Baking Soda: The $1 Wonder You Probably Already Own
If you opened your kitchen cabinet right now, chances are you’d find a box of baking soda. Maybe you use it for baking cookies or keeping the fridge fresh, but this humble white powder—also known as sodium bicarbonate—does a whole lot more than that.
Baking soda is a simple mix of sodium and bicarbonate ions, but don’t let its simplicity fool you. It’s a powerful tool for both your health and your home. And at around a dollar a box, it’s one of the most affordable natural remedies out there.
Let’s dive into what makes baking soda so useful—and surprisingly effective—for your health.
1. Helps Calm Autoimmune Inflammation
Researchers discovered something pretty cool in 2018: drinking a baking soda and water solution seemed to help reduce inflammation in people with autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
How? The baking soda actually encouraged immune cells to shift gears—from causing inflammation to reducing it. That’s a big deal for those living with chronic inflammatory issues.
The study used about ¼ teaspoon in 20 ounces of water, sipped throughout the day. You could start smaller—like ⅛ teaspoon in a glass of water a few times a week.
2. Supports Kidney Health
If you’ve got kidney issues or just want to keep your kidneys healthy, baking soda might help. One clinical study found that people with chronic kidney disease who took sodium bicarbonate slowed down the progression of their condition.
It’s also helpful in preventing certain types of kidney stones, especially if your urine tends to be too acidic. Alkalizing the urine with baking soda can make those painful stones less likely to form—or even help dissolve them.
3. Could Help with Cancer Treatment (But Read This Carefully)
Cancer thrives in a more acidic environment. Some animal studies suggest that baking soda may help reduce the acidity in tumors, potentially slowing their growth or helping treatments work better.
But to be clear—this is not a proven treatment in humans, and it’s not something to try on your own without talking to your doctor. Still, it’s an interesting area of research.
4. Fights Off Urinary Tract Infections
If you’re someone who deals with recurring UTIs, baking soda might help. Acidic urine can make you more prone to infections, and studies show that baking soda can help make urine less acidic, lowering the risk of UTIs—especially in women.
5. Boosts Athletic Performance
Here’s one athletes love: baking soda can help reduce fatigue during high-intensity exercise.
Why? When you work out hard, your muscles produce lactic acid, which leads to that burning sensation and eventual fatigue. Baking soda helps neutralize that acid, allowing you to push a little longer and recover faster.
Some studies show athletes lasted up to 4.5 minutes longer when supplementing with baking soda—huge when you’re competing.
Start small if you try this. Some people experience gas or upset stomach with too much baking soda, especially on an empty stomach.
6. Eases Heartburn and Indigestion
Overdid it on spicy food or rich meals? Baking soda acts as a quick, natural antacid.
Add ½ teaspoon to a glass or two of water and sip it slowly about an hour after eating. It neutralizes excess stomach acid and eases that burning feeling. Just don’t use it daily, as too much can mess with your digestion over time.
7. Whitens Teeth and Fights Plaque
Baking soda makes an awesome toothpaste. It’s gently abrasive, helping to scrub away plaque and surface stains on your teeth.
You can use it alone or mix it with your favorite natural toothpaste. It also helps neutralize mouth bacteria and freshen your breath.
8. Might Help Fight Colds and Flu
Back in the 1920s during the flu pandemic, doctors noticed that people who regularly took baking soda seemed to get fewer or milder flu symptoms. Some even used it to treat colds and flu with good results.
No clinical trials to prove this, but baking soda is generally safe, so it’s worth trying.
Here’s the old-school method:
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Day 1: 6 doses of ½ tsp baking soda in water, spread over the day
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Day 2: 4 doses
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Day 3 and beyond: 2 doses per day until symptoms go away
9. Soothes Sore Throats
Sore throat? Try a baking soda gargle.
Mix 1 cup warm water, ¼ tsp baking soda, and ⅛ tsp salt. Gargle gently every few hours. It helps reduce inflammation, kills bacteria, and makes your throat feel better fast.
10. Speeds Up Healing of Canker Sores
Those painful little sores inside your mouth often come from excess acid or inflammation. Baking soda helps balance pH and promote healing.
You can make a rinse or apply a small amount directly to the sore to ease pain and speed recovery.
11. Calms Skin Irritations
Bug bites, sunburns, poison ivy, eczema, and rashes? Baking soda can help with all of them.
Make a paste with water and apply it directly, or toss a cup into a warm bath and soak for 15 minutes. It calms inflammation, relieves itching, and helps the skin heal.
Got a splinter? A baking soda paste under a bandage can help draw it out naturally.
A Few Words of Caution
While baking soda is safe in small doses, more is not always better.
Too much can lead to gas, bloating, diarrhea, or nausea. And because it’s high in sodium, it could cause issues for people with high blood pressure, kidney problems, or certain medical conditions.
Always check with your doctor if you’re on medications or have a health condition before using baking soda regularly.
Final Thoughts
Baking soda may just be one of the most underrated natural remedies sitting in your cupboard. It’s cheap, safe (in reasonable amounts), and crazy versatile—working from the inside out to support everything from gut health to muscle performance to skin relief.
So next time you’re reaching for a quick remedy, don’t forget that little orange box.
