Baking Soda Test for
Stomach Acid
This is a
fairly simple test to get an approximation of your stomach’s acidity so that it
can be best treated. Often, heartburn is
treated as a condition of high stomach acidity (hyperchlorhydria), but it can
also result when the stomach does not produce enough acid (hypochlorhydria). Improperly treated, generally by medication
that lessens acid production in the stomach, the cause of the problem worsens,
and the stomach produces even less acid.
Stomach acid
production commonly decreases with age, and can lead to many problems other
than heartburn. Hypochlorhydria can
cause gas, bloating, diarrhea, malabsorption of nutrients, iron-deficiency
anemia, dry and thin skin and hair, acne, dysbiosis (improper balance of gut
bacteria), allergies, chronic fatigue, a weakened immune system and can
aggravate arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
Your stomach
produces hydrochloric acid, which is involved in digesting your food. The baking soda solution you will be drinking
reacts with the acid to produce carbon dioxide gas. The amount of gas produced depends upon the
quantity of acid contained in your stomach.
Carry out the
following steps to determine your stomach’s acidity:
1. Perform this test first thing in the
morning on an empty stomach (before eating or drinking)
2. Dissolve ¼ teaspoon of baking soda
into an 8 oz glass of cold water
3. Drink the solution and start timing
4. Record the time until you first burp
up gas
5. Perform this test for five
consecutive days (or longer) at the same time each day to give a better
estimation of your stomach’s acidity
|
Day
|
Time Until First Burp
|
|
1
|
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2
|
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3
|
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4
|
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5
|
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6
|
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7
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8
|
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9
|
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10
|
|
·
2 minutes:
indicates normal acidity
·
2-5 minutes:
indicates low-normal acidity
·
5 minutes:
possible hypochlorhydria
If results show low levels of acid in the stomach,
natural supplement options include apple cider vinegar and digestive bitters.
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