Baking Soda Side Effects

Are there side effects from taking baking soda constantly as a remedy for heartburn?

I have been nebulizing sodium bicarbonate for a lung condition with positive results. However, there is a negative side effect with the treatment: I have been developing urinary discomfort. A CT scan revealed a ureter stone that seems to have passed when I temporarily ceased the SB and drank a lemon juice/oil mixture. But when I take the SB the discomfort comes back soon after. Is this common with others, and what can I do to continue the SB nebulizing without damaging my urinary systems? Thanks. Jc

You have warned that taking bicarb soda may deplete vitamin b & other vitamins - could you please advise - under what conditions does this occur,,ie what amonnts ingested will effect vitamin depletion, also if this is the case, is it advisable not take bic soda at all ? i take a qurter of teaspoon daily with ACV. Your comments are appreciated.

I would like to make a simple common sense comment about this. I believe moderation in all things is very important and the absolute key to good health. Some people see a bottle of pills and it states one pill twice a day and some individuals believe if one, twice a day is good,then four, twice a day is even better! Well it's NOT my friends! Some people over do it and then suffer the consequences. Nothing should be repeated continually over a period of days/weeks or even months, not even the same foods, without consequences. But lets consider the substance we are talking about. Baking Soda and Baking Powder can easily be confused. Make sure what you are using is exactly what is being recommended. Don't mistake baking powder for baking soda. And if you are familiar with kinetic energy then you can test to see how much is too much and avoid going over your necessary limit. If you do not know about kinetic muscle testing then find a good Chiropractor who practices it or research the internet to learn about it. It is the most valueable tool you could ever use to measure your limit on everything from food to suppliments. You can even determine foods you are allergic to or are slightly allergic to. Lets be sensible and safe with our bodies. But most importantly, if a doctor recommends ANYthing that has a needle attached to it...DO NOT ALLOW IT. Many people put WAY too much faith in our Medical Society. It's time to take control of your life and your health. Research EVERYTHING!!! The internet is the best thing that ever happened for all of us. Stay Connected ~ Good Health to All!!!

Hello Peter from Chicago,

Yes, unbleached flour does not give me any problems with acid reflux & other gastrointestinal problems that bleached flour does, so common sense tells me that it is something used in the bleaching process that creates the problem. So, yes, unbleached is safe to eat. However, unbleached is not as healthful eating as whole grain breads & cereals are, because a lot of nutrients were removed along with the bran, including most of the fiber that our GI tracts need to keep the food moving along and keep us from being constipated. So why not eat the healthiest whole grain. I agree with the fellow who said "where do they get off calling it enriched when they have removed 52 nutrients from the bleached flour and only added 8 back?

Joyce, does this mean unbleached flour is ok to consume? Thanks!

I cant comment on the baking soda but one thing I would like to share with you is if you eat a lot of tomatoe sause based foods as do it adds to your reflux problem. What has worked for me is organic tomatoe sause. I love a good bowl of spagetti every now and then or a good slice of pizza but that came with pain and an antacid until I started making my dishes with organic sause it worked for me as well as my wife. I know its not good to do i can eat a bowl late after 9:00

Hello Mira from Oshawa, Canada,

If you have both vinegar & baking soda in your kitchen you can answer that question yourself by putting a couple of teaspoonfuls of vinegar & then dumping 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. baking soda in it. That reaction between the alkaline bicarbonate and the acetic acid does emit gas, so the reaction between your baking soda and the hydrochloric acid (HCl) in your stomach probably does also.

Don't be too sure about that statement that meat and vegetables won't cause it, because all I have to do to become a "gas factory" is eat a bite or two of anything containing bleached flour. Not only is it embarrassing from the flatus sounding off, but the odor is most foul. Life is much more pleasant, gastrointestinal tract wise, since I stumbled on this bit of wisdom. Seldom have GERD, indigestion, constipation, nausea and only had the outright gastric ulcer pain once since then. I first blamed this on the raw broccoli I thoroughly enjoyed eating with a commercial dip purchased in the grocery. Since then I realized that it probably came from the dip having some bleached flour in it for a thickener. Have eaten raw broccoli since then with a homemade dip (mostly with either a cottage cheese or plain yogurt base) without the problem.

Baking soda and gas

I have been taking backing soda on an empty stomach after reading on this website that it would alkalize my body and get rid of acid reflux.

