Edta: what is it, benefit and harm

We are often scared by some incomprehensible slags and heavy metals that accumulate in our body, poisoning it and causing disease. The pharmaceutical market assures that ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, EDTA, which has antioxidant properties, will help get rid of them. What is this drug?

Tablets or mayonnaise?

First of all, we ask the question: "EDTA - what is it and how often it occurs?" Perhaps you have already seen the advertising of drugs of this substance, which are positioned as a dietary supplement. Do I need to buy these pills? In fact, EDTA is an acid that is widely used in the food industry and is designated as E-385. Look into your refrigerator, read the composition of mayonnaise and other products, it is possible that you will see this designation on the package. Thus, it can be argued that each of us consumes, although in small quantities, EDTA substance. What it is and how it works, we will now find out.

Chelation therapy

Such a terrible word, like "chelation", is called the process of binding harmful substances in the body. This is how EDTA works, an acid that is used for medical purposes in a 5% solution. Getting into the blood, the molecules of this substance seem to envelop the ions of heavy metals, even such dangerous ones as mercury, not allowing them to react with cells. In such a related state, the toxic substances can no longer remain in the body and are safely removed. Due to this effect, EDTA is often used in medicine for more effective treatment of many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases.

Numerous observations, both in Russia and abroad, have shown that EDTA brings profound benefits, patients taking the preparations of this acid note a significant improvement in the condition.

In addition, E-385 is used in dentistry. Since EDTA is an acid in its essence, it is capable of softening some tissues and increasing their permeability, which is necessary for processing narrow root canals in the tooth.

What does the mayonnaise?

Why is the EDTA medical product used in the food industry? What is this, when we are added to our food without our knowledge? But the whole point is that E-385, by binding metals, prevents their oxidation, thereby increasing the shelf life of products. In addition, this substance is often added to cosmetics, as it creates a thick, durable foam. In fact, EDTA was opened in 1935 and almost immediately received a very wide application in many industries, from canned food to paper production. Every year this amino acid is produced in huge quantities, but for some reason no one talks about what harm can be caused by adding EDTA. Is this substance safe?

Critical mass

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid has one unpleasant feature - it does not degrade in nature. The toxicity of this acid is very weak, it is incapable of causing pronounced harm to a person, but, as is known, the same substance can be both poison and medicine, depending on the dose. Although EDTA binds heavy metal ions, it itself is not susceptible to almost no effect and can accumulate both in the human body and in the environment. In large doses, this compound has a cytotoxic effect, that is, suppresses the work of cells. It is especially important to remember this when choosing cosmetics, as they penetrate the skin. As a rule, when describing the substance EDTA in the column "side effects" they write only "individual intolerance", but doctors do not recommend giving this drug to children, which already makes you think. Ecologists are increasingly saying that if EDTA continues to be used so widely, then an environmental disaster can not be avoided, because even if the drug does not harm a person, it accumulates in the soil, interfering with natural processes.

To drink or not to drink?

So, let's ask again: "EDTA - what is it? A medicine or one more potentially harmful chemical additive?" Both. EDTA has both beneficial properties and harmful, so it is not worth it to take this amino acid as a dietary supplement without prescribing a doctor. If you suffer from any diseases that lead to a metabolic disorder, EDTA will undoubtedly be very useful, as it removes harmful compounds from the tissues. And even more so without this drug can not do with poisoning with heavy metals.

But, despite the low toxicity, in large doses this substance can be very dangerous (rats, for example, die with a dosage of EDTA in 2 grams per 1 kg of weight). Being an acid, it is able to soften, albeit slightly, even the tissues of the tooth, and accumulating in cells, suppresses their work. Another point - EDTA connects almost all free ions, including the iron and calcium we need so much. Therefore, if you are doing well with your health, then EDTA should be avoided. In the end, our body is a self-regulating system, and often the main thing is not to interfere with excess care.