citric acid

Citric Acid

Citric acid is an organic acid and a natural component of many fruits and fruit juices. It is not a vitamin or mineral and is not required in the diet. However, citric acid is beneficial for people with kidney stones. It inhibits stone formation and breaks up small stones that are beginning to form. Citric acid is protective; the more citric acid in your urine, the more protected you are against forming new kidney stones.

What are the best food sources of citric acid?
Citric acid is most prevalent in citrus fruits and juices. Of these fruits, lemons and limes have the most citric acid. While oranges, grapefruits, and berries also contain appreciable amounts, lemons are most significantly contribute to the citric acid content.




Treatment doses of citric acid:
a half-cup (4 ounces) of pure lemon juice per day or 32 ounces of prepared lemonade provide about the same amount of citric acid as does pharmacological therapy.

How does citric acid protect against kidney stones?
Citric acid makes urine less favorable for the formation of stones. In its natural form, such as from citrus fruits, it prevents small stones from becoming “problem stones” by coating them and preventing other material from attaching and building onto the stones.

Other uses of citric acid:
Cosmetics:-
Citric acid is a relatively common ingredient used in cosmetics products to balance the pH levels. According to CosmeticsDatabase.com, small amounts of citric acid can be found in shampoos, body wash, face cleaners, nail polish, hand soap and other cosmetics products. Some people may be sensitive to citric acid, so use caution when applying a cosmetic product containing the acid.

Flavoring:
Citric acid adds flavor to many foods, drinks and medicines.

Preservative:
It has been used most frequently, and for hundreds of years, as a preservative for meat. It increases the acidity of the bacterial environment that may develop, making it difficult for the bacteria to survive.











Citric acid