I am also taking other medication for candida such Godenseal, Pau d'arco, black walnut and spilanthes (all in one pill) and probiotics. After the baking soda or some other time I take 2-3 garlic bulbs on an empty stomach. Other than that I have been taking wheatgrass only for 7 days.

I suspect it is the baking soda that is giving me gas. I could have accused the eggplant dip I am using but I dont think eggplant or other vegetables can give me that much gas.

I almost forgot but I do take some coconut oil about a teaspoon in cayenne pepper and lemon.

I hope someone can tell me the answer.

You are supposed to drink baking soda solution on an empty stomach, not with food. When the baking soda solution clears your stomach, it has no effect on the stomach acid. You won't lose any nutrients, because there aren't any nutrients to be absorbed.

Sally is right...baking SODA is Sodium Bicarbonate, pure and simple and does not contain aluminum. Sources of aluminum include vaccines, American cheese like the kind used in fast food joints (makes it melt easily), municipal water supplies (they add aluminum to clear up turbidity and make the water sparkle; purely for aesthetic purposses), food colorant that has the word "lake" in the name and anti-perspirants to name just a few of the sources of aluminum in our world. Oh, and I think non-dairy creamers have aluminum in them, too.

Frank, there is no aluminum in baking soda. It is baking powder that is (was?) the problem. I have written to Arm & Hammer and researched this quite a bit. You didn't get aluminum from baking soda. More likely from immunizations.

Ok I looked at it and the first thing that I noticed is that the wording in the documents titling each article was unlike any other medical document I have ever seen. Most doctors will not use the word stomach for example or burst for that matter so I googled the documents and each search brought me back to the same URBAN legend site ... you decide....

I have terrible acid reflex and I found this site and was reading about using baking soda to kill h. pyroli. I then googled baking soda good for stomach and I came upon the link below which has instances of people's stomach rupturing after taking baking soda as an antacid. Will you please check it out?

Just about anything one does depletes vitamin C, especially stress but one would not give up working and walking on the streets because of this depletion. Same with sodium bicarbonate, it is not helpful to warm people to not use it if they need it. What would be more helpful is to recommend supplementation of vitamin C in conjunction with the use of bicarbonate. Whenever we use bicarbonate we should also use magnesium chloride because the two together make the perfect mitochondrial medicine. Combination therapy is the key when using natural remedies.

i cant speak for others, but i too experienced the constipation effect while taking baking soda and ACV. i releived this problem by taking magnesium citrate, 450-500 mgs a day. i think the baking soda may rob your body of some minerals, i dont take baking soda 7 days a week though. i take it 5 on 2 off. hope this helps. Sara.

Dear Jill B,
I do not know if the use of the BS would cause the constipation. I have considered using it to help my lungs. I hope you are soon able to resolve the problem. I just wanted to mention to you that supplemental magnesium will help with the constipation. It draws water to the intestines. If you begin to develop diarrhea just back off it some. Everyone should be using mag.

Betty

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

any dangers from taking bi carbonate of soda? i have been taking approx 1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda twice a day for approx 2years without any apparent side effects. Recently I have been a bit constipated, despite drinking approx 2 litres of filtered water a day, and having a small quantity of fruit. Our diet has only small amount protein, no beef, and asian vegies. I have regular colonscopies, all good. I am not on any medication (62yo). At present I have a virus, flu and dr said low blood pressure. Is long term use harmful, could it cause fluid imbalance, hence constipation and low blood pressure, or leach out other necessary salts?

this is just a guess, but i wonder if the joint pain is from things happening too fast. perhaps a lower dose to start. Also, diet and water filters can change body ph. I have done diet and baking soda (2tsp per gal) and joint pain is gone.

Sandhi try using the folic acid with L Acidoluphis capsules , just look up Bv on here and you will find lots of help with it

I have tried baking soda to alkalinize my system. This is because a recent colonoscopy resulted in minor surgery to remove a large polyp. I was told the polyp was a "pre-cancerous condition" and because of info I've gotten on the net, I decided to try 1/4 tsp baking soda in drinking water several times a day to neutralize an acidic blood condition. Apparently an acidic condition can produce cancer. To my surprise, a great deal of pain happened very quickly, in the joints and hip. I couldn't walk. It subsided when I stopped taking the baking soda and then started up again when I took it a second time. So there seems to be a link between pain and baking soda for my body (not necessarily yours). I am wondering if you know about this and can explain it, and also can recommend any alternative ways to bring the pH balance to a more alkaline state.

