Citric acid

Citric acid is very similar to Ascorbic acid(Vitamin C) but is not the same thing. There is no Vitamin C in Citric acid.

• Citric acid is a normal component of human cells that is metabolized, degraded, and eliminated from the body. Also known as E330, it is one of the main ingredients in the food and beverage industry because it is easily obtained in large quantities, healthy and cheap.
• It is often used for proper mineral supplementation of food, as an acidity regulator, and as a flavor compound. Citric acid enhances the activity of many beneficial antioxidants, but is not, itself, an antioxidant.
• Citric Acid helps preserve cosmetics and personal care products. Citric Acid and its salts are also added to cosmetics to help adjust the acid/base balance.

Benefits

• Kidney stones: Administered while drinking lemonade, citric acid prevents the formation of kidney stones and ensures proper functioning of the kidneys. Citric acid’s ability to chelate calcium and its alkalizing properties make it useful as a method for preventing kidney stones as well as several other kidney ailments.
• Antioxidant: As an antioxidant, citric acid may be able to neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals, unstable compounds that can accumulate in the body and can trigger the growth of cancerous tumours.
• Mineral absorption: Specialists say that the citric acid associates itself with minerals and metals easily, a trait which accelerates their absorption into the body.
• Skin care: Citric acid is a common ingredient found in face packs and skin products. It is considered an antioxidant that can help the regeneration of skin tissue and slowing down the aging process.
• Skin color: In the case of stained skin or freckles, the use of a cream rich in citric acid will have a depigmentation effect.
• Sore throat: Citric acid is of great help when a person has tonsillitis. Gargling with a combination of citric acid and water will clear the infection from the throat because it effectively kills the germs that are causing the infection.
• Nausea: Citric acid can quickly and effectively reduce nausea by reducing the gastric acidity.

Cautions

• Stomach upset: Taking supplementation of citric acid can cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain.
• Yellow skin or eyes: These symptoms can occur, although they are rare.
• Bloody or black, tarry stool: Discoloured stools or bloody or cloudy urine are more serious symptoms. You may also have a fever, headache, frequent urge to urinate or a decrease in the amount of urine.
• Dizziness or loss of blood pressure: Citric acid can cause a loss of fructose absorption which can lead to a sudden drop of blood pressure, dizziness, decreased attention and fainting.
• Affects infant health: Citric acid can affect the absorption of heavy metals like cadmium and lead into the blood. Citric acid supplementation is not recommended for babies or children.
• Can weaken hair: The acid opens the hair cuticle and it may also remove minerals from the hair. It may lead to its degradation, discoloration or breakage.

Interactions

• Citric acid may interact with aluminum salts, tetracyclines like doxycycline, amphetamines and anorexiants drugs like phentermine.

References

Source: www.zliving.com/health/natural-remedies/citric-acid-benefits-uses-side-effects-3376/
Source: cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/citric-acid#sthash.pdiCZ8YC.dpuf