The familiar sensation of a burning throat is heartburn. A typical homemade recipe from her is regular baking soda. Dissolve in a glass of warm water and slowly drink. Everything is simple to disgrace. But does baking soda help with heartburn? Should I drink it at all with every attack? In this article, we will give you a complete guide about baking soda for heartburn.
So, heartburn is the result of acid reflux. This is the name of the condition in which gastric juice begins to be thrown back into the esophagus.
Characteristic symptoms accompany it:
- Burning in the centre of the chest and the larynx;
- Sour or bitter belching;
- Sucking pains in the epigastric region (under the stomach).
Causes can be temporary digestive problems (for example, overeating, especially meat and fatty foods ) and chronic diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, pancreatitis, or gastritis with high acidity. You will find a ton of medicines for acid reflux in many pharmacies, such as proton pump inhibitors or antacids (a mixture of magnesium, aluminium, calcium, etc.).
Why baking soda for heartburn
A key feature of baking soda is its chemical composition. This is nothing more than sodium bicarbonate – the main component for neutralizing hydrochloric acid. Our own pancreas produces some of it on its own to keep it from digesting itself. Soda for heartburn really helps, but not in all cases. It is an immediate aid. But the symptoms can return after a while and in double the volume. By the way, popular hangover medications, like Alco-Seltzer effervescent tablets, also contain sodium bicarbonate.
How to take baking soda to fight heartburn?
The Canadian Society for Intestinal Research points out that baking soda for heartburn is only a temporary stomach acid solution. Its use should always be moderate and limited to mild cases, as if taken in excess, it can carry some risks.
Sodium bicarbonate in tablets
It is indicated to combat the occasional symptoms of hyperacidity. In this case, it is necessary to follow the indicated dosage and read the contraindications shown on the package.
Generally, the usual dosage is one tablet (or 2, if necessary) to be dissolved in a glass of water (200 ml).
- To drink one hour before meals or when symptoms appear.
- If symptoms persist or worsen for more than 14 days, treatment should be stopped, and your doctor consulted.
Baking soda powder
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda (5 g)
- 1 glass of water (200 ml)
Preparation
- Dissolve the teaspoon of baking soda well in the water. Drink immediately.
- This mixture can be taken a maximum of twice a day.
How to dilute soda for heartburn: a recipe
For starters: if you have chronic gastrointestinal diseases, any drug, even over-the-counter, should be discussed with your doctor. As we mentioned above, baking soda only temporarily relieves heartburn symptoms but does not eliminate the problem of high acidity.
Well, now the usual recipe for soda solution for heartburn.
- Younger children (from 6 years old). Not recommended for children from 3 to 6 years old!: By agreement with the pediatrician.
- Adults and adolescents: ½ teaspoon per 120 ml. warm water. Repeat in the same dose after 2 hours if you feel.
Since this solution severely lowers stomach acidity, it can lead to temporary digestive problems. Also, eliminating heartburn masks the symptoms of the underlying disease. To avoid:
- Taking more than 3.5 teaspoons of baking soda per day (approximately seven standard doses).
- Taking more than 1.5 teaspoons of baking soda per day (about three standard doses) if you are over 60 years old.
- Using baking soda with a diagnosis of GERD or acute pancreatitis.
- Use baking soda daily for more than two weeks.
It is also better not to take baking soda for heartburn when the stomach is full and not to drink the whole glass in one gulp – this can lead to increased gas production in the abdomen, bloating, and diarrhea.
Can I use baking soda for heartburn during pregnancy?
Since acid reflux is a common problem for pregnant women, handy recipes become the best “friend” to fight against it.
However, we hasten to warn you: using soda for heartburn during pregnancy is quite dangerous. Against the background of pressure problems, there may be:
- Hypotension.
- Dizziness.
- Nausea.
- Fainting.
Prolonged soda solution intake also leads to alkalization in the stomach, problems with the cardiovascular system may develop, and the body’s general intoxication will also increase.
Side effects of baking soda for heartburn treatment
Although baking soda can relieve unpleasant symptoms almost instantly, this treatment method is not suitable for everyone. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider if sodium bicarbonate is a good alternative to pharmaceutical drugs and if it is right for you.