I have tried baking soda to alkalinize my system. This is because a recent colonoscopy resulted in minor surgery to remove a large polyp. I was told the polyp was a "pre-cancerous condition" and because of info I've gotten on the net, I decided to try 1/4 tsp baking soda in drinking water several times a day to neutralize an acidic blood condition. Apparently an acidic condition can produce cancer. To my surprise, a great deal of pain happened very quickly, in the joints and hip. I couldn't walk. It subsided when I stopped taking the baking soda and then started up again when I took it a second time. So there seems to be a link between pain and baking soda for my body (not necessarily yours). I am wondering if you know about this and can explain it, and also can recommend any alternative ways to bring the pH balance to a more alkaline state.

I am having the same problem. I think I am low in potassium and the sodium in the baking soda is too much. But the benefits from taking the baking soda is great, so I am supplementing with potassium tablets sometimes I need more tablets than other times but you will know when the swelling goes down. Don't take too many at one time as they can be hard on your kidneys and stomach. And if you have kidneys problems you should consult with you Doctor before you use potassium. :)

I have been using baking soda for a few reasons. Stomach problems, fungus in my month, that it has helped and is almost gone. But since I have been useing it I have gained a lot of water weight. I do have a hypothyroid, But since I have used baking soda my weight has going up and I feel really swollen. My legs and ankles swell if I am on them too long. I have only used baking soda to wash out my month and when my stomach is upset. Will this cause me to hold water more?

WARNING!

I added Baking Soda to my ACV treatment and had many of the side effects others mention on this site. Baking Soda lowers Vitamin C levels and this can lead to symptoms of scurvy. I had to do a lot of research to find this out. I woke up with a purple spot/bruise on my leg and that convinced me, as I had not bumped into anything to bruise myself. The purple bruise looking spot is a sign of scurvy. Luckily, it was recommened to me to take Vitamin C for Constipation. I was sooo sick (my asthma was out of control) last night and the night before. I did not know that Vitamin C actually helps Astmatics.

I took 6 mgs of Vitamin C last night in error. I picked up the wrong size of measuring spoon!!..luckily! I had been up the prior two nights coughing up mucus, but last night I slept through the night. I couldn't figure it out since I needed to take bendryl the other nights just to not choke on the mucus. It appears that the 6 mg of Vitamin C did it's job to replenish my Vitamin C and to help with my asthma.

I woke up with the usual morning junk to cough up and spit out. I took 1000 mg of vitamin C and it stopped this problem dead in it's tracks. People need to read about what vitamin C does, especially for people with Asthma and food allergies. Also, the baking soda should NOT be recommended on this site.

It depletes the Vitamin C. If someone is already low in Vitamin C it can cause Survy Symptoms as it did in me.

I love this site, but I think promoting Baking Soda that depletes Vitamin C is wrong. Also, I love Apple Cider Vinegar and it is promoted here as the top natural relief, but I never hear any talk of vitamin C. It works wonders for Asthma, Hay fever and a load of Respiratory illnesses and other illnesses.

I think that prolongued use of Apple Cider Vinegar; especially the non organic without the essential microbes, can in fact raise the stomach acid as it will no longer be a weak enough solution to neutralise the stomach acid; hence why even when taken with Bi carbonate of soda, can still the acid conditions that colds and flu viruses love. My own experience with one such type of ACV led to thrush. I analysed this as too much acid for the candida bacteria to live on; and a very good sign for the need for an Alluminium free Bicarbonate in water solution treatment.

I feel that there are times in our life when we need alkaline to neutralise the acid in our body to help iradicate conditions that flu viruses cancers and other degenerative ailments love only too well. The good old saying of everything in moderation is important however; and nothing must be used over a prolongued period of time. Once the desired results are achieved, one should go back to normal. We need the acids for digesting certain minerals, and we need the alkaline for when the acids need to be reduced. Seasonal foods may hold a secret as to what we need in particular seasons.

I have major chronic fatigue. I have been tested for heavy metals by "Doctor's Data lab" in located in St. Charles IL. Test results showed my body burden of aluminum Literally, off the scale in the red. Of course there were other metals. I used baking soda for acid/reflux by the spoonful in my younger years. Go figure. Frank

WARNING!

