We are often scared by some obscure slag and heavy metals that accumulate in our body, poisoning it and causing disease. The pharmaceutical market claims that ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, EDTA, which has antioxidant properties, will help get rid of them. What is this drug?
Pills or mayonnaise?
First of all, we ask the question: "EDTA - what is it and how often does it occur?" You may have already seen an advertisement for the preparations 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 in your refrigerator, read the composition of mayonnaise and other products, it is possible that you will see this sign on the package. Thus, it can be argued that each of us consumes, albeit in small quantities, the substance EDTA. What is it and how it works, now we find out.
Chelation therapy
Such a terrible word as “chelation” refers to 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 percent solution. Once in the blood, the molecules of this substance seem to envelop heavy metal ions, even such dangerous ones as mercury, preventing them from reacting with cells. In such a bound state, toxic substances can no longer remain in the body and are safely excreted. 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 is of great benefit, patients taking this acid have a significant improvement.
In addition, E-385 is used in dentistry. Since EDTA is an acid in nature, it is able to soften some tissues and increase their permeability, which is necessary for treating narrow root canals in a tooth.
What does mayonnaise have to do with it?
Why is EDTA used in the food industry? What is it when they add medicine 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 (EDTA) was opened back in 1935 and almost immediately received very wide application in many industries, ranging from canned goods to paper production. This amino acid is produced in large quantities annually, but for some reason no one talks about how harmful the addition of EDTA can be. Is this substance safe?
Critical mass
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid has one unpleasant feature - it does not break down in nature. The toxicity of this acid is very weak, it is not capable of causing harm to humans, but, as you know, the same substance can be poison and medicine, depending on the dose. Although EDTA binds heavy metal ions, it itself is not exposed to almost any effect and can accumulate both in the human body and in the environment. In large doses, this compound has a cytotoxic effect, that is, it inhibits 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”, however, doctors do not recommend giving this drug to children, which already makes you think. Environmentalists are increasingly saying that if EDTA will continue to be used so widely, then an environmental catastrophe cannot 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 another potentially harmful chemical supplement?" Both. EDTA has both beneficial and harmful properties, so it’s definitely not worth taking this amino acid as a dietary supplement without a doctor’s prescription. If you suffer from any diseases that lead to metabolic disorders, without a doubt, EDTA will be very useful, as it removes harmful compounds from the tissues. And even more so, this drug can not be dispensed with poisoning with heavy metals.
But, despite low toxicity, in high doses this substance can be very dangerous (rats, for example, die when the dosage of EDTA is 2 grams per 1 kg of body weight). Being an acid, it is able to soften, albeit slightly, even tooth tissues, and while accumulating in the cells, it suppresses their work. Another point - EDTA binds almost all free ions, including iron and calcium, which are so necessary for us. Therefore, if your health is good, then EDTA is best avoided. In the end, our body is a self-regulating system, and often the main thing is not to interfere with unnecessary care.