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Who among us does not like the delicious “green borscht”, which is prepared when there are still few vitamins. This spring masterpiece, in addition to meat, eggs and sour cream, contains the ingredient that earned its name. This component is called sorrel. Anyone who tries to chew on its leaf will feel the sour taste caused by oxalic acid. It is to her that this article is devoted.
Oxalic acid rich foods:
General characteristics of oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is a dibasic saturated carboxylic acid belonging to the class of strong organic acids. It is present in many plants, both in free form and in the form of salts called oxalates. In the body, oxalic acid is an intermediate metabolic product.
Daily requirement for oxalic acid
Due to the fact that oxalic acid is not essential, the amount that should be consumed daily is currently considered no more than 50 mg (according to research from the Chicago Institute of Nutrition and Health).
The need for oxalic acid increases:
According to the information we have gleaned from the works of the luminaries of world medicine, natural oxalic acid, which is part of the products listed below, is able to help with:
- infertility;
- amenorrhea;
- male impotence;
- atypical menopause;
- chlamydia and trichomoniasis;
- tuberculosis (chronic);
- rheumatic pains;
- headache;
In addition, oxalic acid has a bactericidal effect on Proteus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
The need for oxalic acid is reduced:
In diseases of the genitourinary system, oxalic acid combines with calcium, forming rectangular gray crystals. Passing through the urinary tract, crystals, injuring the mucous membrane, turn black. Such crystals are called oxalates, and diseases are called oxalaturia. In other words, the presence of oxalic acid salts in the urine. In addition, you should reduce the use of foods containing oxalic acid for gout.
Digestibility of oxalic acid
Oxalic acid is absorbed relatively well. However, since it is also a product of exchange, it has the ability to expel surpluses. At the same time, in adults, it is excreted in an amount of 20 mg per day. As for children, for them the norm of excretion is 0,96-1,29 mg of acid per day. Excretion is carried out in the urine.
Useful properties of oxalic acid and its effect on the body:
Oxalic acid has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Helps with a runny nose and sinusitis. Able to have a healing effect in painful and heavy menstruation, atypical menopause. In addition, the acid contained in the products prevents the development of pathogenic organisms such as cholera, typhoid fever, salmonellosis, chlamydia and other pathogens.
Interaction with other elements
Oxalic acid is a product of protein metabolism. It dissolves well in water. It is combined with vitamin C. It enters into a relationship with calcium, forming insoluble calcium oxalate. In addition, oxalic acid ions have the ability to interact with magnesium.
Signs of excess oxalic acid:
- urolithiasis, in the diagnosis of which the presence of calcium oxalates was revealed;
- gouty changes in bone and cartilage tissue.
Signs of a lack of oxalic acid:
Currently, according to research by the Chicago Institute of Nutrition and Health, no such signs have been found.
Oxalic acid – a component of beauty and health
Since a person consumes oxalic acid along with accompanying proteins and vitamins, it is not only an accompanying component for them, but also a solvent that provides them with access to all the cells of our body. And since health and beauty can only be when there is adequate nutrition, oxalic acid provides transport services for vitamins and minerals.
Despite the fact that oxalic acid is a corrosive acid, its correct use will never harm you. For example, the famous American doctor N. Walker advised the use of oxalic acid (which is part of oxalic juice) to restore normal intestinal motility.