Is Baking Soda Bad For You?
Also Known As: sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3
Short answer
Baking soda is great for you - least of all because it is a key ingredient in many of the baked goods we love to eat. It has far reaching medical benefits and just may be a life saver.
Recommended Alternative
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
Long answer
Sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda as we know it, is commonly used in (surprise!) baking. However, it has many other benefits, often when mixed with some water, which you may not have been aware of before. Baking soda is alkaline, meaning it raises the overall alkalinity in the body, which is very important when the acid-base balance is out of order. Off balance acid-base levels are often the case in several diseases such as metabolic acidosis, kidney disease, heartburn, and even cancer. When mixed with water, baking soda can be drunk to relieve the aforementioned afflictions. In the case of cancer, studies done on animals point to it being able to raise the pH value of cancerous tumors without disturbing the surrounding blood and tissue, thus effectively stopping the tumor from metastasizing. In one very promising study, baking soda was shown to reduce kidney degeneration by 2/3 among test subjects with just 6.5% requiring dialysis by the end of the study (compared to 33% of those who were not given baking soda).
Additionally, drinking baking soda can help increase athletic performance by acting as a buffer for lactic acid that builds up in the muscles after a bout of exercise, reducing fatigue. When used topically, baking soda can be used as an antiseptic. It also relieves symptoms associated with the skin condition psoriasis.
Sodium is often thought of as a trigger to raising blood pressure, but this characteristic of salt (sodium chloride) does not apply to sodium bicarbonate. Furthermore, bicarbonate reacts with water to encourage belching, which relieves bloating and gas. When used topically, it is completely nontoxic and when ingested, it is safe provided the recommended amount is not exceeded. In the case of drinking a large quantity of baking soda, possible side effects are nausea and diarrhea.
Possible short-term side effects
- nausea (with excessive consumption)
-
diarrhea (with excessive consumption)
Benefits
- may prevent cancer from metastasizing
-
can be used as an antiseptic
-
can be used as an antacid
-
treats high acidity in the body
-
helps treat osteoporosis
-
helps treat arthritis
Our Wellness Pick
(what is this?)
Bob's Red Mill Baking Soda
- Multi-purpose ingredient
- Pure and natural
- No added chemicals
- Gluten-free product
- 16 oz dual pack
Learn More!
Please turn your Ad Blocker off to see this content. Thank you!
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 03-10-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
Thank you for your feedback!
Written by Jeff Volling
Published on: 03-10-2016
Last updated: 12-15-2023
Approved by 
