As you could see in our “Baking soda Facts & Uses” article, baking soda can be used in various modes, for cooking, cleaning, but also as a home remedy for some common health problems. As it can be found in any supermarket and it has a low price, baking soda can often be our first choice for many health and non-problems. But what about baking soda side effects?
When using it for cooking and cleaning there are no side effects you should worry about, but when using it as a remedy for common health problems, you should be careful. Numerous studies have shown that the excessive baking
soda ingestion can put you at risk of serious metabolic derangements such as hypokalemia, hypernatremia, dysrhythmias, metabolic alkalosis and other serious health problems. The Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA in 1995 presented a case of an infant who developed serious life-threatening complications after excessive sodium bicarbonate ingestion, which was given to him by his mother as a home remedy to “help the baby burp” (Here you can read the complete case presentation). So you should avoid giving sodium bicarbonate to children under 12 years of age unless your Pediatrician tells you to.
Another common use of baking soda is for teeth whitening and removing stains from teeth, so does it really help? Yes, it does, but you should use it with caution because it can cause damage to you enamel.
Baking soda is very abrasive and if used continuously it can damage the enamel, especially if you dip your toothbrush directly into baking soda it can cause more damage. Enamel damage is irreversible and over time your teeth can become very vulnerable and sensitive. Using baking soda for teeth whitening and stain removal is safe if not used often, so you should take some precautions when using it. Rather than putting your toothbrush directly into the baking soda, there are many other simple solutions like combining baking soda with a strawberry to form a paste and then brushing your teeth with it or you can put some baking soda together with some toothpaste on the toothbrush. Many kinds of toothpaste contain sodium bicarbonate in a small amount because of its stain removal effectiveness.
Sodium bicarbonate is an effective remedy used to treat the heartburn, acid reflux, itching, acne, constipation and so many other health problems. But it is always better to consult your Doctor before treating any kind of health problems on your own. There are many cases of baking soda overdose, especially in those cases when people try to treat acid reflux, heartburn and intestinal problems on their own. Baking soda overdose can cause potentially fatal health conditions, for example by lowering your potassium levels which can lead to a cardiac arrest in some cases. So before treating any kind of health condition on your own, consult your Doctor first, because even if baking soda is absolutely a natural ingredient, you should inform yourself first about its possible side effects.
When sodium bicarbonate is used appropriately it is not toxic, but it is a multipurpose and effective natural cleaner and home remedy for some minor health problems. Read more about Baking soda Facts & Uses.
Hello,
I only like to recomend a teaspoon a day with water. 250 ml water with 1/2 tsp baking soda in the morning and one in the afternoon .
I have not heard of the dosing guidleines for regular athletic use in high doses. I have heard of benefits of athletic use of bicqrbonate of soda in high dosages. Are there benefits to soda loading 300mg per kg bodyweight regularly or only infrequently.