Drinking Baking Soda for Weight Loss: Does It Work?

Baking soda may have a slight and indirect effect on weight loss, but not enough to be recommended as a weight loss strategy.

Baking soda is alkaline and can help your body break down fat because it neutralizes stomach acids. It does not, however, directly affect body fat or counteract the calories you consume from fat. You lose weight when you consume fewer calories than you expend.

When you ingest baking soda, your stomach acids react with it to generate byproducts, such as water and carbon dioxide, which causes you to burp. After a particularly spicy or fatty meal, this chemical reaction may help your stomach feel better, but it would not change how your body absorbs the calories.

Although it will not make you lose weight, baking soda may enhance the effects of any exercises you do as part of a weight loss plan. According to one study, taking baking soda 60 minutes before engaging in lower-body strength training allowed participants to complete more repetitions with fewer symptoms of muscle fatigue than the placebo. However, this study was small in scale, and more studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of this approach.

Speed and endurance during cardio exercise may also be enhanced by baking soda. Your muscles begin to produce more lactic acid when you exercise at or close to maximum intensity. Drinking baking soda before exercise can counteract the lactic acid and prevent it from building up in the muscles, allowing you to work a little harder and longer before having to stop.

So while drinking baking soda may not have a direct effect on weight loss, it may help you exercise for longer, which can ultimately help you burn more calories.

When consumed too soon after a large, heavy meal, baking soda may cause a high carbon dioxide buildup in the stomach, which can lead to severe cramps, vomiting, or severe diarrhea.

Baking soda contains significant levels of sodium, which could be harmful to those who already have kidney or heart issues. Regular consumption of too much sodium can also result in high blood pressure and kidney problems even in healthy individuals.

Avoid drinking baking soda without first consulting your doctor, because it can interact with a variety of medications, including aspirin.