Sodium citrate, also known as sodium citrate, is an organic compound of sodium salt. The appearance of sodium citrate is white to colorless crystal and has the taste of soapy water. Soluble in water and glycerin but insoluble in alcohol and other organic solvents, sodium citrate with deliquescence is weathered in hot air.
Sodium citrate is often used as flavor agent or stabilizer in food and beverage industry; In the pharmaceutical industry, it is mainly used as anticoagulant, expectorant and diuretic; In detergent industry, it can replace sodium tripolyphosphate as an auxiliary agent of non-toxic detergent; It is also used for brewing, injection, photography, medicine and electroplating.
Lemon juice contains a large amount of citric acid, which combines with calcium ions to form a soluble complex, so that sodium citrate can alleviate the effect of calcium ions on blood coagulation, prevent and treat hypertension and myocardial infarction, so it can play an anticoagulant role.
When taking fresh blood clinically, it is necessary to add some sterilized sodium citrate or sodium oxalate to prevent blood coagulation. Therefore, sodium citrate and sodium oxalate are called anticoagulants.
After all, sodium citrate is a chemical substance. Many people worry that eating it will be harmful to the human body. In fact, it is not. Sodium citrate is an alkaline substance, which can balance the pH of the human body. It is that the human body is in a normal pH range, and alkaline is very good for alleviating the fatigue of the human body after exercise. Sodium citrate is edible.
After introducing the above functions of sodium citrate, Xiaobian reminds you that citric acid is an edible acid, which can enhance the normal metabolism in the body, and the appropriate dose is harmless to the human body. Adding citric acid to some foods tastes good and can promote appetite. Citric acid is allowed to be used in jams, beverages, cans and candy in China. However, excessive consumption of sodium citrate will accelerate the excretion and deposition of calcium in the body, which may lead to hypocalcemia and increase the risk of duodenal cancer. In particular, children should eat less processed foods containing citric acid.