Does drinking baking soda assist in weight loss?

Baking soda is widely used for many purposes such as teeth whitening, deodorizing refrigerator and others. Among its many benefits, aiding weight loss is said to be present.

Some people say that mixing baking soda with water, lemon juice or apple cider vinegar and drinking it on an empty stomach will effectively help you lose weight. This is however controversial because the theory of the alkalizing effects that will aid weight loss believed to be present in baking soda has no scientific backing.

We need to note that the body makes use of tightly regulated processes to control its pH levels and whatever we consume has little or no effect on it.

The theory claim that adding baking soda to bath water will assist in weight loss by replenishing levels of sulfate and magnesium in the body also has no serious backing. Baking soda might however give relief to an upset stomach as it has an ability to neutralize stomach acid.

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Daily consumption of a mixture of baking soda with water, apple cider vinegar and/ lemon juice can result in larger daily fluid intake. This can actively improve overall hydration levels which is said to have an effect of lowering hunger, increasing metabolism and promoting fat loss in the body.

We should however bear in mind that the possible effects of promoting weight loss has less or nothing to do with the baking soda and more to do with the other liquids involved.

Excessive intake of it has been linked to the resulting of a variety of adverse effects like:

• Metabolic acidosis: this occurs when the body can no longer control blood pH level. It can result in muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, alteration in mental status, spasms and even death in the long run.
• High blood pressure: baking soda is significantly high in sodium and as such, excessive intake of it can lead to high blood pressure, heart failure and also fluid accumulation.

In conclusion, we are advised to stay on a safe path by avoiding consumption of this mixture until enough researches have been conducted.