Side effects of baking soda treatment for heartburn may include:
- Flatulence.
- Nausea.
- Diarrhea.
- Abdominal pain.
Since sodium interacts with other trace elements and begins to replace them, long-term use of baking soda as a treatment for heartburn increases the risk of other diseases:
- Hypokalemia (lack of potassium in the blood).
- Hypochloremia (lack of chlorine).
- Hypernatremia (increased sodium levels).
- Exacerbation of chronic renal disease.
- Exacerbation of symptoms of heart failure.
- Muscle weakness and spasms.
- Increased secretion of gastric juice.
Get immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms:
- Frequent urination Loss of appetite.
- Unnecessary weight loss.
- Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath).
- Swelling of the limbs.
- Tarry stools or blood in stools.
- Blood in the urine Vomiting like coffee grounds.
How to get rid of heartburn
No amount of medication, including baking soda, will help you fix your stomach problems. The most reliable remedy for acid reflux is to normalize your lifestyle:
- Avoid fatty, heavy foods two to three hours before bedtime.
- Work on losing weight if you are overweight.
- Sleep in a slightly elevated position with an extra pillow under your back (especially during pregnancy); Do not abuse alcohol.
- Walk and walk after a hearty meal or feast.
Avoiding certain foods is also the most popular medical recommendation. However, dietary changes alone do not help relieve heartburn. A systematic review of more than 2,000 studies on this topic undertaken by Cochrane Library researchers found no firm evidence. The American College of Gastrointestinal Diseases in 2013 updated their recommendations for certain foods that increase stomach acid.
The guidelines no longer advise avoiding:
- Chocolate.
- Wine.
- Citrus fruits.
- Tomatoes.
- Spicy foods.
Conversely, certain foods, such as chocolate and soda, can reduce the stomach’s pressure by allowing stomach acid to flow backward and thus reduce heartburn symptoms.
Outcome
Baking soda is a great way to get rid of an acid reflux episode immediately. The recommended dosage for adults is ½ teaspoon per glass of warm water. It is best to take it slowly rather than drink it in one gulp to provoke flatulence and diarrhea. However, soda only temporarily relieves heartburn. She categorically cannot “put out” attacks of pancreatitis or GERD.
Heartburn: fight it with baking soda
Although antacid properties are attributed to sodium bicarbonate, its consumption must be sporadic. In the case of ailments such as gastroesophageal reflux, the best thing to do is consult your doctor. Did you know that baking soda is useful for fighting heartburn? Since ancient times, this product has been used to treat stomach acid, indigestion, and stomach upset in general. However, it should always be used with caution and in moderate quantities.
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Gastric acidity is a sensation that starts in the stomach and radiates up to the throat. It is a disorder related to the weakness of the esophageal sphincter. This partially digested material can irritate the esophagus, causing acidity, heartburn, and other upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms. Several antacid or proton pump inhibitor drugs and several over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are currently available to keep it under control. However, some people use baking soda to counteract acidity. Is it really effective?
Is baking soda handy for fighting heartburn?
Baking soda should not be considered a first-line treatment for heartburn. And although it is credited with having effects as an antacid, its use should be moderate and limited to mild and sporadic cases. There is currently no concrete evidence to support the use of this ingredient in treating gastroesophageal reflux or digestive problems. However, due to its composition and alkaline pH, it is thought to neutralize excess stomach acid temporarily.
In other words, it can be considered an adjunct when to soothe heartburn caused by too large or irritating meals, but it should never be used in case of gastroesophageal reflux disorder. The doctor or gastroenterologist must treat the latter through other types of treatments. On the other hand, in the case of diseases such as hypertension, edema, or kidney disorders, it is always better to avoid this product. The general recommendation is to consult your doctor before taking it if you suffer from other diseases.
General tips to avoid stomach acid
According to what is published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, some lifestyle modifications can help keep the problem under control. This includes a light diet, free of foods that irritate the gastric mucosa, such as:
- Drinks carbonated.
- Fatty or heavily seasoned foods.
- Sauces.
- Alcoholic.
- Caffeine.
