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Saltpeter In Food: What You Need To Know [2020]


saltpeter in food


Saltpeter which is also known as potassium nitrate (KNO3) is one of the main ingredients in food preservation department.

Majority of the companies around the world rely on this chemical to preserve their food so they can not only be able to export the products worldwide but also be able to distribute their product lines in the local market as well.

In today’s post, we are going to talk about why saltpeter is an essential chemical and what are the possible replacements if there is any that’s much better in how they can be able to preserve both the frozen food items and general ones.

The Main Purpose

The main purpose behind the use of saltpeter (potassium nitrate) is to preserve the food especially packaged meat.

But, it also has other reasons for its usage.

It’s also used as a color retention especially in cured meats such as bacon, corned beef, bologna, ham, pepperoni and hot dogs.

Saltpeter Can Cure Asthma

Rumors are true. You might not believe but, for the people who are affecting with the asthma disease can be able to cure themselves with the use of saltpeter chemical.

That means products that says “saltpeter” in their ingredients listing is actually good for them.

So the use of saltpeter in the food is good for them and for their disease as well.

Rare Benefit

It’s also known that saltpeter can be able to lower the temperature in the body in the case of fever. Other rare benefit saltpeter provides is improving the sensitivity of teeth’s so they can’t be able to bleed that easy when your brush bristle somehow get in contact with your teeth gums.

Saltpeter also helps in lowering blood pressure.

Side Effects

As saltpeter has a lot of good benefits under its belt it also provides some harmful effects on the human body.

One of which is gastroenteritis i.e. severe stomach pain, high blood pressure (as opposed to lowering blood pressure which saltpeter sometimes do. Consult your doctor so you can be able identify how saltpeter will affect you specifically based on your current health and condition), kidney problems, anemia, weakness and torpor.

Higher dose of saltpeter can also cause depression.

Any Natural Alternative

Absolutely, the healthier and side effects free alternative to saltpeter is beetroot juice.

There are many benefits to using beet juice but, here are a few:
·         Lower blood pressure
·         Exercise stamina
·         Muscle power
·         Slow dementia
·         Healthy weight
·         Cancer prevention
·         Potassium
·         Other minerals
·         Vitamin C
·         Liver support
·         Folate
·         Reduce cholesterol

Beet juice can be a good substitute in the regards of curing meat in a chemically free way. Beetroot juice has the ability to transform the bacteria in to nitrites which is essential in preserving food items.

Are They Still Using?

Many food items products manufacturers still use KNO3 as part of their main preservative ingredient but, many countries are now focusing on stopping the use of this chemical because in larger quantities it’s not really good for humans to consume.

Even in some countries it’s now completely banned and companies no longer allowed using this chemical.

Instead, they are using sodium nitrate or sodium nitrite as their main preservation method nowadays.

Conclusion

No matter if saltpeter has side effects or not. But, one thing is true.

It’s one of the main ingredients in packaged meats that you eat on a daily basis.

It has benefits as well but, side effects may come on top of the positive points because they are so handful.

If you use cured meat in your diet make sure it doesn’t contain whole lot saltpeter in it.

If it does, it’s better to consume the small portion of that meat one meal at a time so you’ll be able to consume saltpeter in minimal quantifies preventing any side effects causing you.


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