Baking soda or sodium bicarbonate is a chemical compound that often appears as a powder, but it is actually a white crystalinne solid. Baking soda is a salt that is composed of bicarbonate and sodium ions. It has a slightly salty taste and it is one of the most popular food additives.
Baking soda is not used only in culinary, but also in medical purposes, for treating many infections and diseases. Baking soda can be used as a great supplement for improving sports performance, but it is also very effective as a cleaning agent.
However, in this article we will talk about drinking baking soda. You will find out more about baking soda and its impact on our health. If you are not sure whether you can drink baking soda or not, this article will be very useful and interesting for you.
Is Baking Soda Safe for Drinking?
The answer to this question is yes. You can safely drink baking soda dissolved in water. If consumed moderately and at appropriate times, it can be very beneficial to our health. If you didn’t know, baking soda has been used for thousands of years to relieve the symptoms of indigestion, arthritis, infections and heartburn.
It is recommended to mix ½ teaspoon of baking soda into ½ glass of water. It is considered a safe dose for the relief of many health problems.
Health Benefits of Baking Soda
Baking soda that is dissolved in water has many health benefits, so you should drink it regularly. Baking soda has antiseptic properties and it can kill some kinds of mold, parasites and fungi. Because of that, it is good to apply baking soda to your toothbrush. This way you will disinfect the brush and clean your teeth.
Also, if you gargle water with baking soda mixed into it, you will minimize the symptoms of sore throat or cough. Baking soda also works as an antacid, so it can help ease digestive problems. Baking soda dissolved in water is known to neutralize acid in stomach and to treat heartburn. Baking soda can also help in preventing kidney stone and urinary tract infections.
Actually, if you drink baking soda regularly, you can restore a healthy ionic balance and you can prevent kidney stone formation. It is also proved that drinking baking soda water can balance the pH level in the body, so experts recommend drinking this solution in order to prevent gout and other joint inflammations.
Also, baking soda can enhance sports performance and most athletes are using it.
How To Drink Baking Soda?
There are different ways how you can drink baking soda to improve your health. It depends on the problem or the condition that you want to treat or improve. For example, if you use baking soda to treat flu or cold, then it is important to drink baking soda for three days. The first day you should drink six doses of baking soda dissolved in a glass of water. The second day you should drink four doses and the third day it is enough to drink only two doses, in the morning and in the evening. The symptoms of cold and flu should be eliminated within 36 hours.
If symptoms are still there, you should drink one dose of baking soda every morning until the symptoms disappear. But, if you drink baking soda for the relief of heartburn, then you should take up to 7 doses within 24 hours. For patients older than 60 years, 3 doses are enough.
Tips For Drinking Baking Soda
It is important to know that baking soda should not be consumed in high doses and in a long term, because it is high in sodium. Also, it is possible to get some side effects after drinking baking soda, such as increased thirstiness and stomach upset. People who suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney or liver diseases should not drink baking soda.
Also, baking soda can be harmful to pregnant women or nursing mothers. Children younger than five years should not drink baking soda. Although baking soda is safe for drinking, you should never take baking powder because it is completely different substance from baking soda and it can harm your body.
Summary
As you have seen, baking soda is not used only for baking, but it is also very good for drinking. You can drink baking soda throughout the day to boost your immune system and to improve your overall health. Baking soda dissolved in a glass of water has many health benefits for you.
But, it is important to drink baking soda in moderate portions because it is high in sodium. If you drink it at appropriate times and moderately, baking soda can prevent and treat many health issues. However, it is best to consult your doctor before drinking baking soda for medical purposes.
