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🧂 Baking soda’s surprising health secrets

🧂 Baking soda’s surprising health secrets

Discover the powerful and unique health benefits of baking soda.

HealthHack
April 28, 2024

Happy Sunday!

Today, we’re digging into the surprising health benefits of baking soda.

📊 HealthHack Poll of the Week 📊

Last week, we asked how often you take probiotics, and the most votes went to:

I'm aware they're important, but not sure what each one does 🤷

With today’s deep dive on baking soda’s benefits, we’d love to know:

Have you ever used baking soda outside of baking, and if so, what for?

Cast your vote for your top choice, and drop a comment in the “Additional Feedback” box on the poll page to share more!

🧂 Baking Soda: A Household Essential With Surprising Health Benefits 🥄

Beyond its common use in baking and cleaning, baking soda has a host of health benefits many people don’t know about.

From enhancing physical performance to managing heartburn…

Let's explore how baking soda can be a valuable addition to your wellness routine.

A helpful aid for acid reflux and indigestion.

Baking soda's most well-known health benefit is its ability to quickly neutralize stomach acid.

A half teaspoon dissolved in a glass of water can provide quick relief from heartburn and acid reflux, making it a low-cost, over-the-counter remedy.

It's important, however, to use this remedy judiciously, as excessive consumption can lead to imbalances in electrolyte and acid-base levels…

And, while health practitioners generally accept baking soda as an effective way to provide temporary relief for acid reflux, it’s not recommended for long-term use or for more than two weeks at a time

It can act as a performance enhancer for high-intensity activities.

In the realm of sports, baking soda is valued for its potential to buffer lactic acid buildup in muscles during intense exercise.

This can delay fatigue and enhance athletic endurance, particularly in high-intensity activities.

One systematic review suggests that sodium bicarbonate can indeed improve performance in short bursts of intense exercise and is increasingly used by athletes for this purpose…

With a dose of about 0.3 grams/kilogram of body mass (0.14 grams/pound), about 1 to 2 hours prior to exercise.

Baking soda may even support kidney function.

Preliminary research indicates that baking soda may help slow the progression of chronic kidney disease by reducing levels of acid in the blood.

This benefit seems to be particularly pronounced in people with lower kidney function, where the kidneys struggle to remove acid from the body.

More comprehensive studies are needed to fully understand these effects and how best to utilize them in a medical context.

One study even showed it can help enhance sleep quality when added to baths.

Adding a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to a nightly bath has been shown to enhance sleep quality.

The test group in one study who took sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) baths experienced effects like:

Faster time to fall asleep
Less sleep disturbances
Improved sleep efficiency
Greater sleep satisfaction

Now, despite the benefits, there are a few key safety considerations.

While baking soda is generally safe for many applications, it's crucial to use it responsibly:

Avoid excessive consumption, particularly if you're on a low-sodium diet or have high blood pressure.
Not recommended for long-term use as an antacid without medical advice.
Don’t consume around meal times, as it can reduce stomach acidity.
It can interact with certain medications, so consult your healthcare provider before incorporating it into your health regimen.

In conclusion…

Wrapping up our exploration of baking soda, it's clear that this common household item holds numerous potential health benefits.

As with any home remedy or health supplement, it's essential to use baking soda responsibly and consult with a healthcare provider to ensure it's safe for your specific health needs.