- Chocolate.
- Citrus fruits.
- Spicy foods.
It is also advisable to maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking, avoid dining too late and, if possible, keep your head raised when sleeping, to avoid nocturnal acidity.
Remedies to combat heartburn
Baking soda has an alkaline pH that offers relief from heartburn and gastric reflux. It is available in several pharmaceutical forms: tablet, powder, or injectable. However, the Canadian Intestinal Research Society reminds us that sodium bicarbonate is a temporary solution in gastric reflux cases.
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Remedies to combat stomach acid
Here are some useful and effective remedies you can use to counteract heartburn and reflux in daily practice. However, remember that if the symptoms persist for more than 3-4 weeks, it is always advisable to consult a specialist and undergo thorough investigations (blood tests, ultrasounds, gastroscopies, etc.) Once we have ruled out the presence of any pathologies and the need for specific therapies, let’s see what the main precautions to be taken in everyday life to relieve gastric acidity are.
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Antacid drugs
The first and most common remedy is to take a drug that can “put out the fire” as needed (Gaviscon, Maalox, or similar). But be careful not to abuse these products: stomach acid is not only an enemy to fight, but it is also a tool with which our body eliminates potentially harmful allergens and germs that we ingest with food, not to mention that drugs contain substances foreign to the body, which could accumulate and cause further symptoms.
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Generally, it is advisable not to exceed 3-4 weeks of treatment with antacids. Otherwise, the reaction that would ensue may not please you at all: the stomach will start producing even more acids, counteract the drug’s action, and restore its natural acidity.
Pure lemon juice vs. baking soda.
Yes, you read that right: I really wrote ” lemon juice. “I’m not crazy. This commonplace to neutralize the burning sensation that arises immediately after a meal, one can resort to a good glass of water, and baking soda is the most senseless there can be. In this way, the stomach’s pH is jumped from its natural value of 2 up to a value close to 7: the stomach’s emptying occurs practically immediately, giving us a splendid illusion of relief from heartburn and acidity.
Unfortunately, this sensation is destined to be only momentary. The alkaline environment that develops in the stomach stimulates the gastric cells to produce even more hydrochloric acid (HCl), the main ingredient in gastric juices, to bring the pH back to its level. Initial value. Result: in a short time, the burning symptoms can return and be even stronger than initially. Taking 2-3 dessert spoons of pure lemon juice, on the other hand, can be a useful remedy to relieve symptoms: the resulting slight increase in acidity causes a rapid emptying of the gastric contents towards the duodenum (the initial part of the intestine), where the bicarbonate produced by the pancreas and poured into this tract effectively neutralizes the pH.
Beware of carbohydrates and sugars.
The simple sugar foods are among the worst in the case of heartburn: the acidic environment causes an immediate sugar fermentation resulting in bloating, pain, acidity, and acid belching possible. However, when the acute symptoms subside, you can retake the fruit following these little tips: raw and low fructose fruits such as strawberries and kiwis or moderate fructose content but deprived of their natural acidity through cooking, for example, apples and baked pears.
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Sources of complex carbohydrates are also preferable, such as first courses in white seasoned with extra virgin olive oil (see examples in point 4). Regardless of the cooking method, they would be indigestible.
Cooked vegetables, low in cellulose and iron
Cellulose is a compound of glucose (glucose polymer) potentially irritating the stomach. Cooking alters its chemical form making it more digestible. On the other hand, chicory, Belgian endive, fennel, and celery, vegetables that also reduce intestinal gas formation, a nuisance often associated with gastric disorders, have a soothing action.
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Milk YES, dairy products NO
The dairy products may stimulate the further synthesis of gastric acids, but the milk, especially cold, does not cause any discomfort unless you also have intestinal problems or allergies. On the other hand, the hot milk in the stomach acid environment tends to curdle, forming a clot that may hinder digestion and promote acidity.
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Conclusion
Although baking soda is safe when consumed in moderate amounts and specific situations, don’t forget that it can have adverse effects. Furthermore, it is always good practice to seek the doctor’s advice to discard any reactions, interactions with other drugs, or side effects, especially if you already suffer from other diseases.
