All right, I know I’m going to get a few looks today because when I first heard about this natural health remedy, it struck me as a little odd? I have long known the benefits of using baking soda for natural cleaning, but drinking it?
Also known as ‘sodium bicarbonate’ or ‘bicarbonate of soda,’ baking soda has dozens of uses. It can be used for indigestion and upset stomach, as a cleaning product, and as a fire extinguisher, to name only a few. Drinking baking soda mixed in water also apparently has a number of health advantages.Who knew?
Ailments like the flu, common colds, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer flourish in a body that is acidic. Baking soda reduces the acidity of the body’s internal environment. The first time I saw this was from a guy on Youtube that said his cancer tumor was shrinking because he was able to change his body PH through baking soda. I wish I would have had this knowledge for my father in law who passed last December from Prostate cancer.
A study published in 2009 by the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology showed that patients with chronic kidney disease experienced a decrease in symptoms after consuming baking soda every day. In fact, these patients eliminated their dependency on dialysis.
Sodium bicarbonate is also very effective at fighting urinary tract infections, since it must interact with the urinary tract prior to being expelled from the body. The bicarbonate drink you prepare must be transformed into urine and goes directly through the urinary tract, interacting with the affected area in the process. Bicarbonate is a very potent substance, and its effects are not diminished as it progresses through the body. The alkaline nature of the baking soda reduces the acidity of your urine, helping to fight infection.
Perhaps one of the most convincing reasons for me to drink baking soda is because of it’s ability to bind with and cleanse toxins from the body. You already know I am a big promoter of yearly cleansing for health. I now feel that each family should have a few large boxes on hand, as a precaution for possible Nuclear disasters on our Continent and to cleanse from fallout exposure, such as what we are subjected to now from Fukushima. It can be used in detox baths and and taken orally in a crisis when you need something on hand to protect and neutralize the effects of radiation exposure. I have added it to our weekly bathing routine since Fukushima for sure.
You should always use 100%, aluminum-free bicarbonate. To raise the body’s pH level, mix a teaspoon of bicarbonate in a glass of water. Drink it without food after waking up and just before bed each night. The pH scale indicates the acidity of a medium, and is scaled from 0 to 14. Seven indicates a neutral environment. Above 7 indicates alkaline conditions and below 7 represents acidity. Baking soda is incredibly alkaline, with a pH of 14. The body’s internal environment should optimally be between 7.1 and 7.5. In therapeutic circumstances, you will want to grab yourself some PH test strips so that your body’s PH does not go over 8. Either too acidic or too alkaline is poor health and disease. Most people are naturally too acidic. I was actually a little alkaline when I was a raw vegan a few years back.
Savoring a baking soda drink as you start to feel colds coming on can help ward off seasonal bugs. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables also promotes a more alkaline environment. I have to say, knock wood, we are feeling great right although the kids have both already been sick this fall. I felt a little tickle coming on, but after 2 days of Baking Soda, I was able to fight it off. Now I drink it every other day. Even a few sparkling water brands contain some baking soda as well as magnesium, another major deficiency in our diet . More on that to come soon!
The other funny remedy for Baking Soda? Preventing or curing a hangover. Yep, after you and hubby indulge in a bottle of fine wine only to realize the kids will be up at 6am, swig a glass of Baking Soda down before going to bed. Better yet, drink it during the evening. But that would be gross, right? I assure you though, you’ll be better off in the morning.
Athletes can also benefit from baking soda by taking bicarbonate with water to prevent accumulation of acid in the muscles. This can greatly boost athletic performance. One third of a gram of baking soda for every 2.2. pounds of body weight is the typical standard. Along with plenty of water, drinking baking soda before exercise can work wonders.
So, still think baking soda is a crazy idea? Try it once and see what you think.
These are my thoughts on living a healthy and simple life. I'm a modern mom with some simple ideas, a little common sense and a natural philosophy. This is the sanest way I know how to navigate the 21 century.
