Very useful to overcome certain household chores or to eliminate bad odors, baking soda can also be taken internally in a glass of water. Known for its digestive virtues, this white powder is of great help after a meal too copious to avoid acid reflux or bloating.
Does baking soda make you lose weight? In any case, this is what some influencers say on social networks. Yet baking soda is not a panacea. Losing weight is indeed more complex and consuming baking soda every day can be dangerous for your health.
What is baking soda?
Also called sodium bicarbonate, baking soda is a mineral powder that can be obtained from natron deposits, trona, or by treating brackish water. It is an alkaline substance that is 100% ecological and biodegradable. It can be bought in pharmacies, supermarkets, DIY stores, drugstores, or organic shops.
Disinfectant, it allows you to clean, scrub, wash, polish, deodorize, cook, and sanitize ... It is therefore a very versatile natural product.
Used in laundry, it also serves as a deodorant revives colors, and prevents the accumulation of limescale on fabrics. It is also used in bakeries because this carbonic acid salt helps with fermentation and emergence.
There are three types of bicarbonate.
Food bicarbonate
The most versatile, food bicarbonate is perfect for use in the composition of certain cooking recipes, in cosmetics, or in homemade cleaning products, but also internally since it is soluble in water.
Technical bicarbonate
Less pure than food bicarbonate and therefore more abrasive can be used in cleaning products, for DIY, or for gardening.
Pharmaceutical bicarbonate
Finally, pharmaceutical bicarbonate, the most expensive of the three, is intended primarily for medical purposes.
Bicarbonate: digestive and anti-reflux virtues
When you eat a very rich and hearty meal, the stomach is going to have extra work to break down your meal. Also, it will produce a greater amount of stomach acid to break down macronutrients such as proteins or lipids. This can increase pressure and will result, in many people, in acid reflux and digestive discomfort.
To neutralize this stomach acid that travels up the esophagus, drinking a teaspoon of baking soda mixed in a glass of water can be very effective. Indeed, bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid, because it is an alkaline solution, so it has antacid properties. It will promote digestion and can sometimes give the feeling of appetite suppressant, like sparkling water.
However, this effect does not last over time, and no scientific study has shown that baking soda taken internally can help lose weight.
Risks related to the consumption of bicarbonate and the public at risk
If consumed every day, or even at every meal, bicarbonate can cause excess sodium and harm our intestines. It will therefore have the opposite effect of what we want, and can even cause an acceleration of transit (diarrhea) or kidney problems.
If consumed regularly, it is not recommended:
- people who are taking medication;
- pregnant or breastfeeding women;
- to children.
Sodium bicarbonate must therefore remain a temporary remedy to relieve temporary heartburn for example.
Lose weight naturally
Losing weight sustainably requires a real strategy that will include stress and emotional management, regular physical activity, and a healthy and varied diet. There is no recipe or miracle product, you just have to be disciplined and learn to respect the needs of your body.
Avoid storing fat
If you want to avoid storing fat, avoid eating too many carbohydrates in the evening (especially carbohydrates consumed alone such as a plain pasta dish, bread, or pizza). These will be stored in your fat cells (and can create cellulite) if they are not burned in energy in the evening. This fat will not able disappear or be burned with a drink or a miracle cure, so you will have to be patient!
Stay hydrated and consume plant-based proteins
Remember to drink water or herbal teas throughout the day to hydrate yourself, but also make a large part of your plate vegetable proteins (lasting satiety effect) and raw and cooked vegetables.
Practice intermittent fasting
Turn to intermittent fasting to boost your metabolism and be in a calorie deficit.
Avoid snacking between meals as well as sugary drinks such as sodas. Practice a sport on a regular basis (especially on an empty stomach in the morning if it is mild) to transform fat into muscle and increase your energy expenditure during the day.
Finally, do not forget to sleep well to regenerate your nervous system.
In any case, be accompanied by a nutritionist, a dietician, or a naturopath to define your food reform according to your objectives.