Baking soda is a staple in any American household. It’s useful for baking and cooking, and at the same time, can be used for eliminating odor around the house. It is popular simply because of its versatility. But did you know that baking soda can actually help treat common health problems?
What Makes Baking Soda Versatile?
It is not a mystery why baking soda is what it is. According to scientists, it is made primarily of sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3 which is a base.
Bases are known to interact with their opposite version which is acids. And everyone knows that there are a lot of health problems that arise when there is too much acid in the bloodstream or in certain body parts.
In terms of baking, the mixture of an acid and a base helps create bubbles inside the dough that help it rise when it is being cooked.
4 Health Problems that Baking Soda Can Solve
1. Hyperacidity
One of the most common health problems is hyperacidity. Although its pain is relatively easy to endure, there are cases of hyperacidity that can be really painful.
A quick fix to the acid in your stomach is baking soda. Half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 4 ounces of water can create an antacid that can neutralize the acid in your stomach.
If there’s still acid after two hours, you can still drink another dose but make sure that all the baking soda is dissolved in the water.
2. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
More common to women, UTI is caused by having bacteria in the bladder and the urethra. The bacteria often found here is E. coli which is seen in the gastrointestinal tract.
Although it is better to always consult a doctor if you see symptoms of this health problem, you can also orally consume baking soda to help raise the pH level of your urine.
Raising the pH level is important because when you have UTI, acid can form which will also lead to more serious health issues.
What you can do is mix baking soda and water until the former is dissolved completely. This can help balance out the pH in your urine.
3. Inflammation
Baking soda has its fair share of anti-inflammatory properties. Naturally, this makes it a good remedy for preventing inflammation from occurring in the body.
For example, it is proven to help gout which occurs when there is excess acid, specifically uric acid, in the bloodstream. When you consume baking soda, it can neutralize the acid in the bloodstream which will help in the pain that you experience.
4. Heartburn
And lastly, there’s heartburn. Heartburns occur when acid goes up the upper gastrointestinal tract. It is not exactly a medical term, but it has become a chronic disease that at least 40% of adults are prone to.
By taking in antacid you can easily manage heartburn. And as you already know by now, one antacid alternative is a baking soda solution that you can drink every two hours.
