Can Baking Soda Help In Weight Loss [The Complete Guide]

Obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic in countries like the United States. It is also widespread in many Dominican Islands and few other coastal nations in the African continent. A poor diet is recognized as the main reason behind such a circumstance. People favor eating tasty junk food over healthy home-cooked meals.    

This post is for you if you are desperately looking for a quick-fix solution to your weight problems. Consequently, you might have come across the theory that consumption of baking soda aids weight loss. Baking soda for weight loss is a much-researched topic by scientists of numerous universities. In this post, I will discuss its efficacy in the treatment of such health-related problems.

What is baking soda?

Sodium Bicarbonate, also known as Baking soda is a natural salt consisting of sodium and bicarbonate. Its appearance is similar to common salt but is a bit alkaline in taste. It is used in cooking as a leavening agent. Bakery products like bread, cookies, and pancakes get their fluffy texture due to the addition of baking soda to it.

One distinguishing property about baking soda is that it only reacts with foods that contain acidic compounds such as yogurt, buttermilk, vinegar, and lemon juice. Without these acidic compounds, it will not have the same leavening effect on bakery products.

But keep in mind that, baking soda is a lot different than baking powder. Baking powder consists only 30 percent of bicarbonate. And it does not need acidic compounds present in citrus-based foods for its activation.

Why is it linked with weight loss?

There are numerous studies performed and published on the effects of baking soda on weight loss. Some of the studies were performed with an intention to determine it’s effectiveness in raising the endurance levels in high-performance athletes.   

A Danish study involving Dr. Peter Krustrup confirmed that intake of sodium bicarbonate in high doses improved the high-intensity intermittent exercise performance in young athletes. Moreover, it also increased blood lactate levels which made the athletes feel less tired at the end of a workout session.

This study only proved baking soda’s usefulness in raising the endurance levels. But there was no mention of weight loss. I also searched for other studies on the same topic and found plenty of similar research papers. They all claim that there is no increase or decrease in the body weight of subjects who took baking soda supplementation.

Health precautions of baking soda

Baking soda has a lot of health benefits but in the end, it is a chemical compound. And like any other chemical compound, it can have adverse effects on your body when taken in excess. Excess intake of baking soda can lower potassium levels which can lead you into some serious health problems.

Baking soda is extremely alkaline in nature. So, it’s consumption lowers the acidity levels in the stomach. This is the reason people with acid reflux get instant relief from the intake of baking soda. According to Dr. Berg, your stomach is supposed to have high levels of acidity. That is how it digests food and also protects its inner linings from the harmful bacteria. In conclusion, baking soda does more harm than good. It is not safe for consumption.

The correct approach to weight loss

Magic pill solutions such as baking soda or apple cider vinegar may provide some short term benefits for weight loss. But they deter you from having a healthy lifestyle. All they do is give you hope that one day you will be physically fit and you don’t have to go through the pain of lifting weights and staying away from junk food. Exercising, eating right and having a positive lifestyle is the best way to keep your mind and body sharp.

Other useful features of baking soda

Along with making your bakery items look fluffy and palatable, baking soda has other incredible features as well. I have listed some of its features below.

1) It is used in a pedicure to kill bacteria and fungus.

2) It removes dirt and bacteria from the scalp.

3) Baking soda can also be used as a hand sanitizer.

4) It is also an excellent teeth whitener.

5) Baking soda can be used as a deodorant. It provides 100 percent relief from skin odor.

Summary

To conclude, I will say, baking soda is not good for weight loss and it should never be consumed orally. Without a doctors help, it is difficult to tell the acidity level inside your stomach. Intake of baking soda can create unnecessary complications in your digestive system. Even if does increase the endurance levels, it’s simply not a risk worth taking.