Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda, is a white powdery substance widely used as a baking ingredient. We all love our bread muffins and cakes to be light and fluffy, right? We've got to thank baking soda for it.
Beyond these common applications, though, especially in the medical field, its advantages are extensive. Aside from protecting gums and teeth and even treating cancer, its many health benefits come from its properties as an alkaline agent, mildly abrasive, and antibacterial. In today's video, we will discuss the top 10 health benefits of using baking soda daily and their impact on the body.
Number one, helps alleviate heartburn. Heartburn is a distressing burning sensation that starts in the upper region of the stomach and spreads through the throat. This sensation is usually caused by acid flowing out of your stomach and into the esophagus.
However, heartburn can result from disorders such as aia or eocinophilic esophagitis. Echalasia makes it difficult for food and liquid to pass into the stomach. At the same time, eocinophilic esophagitis is an allergic inflammatory disease of the esophagus.
Heartburn and acid reflux can also be caused by fatty and acidic foods and drinks. Some people might experience heartburn after gaining weight. Baking soda can help ease heartburn sensations by neutralizing stomach acid.
Mix one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water and drink it slowly. It should make it better for you in seconds. However, there are a few things you should watch out for when it comes to baking soda for heartburn.
First, not all heartburn symptoms are caused by acid reflux. Drnking baking soda mixtures frequently could lead to metabolic alkalossis, meaning your blood becomes too alkaline, increasing the risk of heart problems. So, baking soda can relieve the occasional heartburn, but is not a viable long-term treatment.
Number two, good relief from arthritis pain. Based on recent studies, baking soda tells the body to calm down its autoimmune response. Moreover, sodium bicarbonate helps strengthen your body's anti-inflammatory response.
Research suggests that baking soda can be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. This autoimmune disorder targets the joints, leading to painful swelling, stiffness, and lack of mobility. Since sodium bicarbonate is a good anti-inflammatory agent, it can help reduce joint inflammation and autoimmune response.
A study published in April 2018 in the Journal of Immunology concluded that drinking a mixture of water and baking soda can reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases. The study was done both on rats and healthy humans. The humans were part of a control group.
After 2 weeks of drinking the baking soda and water mixture, researchers found that the immune cells began to focus on reducing inflammation. Number three, improve your sports performance. Baking soda decreases the acidity in working muscles.
In fact, baking soda is a popular supplement among athletes. During anorobic exercises, which are very highintensity activities, our body's demand for oxygen surpasses the available supply. Therefore, our muscles do not have enough oxygen to produce ATP, our body's cellular energy source.
So, they switch to a different method of producing ATP that generates hydrogen. Too much hydrogen in our muscles lowers the pH levels leading to an acidic environment. This is when you feel that nasty burning sensation in your muscles.
There are contradictory studies on this matter. Some researchers point to lactic acid as the leading cause of burning muscles. Lactic acid could also lower the pH in our muscle cells, causing our muscles to burn and tire.
Either way, baking soda helps raise the pH levels and enables you to perform at maximum intensities for longer. This is a fact backed up by science. For example, one study found that cyclists who took baking soda could exercise for 4 and a half minutes longer than those who didn't take baking soda supplements.
Number four, good for oral hygiene. Some people just can't stand that stinging sensation of mouthwash. That menthol is just too much for some people.
So, baking soda is a great substitute for the commercial mouthwash. It does not taste good either, but it's at least better than mouthwash and is just as effective, if not more, in removing bacteria and plaque. You can rinse your mouth with baking soda, mix one spoon of baking soda with warm water, and swish it around as you usually do with mouthwash.
Baking soda has a granular texture that helps reach all the hidden crannies and spaces between your teeth that are hard to reach with regular brushing. Moreover, baking soda has strong antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that help neutralize bacteria, keeping your gums healthy. What's even better is that baking soda can help treat some mouth abscesses and canker sores.
Studies suggest that washing your mouth with a baking soda mixture can ease the pain caused by canker sores. Even better news is that baking soda can be effective in whitening your teeth. Many studies suggest that toothpaste containing baking soda is better at whitening teeth and removing plaque than regular toothpaste.
The abrasive properties of baking soda can break the molecular bonds of teeth stains, leaving you with a brighter smile. Number five, help improve kidney function. Kidneys are essential for maintaining overall well-being, but severe illnesses may impair their function.
Chronic kidney disease often leads to metabolic acidosis, a condition where the blood becomes excessively acidic, potentially worsening kidney damage. By reducing acidity, baking soda may alleviate the kidney's workload, potentially slowing the progression of kidney disease as they don't need to work as hard to regulate blood pH levels. Moreover, chronic kidney disease patients frequently experience reduced bicarbonate levels in their blood.
Baking soda supplementation may help restore these levels, promoting improved kidney function. In a 28-week study involving patients with severe kidney conditions, two doses of sodium bicarbonate, approximately 0. 8 and 0.
