Spotlight on the Various Benefits of Baking Soda
Indiscriminate Use Can Be Dangerous
Consult a Qualified Medical Professional
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), which is commonly used for cleaning in daily life, has recently been proven effective in various human-related fields such as exercise, cancer treatment, and childbirth.
On October 16 (local time), the UK’s Daily Mail reported, citing several recent studies, that baking soda is gaining attention for its potential to enhance athletic performance, support cancer treatment, and shorten labor during childbirth.
Reduces Lactic Acid Buildup and Delays Fatigue
Experts are focusing on the fact that baking soda can be used for physiological regulation in the human body. In fact, among athletes, baking soda is used as a performance-enhancing supplement, a practice known as “soda doping.”
According to a 2021 study by Loughborough University in the UK and others, participants who consumed 0.2 to 0.5 grams of baking soda per kilogram of body weight showed improved overall performance not only in muscular endurance exercises but also in combat sports such as boxing, judo, karate, taekwondo, and wrestling, as well as in high-intensity cycling, running, swimming, and rowing events.
However, the use of baking soda as a supplement should be approached with caution, as individual responses vary greatly and excessive intake may cause side effects such as abdominal bloating or vomiting.
“Potential to Support Cancer Treatment and Relieve Labor Pain”
There are also studies suggesting that baking soda can serve as an adjunct in cancer treatment. When dissolved in water, baking soda becomes mildly alkaline and may help buffer (neutralize) the acidity around tumors, thereby raising the pH level.
Researchers from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University in China, whose study was published in the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), stated, “The metabolic activity of solid tumors acidifies the surrounding environment, which promotes tumor growth and metastasis. The most direct way to neutralize this acidity is to administer sodium bicarbonate.” They further analyzed, “Sodium bicarbonate may play a supplementary role in enhancing the effectiveness of anticancer drugs.”
However, they added, “It is necessary to verify this hypothesis through large-scale clinical trials.”
There are also research findings that baking soda may aid childbirth. Some studies have shown that using sodium bicarbonate during labor can improve uterine contraction ability, helping to prevent difficult labor (delayed or prolonged delivery).
Relevant research is currently underway. According to the clinical trial information registry operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), a research team at McMaster University in Canada is investigating whether baking soda can shorten labor time by regulating the pH balance of the cervix.
The core of this study is to evaluate whether giving women in labor a solution of baking soda dissolved in water can enhance uterine contractions and prevent delayed labor. The researchers hypothesized that, since baking soda has been used as a supplement to suppress lactic acid buildup and improve muscle contraction ability in athletes, a similar buffering effect might occur in uterine muscles.
Although the results have not yet been announced, attention is focused on whether this pH-regulating function can help relieve labor pain.
In addition, baking soda’s antacid properties have been shown to temporarily relieve heartburn or excessive stomach acid. Studies have also reported that it may help prevent chronic diseases by reducing inflammatory responses in the body.
Indiscriminate Use Is Risky... “Consult a Physician”
However, since there is not yet sufficient clinical evidence, indiscriminate consumption of baking soda is dangerous. The Daily Mail, citing experts, reported, “It should only be used under the guidance and supervision of qualified medical professionals.”
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