4 Harmful Effects Of Cream Of Tartar On Your Health

Cream of tartar, or potassium bitartrate, is derived from the barrels used for wine fermentation. It is a crystal, and is normally used in powder form. Cream of tartar is frequently used as a thickening agent with egg whites. It is commonly used in baked goods, frosting and syrups to increase body as well as extend shelf life. Cream of tartar is also used as a household cleaner. It can be mixed with hydrogen peroxide, oils or baking soda to make do-it-yourself cleaners.

# Increased Risk of Hyperkalemia

We have learned that the potassium present in the cream of tartar is a natural vasodilator that relaxes our blood vessels, improves blood circulation and thus helps with hypertension or high blood pressure.

Although this is a good thing, there is a dark side to it.Cream of tartar is very high in potassium. Just 10 grams of cream of tartar provides around 1650 mg of potassium. The daily recommended intake of potassium is 3500 mg to 4700 mg.

This means that just 10 gram of cream of tartar is enough to fulfill about 30 percent to 50 percent of the daily potassium requirement.It is important to keep an eye on your cream of tartar consumption as excessive intake may lead to hyperkalemia.

# Increased Risk of Dehydration

Cream of tartar is diuretic in nature which means it is very effective for preventing our body cells to retain excessive fluid ( which otherwise make them look puffy and swollen) and also aids in excreting out this excess fluid out of the body.Being a natural diuretic, cream of tartar is also good for our kidneys as it helps our kidneys to flush out toxins from our system.

It is also laxative in nature which means it is effective for improving bowel movements and helps with constipation and other gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gas, bloating and flatulence, etc. We lose excessive water even during the bowel movement as it is what makes the passage smooth.

# May Cause Eye Irritation

The National Fire Protection Association which is an international non-profit organization that works to eliminate death, injury and property loss due to the fire, electrical and other related hazards, has given a rating of 2 to the cream of tartar. A rating of 2 means it is a hazardous chemical that should be kept away from the eyes. Even if a small portion of cream of tartar gets into the eye then it may cause mild to moderate eye irritation and you may also experience swelling and redness of the eye.

If for any reason, cream of tartar gets into your eye then immediately flush your eyes with water for a minimum of 15 minutes. Depending on the severity of the situation, it is also advisable to consult with a doctor.

# May Cause Digestive Problems

Cream of tartar is laxative in nature which makes it very suitable for the people suffering from constipation. The laxative property of the cream of tartar improves bowel movement and ensures smooth elimination of stool from our system. This not only helps with constipation but also minimizes the risk of other gastrointestinal issues such as abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, flatulence and indigestion, etc.

However, it is advisable to not rely on the laxative property of the cream of tartar for too long as it is very strong laxative which may cause more harm than the good when consumed over a prolonged time.

Cream of tartar is also known to eliminate excess fluid from our system which may cause dehydration in the body. When there is not enough water in the system then it will be difficult for the body to digest food properly which may lead to indigestion and poor absorption of the nutrients.