How to Drink Baking Soda Safely for Your Health

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Combats indigestion & acid reflux with simple baking soda water

Co-authored by John Diaz and Aly Rusciano

Last Updated: November 25, 2024 Fact Checked

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How & When to Drink Baking Soda

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Possible Health Benefits

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Potential Side Effects

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Other Baking Soda Uses

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Warnings

Are you experiencing irritating conditions like indigestion, acid reflux, or heartburn? If so, baking soda may be able to help! Studies have shown that drinking baking soda may help treat these ailments and provide relief.^{[1]
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Research source} In this article, we’ll walk you through how to drink baking soda safely, which conditions it can help, and what potential complications to be aware of before you try it.

What’s the best way to drink baking soda?

Experts recommend drinking no more than ½ teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup (240 mL) of water 1–3 hours after a meal to improve acid reflux and indigestion symptoms. Baking soda is also believed to help relieve heartburn and improve your immune health. Do not drink within 2 hours of taking other medication.

Section 1 of 4:

Drinking Baking Soda for Indigestion & Acid Reflux

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1
Drink ½ teaspoon (8.5 g) of baking soda dissolved in 1 cup (240 mL) of water. Pour 1 cup (240 mL) of plain water into a glass. Then, measure out ½ teaspoon (8.5 g) of baking soda and stir it into the glass of water. Keep stirring until the baking soda dissolves completely. This amount is considered to be a single dose.^{[2]
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- When is the best time to drink baking soda? The best time to drink baking soda is 1 to 3 hours after a meal or at bedtime (unless told otherwise by your doctor).^{[3]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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- How much can you take safely? Aim to take a single dose (½ teaspoon or 8.5 grams) per day. Taking more than a single dose a day isn’t typically recommended and can potentially cause serious health problems, like seizures or kidney failure.^{[4]
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  U.S. National Capital Poison Center
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- Warning: Make sure you’re using baking soda, not baking powder! They aren’t the same thing, and baking powder isn’t safe to drink.
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Discuss taking baking soda with your doctor before ingesting it. Small amounts of baking soda are usually considered to be safe, but those with certain health problems shouldn’t take it regularly. It’s high in sodium, so it’s not recommended for people with high cholesterol or those on a sodium-restricted diet. Similarly, it can also have an adverse reaction to certain medications.^{[5]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- People who should not take baking soda include:
  - Women who are pregnant or nursing
  - Individuals with edema, liver disease, kidney disease, or high blood pressure
  - Children under the age of 5^{[6]
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Section 2 of 4:

Possible Health Benefits of Drinking Baking Soda

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Improved digestion and acid reflux If you suffer from acid reflux, baking soda may help neutralize that acid and provide relief from heartburn.^{[7]
X
Research source} Baking soda may also help your body digest food better, reduce bloating and gas, and promote healthy bowel functioning.
- Take 1 dose per day, or on the days when you think you might need a digestive aid.
- Baking soda neutralizes acidity, and the effervescence of the solution eases bloating and gas by encouraging burping.
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Treatments for ulcers Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is a proven treatment for ulcers. Not only does this natural remedy ease indigestion and sour stomach, but it can also help neutralize stomach acid and ease ulcer pain.^{[8]
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Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals

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- Baking soda can also be used alongside other drugs such as omeprazole to ease the gastrointestinal tract and ease gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms.^{[9]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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- Talk to your doctor about treating ulcer symptoms with baking soda. They may provide you with a tablet, granule, or solution form of the natural treatment.
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Treatment aid for kidney stones and/or urinary tract infections (UTIs) The kidneys and urinary tract are both vulnerable to acidic urine. Taking 1 dose of baking soda per day may discourage the formation of kidney stones and help you overcome UTIs more quickly.^{[10]
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PubMed Central
Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health

