the minerals and metals very easily, thus facilitating the absorption in the body.
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Revitalizing The Skin: Citric acid is the most common ingredient in most skin products. It regenerates the skin tissue and slows down the aging process. Creams that are rich in citric acid could have a de-pigmenting effect and could lighten the freckles.
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Soothing Of A Sore Throat: Citric acid could reduce the inflammation caused by tonsillitis. When citric acid and water are used for gargling, they could reduce throat infection by killing the germs that could cause minor to severe infections.
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Fights Nausea: Citric acid could alleviate nausea by reducing the gastric acidity.
Why You Should Avoid It: Though it provides numerous health benefits, citric acid supplementation could cause a variety of side effects, ranging from vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which is why you must consult a doctor before taking the supplements.
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Stomach Upset: You could suffer from various disorders like diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea and more.
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Black Stools or Bloody Ones: Discolored, bloody tools and cloudy urine are some of the symptoms of excessive consumption of citric acid. In some cases, it might also cause fever, headache, or even sudden and frequent urges to urinate or decrease the amount of urine.
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Dizziness Or Loss Of Blood Pressure: Citric acid could cause a loss of fructose absorption that leads to a sudden drop in the blood pressure, decreased attention, dizziness and fainting.
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Infant Health Could Be Affected: Citric acid are the supplements that should strictly stay out of consumption of babies and children, as it could affect the absorbing abilities of heavy metals such as cadmium and lead into blood.
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Weak Hair: Hair degradation is also one of the symptoms of excessive citric acid consumption. The acid opens up the hair cuticle and deprives the hair from the essential minerals.
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Drug Interactions: Citric acid might interact with certain drugs that could result into chemical reactions.
Conclusion
It may now be clear that in addition to the health benefits given by citric acid, there are certain disadvantages associated with it. However, if you are taking it in appropriate proportions with a healthy diet, it will do more good than bad.