Mark ( Queensland) on 03/05/2022:

I would say my worst "habit" is potato but even that isn't as much as it used to be. 3 glasses of beer per week is usual, 1 Friday night, 1 Saturday and the same Sunday, an extra one if I'm cooking a BBQ. My problems started with a dose of "Hydrogen Cyanide" poisoning while working as a plastic fabricator. Many Doctors and Nutritionists have tried to help over the last 30 years and all have given up.

I could go on forever on things that have gone wrong with my health, 5 years ago I had a fairly severe stroke which I'm still having problems with including Dysphagia which only added to my stomach problems, BUT where here to report on the side effects of what you Americans call Baking Soda, We in Australia call Bicarbonate of Soda or Bi-Carb. To me Baking Soda is a mix of Bicarbonate of Soda and cream of Tartar, a different product, so that may need checking out. I love Bi-Carb, I have 1 teaspoon in water (since 2008 we have used distilled water) I use that 3-4 times per day (mix a 250 ml glass and drink 1/3 - 1/2 and leave the rest to have if and when I need it next.) and as I said that happens multiple times every day and sometimes at night also. I carry a small container with me at all times as the indigestion can be uncomfortable up to debilitating. I used to have a heaped teaspoon in a glass and drink the lot... I'm not sure if my stomach is improving or it's just my effort to use less, but honestly, I have never ever had a problem taking it internally or using it externally. (That's another story.)