Go to source} While baking soda may help with mild kidney problems, it's not recommended for people with kidney disease or renal failure.^{[11]
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- Reducing the acid levels in urine may also provide relief for people suffering from UTIs.
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Muscle pain and fatigue prevention Intense physical activity causes lactic acid to build up in the body, which leads to pain and fatigue. It's believed that drinking baking soda can delay that buildup, which improves performance, endurance, and speed. However, scientific tests on the subject remain inconclusive.^{[12]
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- If you’re a professional athlete, talk to your trainer about using baking soda. Because of its performance-enhancing properties, baking soda consumption is banned in some sports.
Regularly consuming baking soda may help to treat auto-immune related conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and gout. This is because baking soda has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Talk to your doctor about using baking soda for this purpose before taking it regularly.^{[13]
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Kidney disease Some believe that drinking baking soda can help cleanse your kidneys. For some with kidney disease, drinking or taking a sodium bicarbonate supplement can help slow the progression of the disease and improve kidney function.^{[14]
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- Talk to your doctor before taking baking soda to aid your kidneys, as sodium bicarbonate could harm already healthy kidneys.
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Improved chemotherapy treatment While baking soda is not a proven aid for cancer, it has been shown to aid cancer treatments such as chemotherapy. Some chemotherapy drugs thrive in alkaline conditions (or in a body with a low pH).^{[15]
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Science Direct
Online archive of peer-reviewed research on scientific, technical and medical topics

Go to source} Because of this, doctors may prescribe cancer patients a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) drink or supplement.^{[16]
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- Similarly, a baking soda rinse has been proven to aid mouth sores caused by chemotherapy.^{[17]
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  National Cancer Institute
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Ella Marie, Naturopathic Doctor

While some claim baking soda is a cure-all, science shows targeted benefits, not one-drink-fixes-all solutions. Consuming it can temporarily neutralize stomach acid, relieving acid reflux or an upset stomach. Its alkaline nature may counter pathogens and inflammation. However, risks like sodium overload, kidney strain, and nutrient depletion arise with frequent intake. Any consumption beyond minor food uses requires medical supervision to augment your health, not endanger it.

Section 3 of 4:

Complications & Side Effects of Drinking Baking Soda

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Excess baking soda can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, or an irregular heartbeat. While baking soda is non-toxic, taking too much of it could cause adverse reactions nearly identical to poisoning. Because of this, it’s important to monitor how your body responds to drinking baking soda and to never drink more than the recommended amount. Side effects of drinking too much baking soda include:^{[18]
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MedlinePlus
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- Constipation
- Convulsions
- Diarrhea
- Frequent urination
- Irritability
- Muscle spasms or weakness
- Racing heart or irregular heartbeat
- Ruptured stomach^{[19]
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- Vomiting
- Interference with other medications
- If you experience any of these side effects, contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or go to the emergency room ASAP.^{[20]
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  U.S. National Capital Poison Center
  Independent poison control center providing resources to prevent poisonings and save lives
  
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Section 4 of 4:

Other Baking Soda Uses

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Baking soda has many popular health and household uses. Baking soda is a powerful ingredient that goes much farther than basic cooking! Thanks to its gentle chemical makeup, it can be used practically everywhere in your household and aid your daily routine. For example, baking soda can be used as:
- Bug bite relief: Baking soda can be used as a natural remedy for bug bites and stings. Simply mix 1 tablespoon (14 g) of baking soda with enough water to form a paste. Apply the paste to the bite, leave on for 10 minutes, and then rinse off to help ease itchiness and redness.^{[21]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
  
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- Mouthwash: Some studies have found that baking soda helps freshen breath and remove bacteria.^{[22]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
  Go to source} Make a baking soda mouthwash by swishing with ¹⁄₂ tsp (0.010 c) of baking soda and 1 c (240 ml) of warm water.
- Canker sore relief: Some studies suggest that rinsing your mouth with baking soda can help ease canker sores. Simply make a baking soda mouthwash, swish and rinse, and repeat as necessary.^{[23]
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  Mayo Clinic
  Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
  
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- Deodorant: Baking soda is commonly used as a natural deodorizer as it balances out the acidity of sweat odors.^{[24]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
  Go to source} So, if you’re out of deodorant, try patting baking soda on your pits for a quick fix.
- Air freshener: Baking soda has been proven to neutralize odors.^{[25]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  
  Go to source} Make your own air freshener by mixing your favorite essential oils with baking soda and placing it in an uncovered jar.
- All-purpose cleaner: Baking soda is a natural all-purpose cleaner that can be used on practically any surface! When combined with vinegar, it can lift stubborn stains and kill bacteria, or it can be used on its own to scrub away dirt.^{[26]
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Warnings

Baking soda is not recommended for long-term use, and it's best to consult your doctor before using it to treat any health condition.^{[27]
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