Nitrate hazard

Nitrates, or, otherwise, salts of nitric acid, are a normal product of the exchange of nitrogenous substances of any living organism, both vegetable and animal. Therefore, such foods, which in their composition do not contain any nitrates, are not found in nature. Even in the human body, 100 mg or more of nitrates are formed and used in different metabolic processes in one day.

The danger of nitrates is that when consumed in high amounts, they are often able in the digestive tract to recover to nitrites, which are more toxic chemical compounds. Nitrites on admission to the blood can cause methemoglobinemia, i.e.to contact with hemoglobin of erythrocytes. In addition, in the presence of amines, nitrates can form N-nitrosamines, which have a so-called carcinogenic activity, i. E.the ability to cause the development of cancerous tumors. Taking high doses of nitrates with drinking water or foodstuffs after 4-6 hours causes such symptoms as the appearance of nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, diarrhea, weakness, dizziness and palpitations. The first help in poisoning with nitrates is a lot of washing the stomach, taking activated charcoal, saline laxatives, and also in the intake of fresh air.

In the case of an adult, the allowable daily dose of nitrates is 325 mg / day. It is known that in drinking water the permissible level of nitrates is 45 mg / l. The recommended amount of food, which uses drinking water( tea, first and third dishes), is about 1.0-1.5 liters, maximum 2.0 liters per day. Based on this, an adult with water can consume about 68 mg of nitrate. Consequently, 257 mg of nitrates remain on the share of food products. Studies have shown that the toxic effect of nitrates in food is less than that contained in drinking water, about 1.25 times( ie, it is actually safe).In a day with food products, 320 mg of nitrates enter the human body, and only vegetable food products are sources of natural nitrates. The content of nitrates in products of animal origin( meat, milk), as a rule, is very small.

Used materials:
Shilov VN, Mits'yo VP"Healthy food"