5 mill equivalents per kilogram of lean body weight per day, were examined. Findings revealed that the higher dose was well tolerated and more effective in reducing urinary ammonium while raising serum bicarbonate levels. Number six, relieve urinary tract infections.
Baking soda, a common household ingredient, may offer assistance in dealing with urinary tract infections, UTI. As you may know, when consumed, it has the potential to neutralize the pH of urine. This action is believed to create a less favorable environment for UTI causing bacteria, potentially slowing their growth.
By reducing the acidity of urine, baking soda may also alleviate the burning sensation often experienced during urination with a UTI. A study involving 33 women with urinary symptoms and acidic urine supports this notion. These women were given oral sodium bicarbonate for four weeks, twice daily, at 4 g each time.
Following treatment, their urine became less acidic, and they experienced fewer urinary problems such as frequent urination, nighttime urination, and urgency. This suggests that baking soda may be an effective, userfriendly, and cost-effective treatment for women with these urinary issues. Number seven, weight management.
Baking soda has been suggested to potentially assist with weight management through several mechanisms. However, its impact is generally modest and the evidence is limited. As you already know, when consumed in moderation, baking soda may act as an antacid.
It may help reduce stomach acid and create a temporary feeling of fullness. This may lead to decreased appetite and lower calorie intake, contributing to weight management efforts. A study examined how introvenous bicarbonate affected metabolic changes in diabetic ketoacidosis compared to intravenous saline in 16 patients.
Infusing 150 mill equivalents of bicarbonate delayed the decline in blood lactate which indicates improved metabolic balance. By supporting better metabolic health, baking soda may impact your weight loss journey as well. Number eight, skin care.
Baking soda's basic pH is well known for its skin benefits, helping maintain the skin's natural pH balance. This balance is essential to preserving the skin's protective barrier function and preventing bacterial or fungal overgrowth. Apart from that, its mild exfoliating properties offer advantages.
In controlled amounts, baking soda aids in slving off dead skin cells, promoting the growth of new ones and achieving smoother skin. Moreover, baking soda exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, making it particularly valuable for alleviating discomfort associated with conditions like acne or sunburn. For individuals with oily skin, it may help absorb excess oil, potentially reducing acne breakouts, and enhancing overall skin appearance.
It's essential to note that using baking soda in high concentrations may irritate the skin, disturb its natural pH balance, and strip away essential oils. While sodium bicarbonate does not treat eczema, it may help to reduce the itching that this condition causes. The National Eczema Association recommends adding a/4 cup of baking soda to a warm bath and soaking for 10 to 15 minutes.
Following this, moisturizing the skin after gentle drying is advisable to mitigate any risk. Number nine, antifungal properties. Baking soda may indeed interfere with the structural integrity of fungal cells, weakening them and rendering them more susceptible to external factors.
This effect may compromise their ability to sustain themselves, and it may also dehydrate fungal cells by drawing out moisture, inhibiting their growth and potentially leading to their demise. As a result, baking soda may be a useful option for treating fungal skin infections. To harness this benefit, you may create a paste by mixing baking soda with water and applying it directly to the affected area.
Alternatively, for fungal infections on the feet, soaking the feet in a solution of baking soda may be beneficial. In a study exploring sodium bicarbonate's antifungal properties, researchers tested 70 different fungal strains responsible for skin and nail infections. They found that concentrations of 10 grams per liter of sodium bicarbonate inhibited 80% of these strains.
Number 10 might help boost cancer treatments. Baking soda is not a miracle cancer treatment. Unfortunately, there is no such thing yet.
However, sodium bicarbonate has a significant alkalizing effect, meaning it neutralizes acidity cancer cells flourish in an acidic environment. So many researchers believe that the key to battling cancer is to decrease the acidity of their environment. A 2009 study published in cancer research suggested that injecting bicarbonate into mice can reduce the tumor pH levels and slow the progression of metastatic breast cancer.
The chemotherapeutic failure in some cancer treatments might relate to the acidic nature of tumors. In some cases, chemotherapy medicines, which represent a highly chemical cocktail of drugs, cannot pass through this highly acidic environment of tumors. So, scientists are evaluating the effectiveness of antacid drugs in combination with chemotherapy, and some studies suggest that they could work.
However, there is still a long way to go, and we can't say for sure that baking soda can help with cancer treatments. From oral health to improving acid reflux and even aiding in cancer therapy, these health benefits of baking soda prove its versatility and efficacy in various health aspects. However, it should be used with caution.
Appropriate dosages and consideration of individual health conditions are essential to avoid any potential risks. Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new health regimen, especially if you have existing health concerns. You can also use baking soda as a natural deodorant or clean around the house in addition to its health benefits.
Baking soda is also great for removing stains and eliminating odors. Baking soda is cheap and widely available in stores, so make the most of this miracle ingredient. If you found this video helpful, don't forget to like and subscribe to the channel.
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