Baking Soda

What is Baking Soda?

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, a white crystalline powder that acts as a natural buffer against acid. It has been used for over a century in medicine as an antacid and pH regulator. More recently, sports scientists have studied it as an ergogenic (performance-enhancing) aid for athletes — particularly in high-intensity, short-duration events.

How does Baking Soda work?

When you exercise hard, your muscles produce lactic acid, which lowers the pH in your blood and muscles — that burning, fatiguing feeling. Baking soda raises blood pH slightly, giving your body more buffering capacity to neutralize that acid and delay fatigue. It works the same way in the gut, neutralizing stomach acid to relieve heartburn quickly.

What forms does Baking Soda come in?

Powder dissolved in water is the most studied form for athletic use. Capsules and tablets offer a more convenient, stomach-friendly option. Enteric-coated capsules are designed to dissolve in the small intestine, reducing GI side effects — a good choice for sensitive stomachs.

Where it comes from:

Sodium bicarbonate has been used medicinally since the mid-1800s. It became a staple in emergency medicine for treating metabolic acidosis and drug overdoses. Interest in it as a sports supplement began in the 1980s and has grown steadily as research confirmed its effects on high-intensity performance.

What does Baking Soda help with?

• Exercise endurance and performance: Baking soda is one of the most well-researched legal performance aids available. Taking it before high-intensity exercise — like sprinting, cycling, swimming, or combat sports — helps your body handle acid buildup longer, so you can push harder before fatigue sets in. It works best for events lasting 1–8 minutes.
• Muscle fatigue during intense workouts: The burning sensation in muscles during intense effort is partly from acidic buildup. Baking soda raises the buffering capacity of your blood, helping flush that acid out of muscle cells faster and giving you a bit more time before your muscles give out.
• Heartburn and acid reflux: This is baking soda's oldest and most well-known use. A small amount dissolved in water quickly neutralizes stomach acid, providing fast relief from heartburn. It's the active ingredient in many over-the-counter antacids. It's a short-term fix rather than a long-term solution.
• Kidney disease (slowing progression): People with chronic kidney disease often develop low blood pH (metabolic acidosis) as their kidneys struggle to remove acid. Clinical trials show that sodium bicarbonate supplementation can slow the decline in kidney function and reduce the risk of needing dialysis over time.
• High uric acid / gout support: Baking soda makes the urine more alkaline, which helps dissolve and flush out uric acid — the compound that builds up and causes gout attacks. It's used as a supportive measure alongside dietary changes, though it's not a standalone treatment.
• Urinary tract discomfort: Alkalizing the urine with baking soda can reduce the burning sensation associated with urinary tract infections or acidic urine. It doesn't kill bacteria but can make symptoms more bearable while other treatments take effect.
• Metabolic acidosis: Sodium bicarbonate is a frontline medical treatment for metabolic acidosis — a condition where blood becomes too acidic. This is well-established in emergency and hospital medicine, particularly for kidney failure patients or those with certain drug toxicities.
• Oral health (bad breath, tooth surface pH): Baking soda is mildly abrasive and alkaline, which helps neutralize mouth acids, reduce odor-causing bacteria, and gently remove surface stains. Many whitening toothpastes include it as an active ingredient for this reason.

What can Baking Soda help prevent?

• Progression of chronic kidney disease in patients with metabolic acidosis
• Recurrent gout attacks (as part of uric acid management)

Which foods are rich in Baking Soda?

Baking soda itself is not found in food in meaningful therapeutic amounts — it's used as a leavening agent in trace quantities in baked goods. To support the same alkalizing, acid-buffering goals, focus on an alkaline-leaning diet: leafy greens (spinach, kale), cucumbers, celery, avocado, and citrus fruits (which paradoxically have an alkalizing effect once metabolized). Minimizing processed foods, red meat, alcohol, and sugary drinks reduces the acid load your body has to buffer. Watermelon and coconut water also support kidney function and healthy pH balance.

What are the side effects of Baking Soda?

• Stomach bloating and gas (very common, especially when dissolved in liquid)
• Nausea and vomiting at higher doses
• Diarrhea with frequent use
• Increased thirst and fluid retention from sodium load
• Elevated blood pressure with regular high-dose use (high sodium content)
• Metabolic alkalosis (blood becomes too alkaline): symptoms include muscle twitching, confusion, hand tremors
• Reduced stomach acid leading to impaired digestion and nutrient absorption with overuse
• Not recommended for people on low-sodium diets or with heart failure, kidney disease (without medical supervision), or high blood pressure

Good to know:

Baking soda is safe in small amounts used occasionally. Problems arise with large doses, frequent use, or use in people with heart disease or high blood pressure — mainly because of its sodium content and the risk of disrupting the body's pH balance.

How much Baking Soda should you take?

• Recommended daily: For athletic performance: 0.2–0.3 g per kg of body weight (e.g., 14–21 g for a 70 kg person). For heartburn: 1/2 teaspoon (~2.5 g) dissolved in 120–240 mL of water. For kidney support: doses used in clinical trials typically 1–3 g/day — always under physician guidance.
• Best time of day: For exercise: take 60–90 minutes before your workout. For heartburn: take as needed after symptoms begin. For kidney support: typically divided with meals.
• With or without food: For athletic use, taking with a small amount of food or spreading the dose over 30–60 minutes can significantly reduce GI side effects. For heartburn, take between meals or after eating. Avoid taking within 2 hours of other medications.
• Time to effect: Athletic benefit: peak at 60–90 minutes post-ingestion. Heartburn relief: within 15–30 minutes. Kidney/pH support: effects observed over weeks to months.
• How long to take it: For heartburn: short-term use only (a few days maximum without medical advice). For athletic performance: can be used periodically around training. For kidney disease: long-term use should only continue under medical supervision due to sodium load and electrolyte monitoring needs.