Danger Baking Soda/ Carbicarb alkalization:

I have tried using baking soda 1/4 to 1/2 a teaspoon twice a day for about two months for alkalization. Needless to say, my urine ph moved to a comfortable range of 6.5 - 7.5, although my saliva ph reamined a stubborn 6. At times, the saliva ph seems to dip below 6. I am vegetarian with a diet leaning more towards acid forming foods.

I felt increasing insomnia and restless brain on the baking soda remedy, so I switched to carbicarb about three weeks ago. First few days on the carbicarb, I did feel calmness, but afterwards, it was the same as before - more insomnia and brain restlessness.

These effects really made me wonder if it is safe to take baking soda or carbicarb over any meaningful period of time. After all, both sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate are inorganic minerals, and aside from their occasional use, I wonder if prolonged use causes more harm to be body. I did read on the net that excessive ingestion of baking soda can lead to chloride ion deficiency (which is important for stomach acid).

This is just my experience. I would love to hear from other readers who may have experience with baking soda/carbicard over some period of time. Please note that I think it's ok to do baking soda/acv or baking soda/lime because then the baking soda gets complexed with the acv and lime, however, on the issue of ingesting baking soda or carbicarb alone, my experience has been unfavorable.

Many thx,
Dion

... I want to point something about the Baking Soda remedy for increasing the alkalinity of body. Unfortunately, this remedy worked for me in the beginning, as I noticed improved digestion, but then I noticed I came down with a chronic case of Bacterial Vaginosis. A fishy odor coming from the vagina. I have heard, women who are on Birth Control Pill get BV. But I have never used BCPs. Further reading, I found out that Baking Soda, and for that matter most anta-acids can lead to the depletion of B-vitamins in the body. ( including Folic Acid & B12). And no wonder Folic Acid is recommended as a cure for BV.

I am taking Folic Acid ( 1 mg) and B-complex now, but the fishy odor is not gone completely! I am really stuck with this odor which I NEVER had before. So could it be, my folic acid levels are depleted and I am unable to get them to a healthy level. As of now, I am suspecting Baking Soda has done this to me. And I am abstaining from using it anymore. I would be interested to hear what other female users have to say about this.

Whenever dizziness is experience, it is often due to a couple of causes:

'1. Low blood pressure 2. Weak form of septicemia (cavities can lead to that!) 3. Low Blood sugar

The ACV + baking soda remedy has an effect of lowering blood pressure generally speaking, but of course we are assuming the person has too much potassium, which can also lead to lower blood pressure the same. One example is eating too much fruits or eating too much sour food.

In any event a simple way of resolving the first one is to measure the blood pressure. If blood pressure is low, then ACV should be eliminated and just use the baking soda.

For the second condition, a high body temperature, with headaches, and perhaps cavities, or leaky gut can result in a weak septicemia (weak form of blood poisoning) can also lead to dizziness as the septicemia LEADS TO LOW BLOOD PRESSURE. Hence, a simple remedy to stop septicemia (doctor's are making things hard on themselves and antibiotics are useless here usually) by taking aspirin three times a day WELL DISSOLVED in 1/2 glass of water. Then, blood pressure should be normal within 30-45 minutes.

For the third condition, if taking some candies did help than a low blood sugar is indicated, yet, low blood pressure and low blood sugar can also indicate that. Certain dietary changes can lead to low blood pressure, such as not eating enough food during key time of the day where the body needs it the most. Hence a simple way to stabilize blood sugar, is supporting liver, such as one tablespoon of granulated lecithin a day. Once the liver has less fat buildup, it can supply or at least stabilize the blood sugar.

re: Baking Soda and Vertigo -- Ted, I was just reading about dizziness [9/7/2007:PL from Naples, Florida, USA], and have a question for you: why would baking soda cause dizziness?

I quit taking it some time ago for my acid reflux because after a few days of taking it I would have these wild dizzy spells. It was so bad when I layed down or turned my head too fast. Suddenly the whole room would start turning like crazy. Anyway, when I quit taking the baking soda everything would return to normal within 1-2 days. I have stopped using regular salt, in its place I am using sea salt (which is actually a food). Perhaps PL from Naples Florida can benefit from staying away from the table salt (which I understand is very much the cause of High Blood Pressure!).

I tried Ted's baking soda remedy for Gerd and ended up with high blood pressure. Could there be a connection? I would like to try to ACV & baking soda to alkalize my system but am nervous...