4 Reasons You Should Drink Baking Soda (Yes, Really)
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Most of us have a box of baking soda lying around somewhere. Maybe you leave it in the fridge to ward off unwanted food odors, or maybe it’s a staple in your baking arsenal. Either way, there’s another amazing way to use this powerful powder: Drink it in a glass of water. Now, before you look at us cross-eyed, hear us out for a second. These four benefits of drinking baking soda water will have you adding it to your list of healthy life hacks in no time.
1. It can help with acid-based stomach issues.
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a basic compound, meaning it’s the opposite of acidic. When it comes into contact with an acid, it neutralizes it. So if you’re someone who struggles with acid reflux, acid indigestion or heartburn, dropping a little baking soda into your water glass could provide fast and effective relief. The effervescence also encourages burping (super cute), which can help alleviate uncomfortable bloating.
2. It can alleviate UTI discomfort.
Move over, cranberries! Baking soda doesn’t just neutralize acid in your digestive system — it can also counter acids found in your urine during a urinary tract infection (which is part of what makes them so painful). So sipping baking soda water can make your UTI symptoms feel a lot less severe as your body heals. Phew.
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3. It gives you a boost of electrolytes.
As mentioned earlier, the chemical name for baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. That means that it breaks down into sodium ions in the body. These sodium ions are some of the most important and powerful electrolytes your body needs to function properly, so downing a little baking soda water when you’re trying to rehydrate can be extremely helpful. (Just don’t overdo it because electrolyte balance is a finicky thing — too little and you suffer, too much and you suffer.)
4. It keeps your mouth clean and healthy on the way down.
You know how Arm & Hammer makes a line of toothpaste? That’s because baking soda does a fantastic job of cleaning your mouth and even whitening your teeth without eroding your tooth enamel. So if you want to try drinking baking soda for the other benefits on this list, know that your dental and oral hygiene certainly won’t be mad at you for it.
While we can all easily get behind the benefits of drinking baking soda in our water, overdoing it can quickly become toxic because it contains a lot of sodium. Drinking baking soda isn’t supposed to be a daily supplement sort of routine, so stick to the proper dose (1/2 teaspoon dissolved into 4 ounces of water) when you feel like you have not-so-fun symptoms you’d like to subside and you’ll fare just fine.
And remember: Like with any other supplement, it’s important to check with your doctor before consuming baking soda water in case it interacts with another medication you currently take. Better safe than sorry, right?
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