Is Baking Soda And Lemon Juice Worth The Hype?

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healthy living/fitness Raise Your Glass (And Hold Your Nose)

Considering a daily cocktail of lemon juice and baking soda? Read this first.

4 min read

By Christine Van Dusen, Writer

The headlines scream from my screen: “Strengthen your immune system! Prevent cancer! Lose weight! Detoxify your body! Whiten your teeth! Improve digestion!”

These bold claims are being made about what’s currently in my cup—a cloudy concoction that’s made up of 6 ounces of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, and 8 ounces of water. Celebs and influencers alike are swearing by its benefits all over social media. But can the potion really do all that they claim? Experts say it’s certainly not a cure-all—but it may do some good.

“There are always trends—like detoxes, cleanses, or juicing—that come into our consciousness and take hold,” says Julie Kramer, RD, registered dietitian and disease educator for Northwell Health’s Healthy Living Program. “We need to remember that there are no easy answers.” While a lot of diet trends are best ignored, she says, this one may be worth a try. Here’s why:

Lemon juice—straight from the fruit, not a bottle—contains vitamin C, soluble fiber, and plant compounds that aid in digestion and hydration, and can help prevent kidney stones. “Lemon juice has very high concentrations of antioxidants, which are very important,” Kramer says. “Everyone thinks it’s acidic, but it actually brings down your pH. So lemon juice, by itself, is fabulous.”

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has long been used in the kitchen—for making muffins, or for absorbing odors in your fridge—or as an ingredient in toothpaste and laundry detergent. Now, baking soda is being used more and more as a nutritional supplement. And there’s a bit of science to back it up. One study found that athletes who performed high-intensity exercise experienced improved performance after ingesting some baking soda. “They found that they had less muscle fatigue and more energy,” Kramer says.

Why? During an intense workout we build up lactic acid and hydrogen in our muscles, and any that doesn’t “drain” away can create an acidic environment and a burning sensation that increases feelings of fatigue. Baking soda is said to reduce that acidic environment. “It has alkalizing effects,” Kramer explains. “I’ve seen the studies about athletes, but I think the biggest benefit is for digestion. When people have heartburn, it’s because they have too much acid. Baking soda can help alkalize the body.”

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But what about those claims that this drink can clear up acne, boost metabolism, and help you lose weight? Kramer isn’t so sure. “Drinking water is good for your skin and can help fill you up,” she says. “But weight loss? That sounds a little too good to be true.” Some claims have also been widely debunked or challenged, like the idea that lemon juice and baking soda can help prevent COVID-19 infections, or that the drink alone can prevent cancer.

People with low potassium, cardiovascular disease, and who are pregnant should probably skip this trend, or at least check with their doctor first. Another warning: Don’t ingest too much baking soda, as its high sodium content can draw water into the digestive system and cause diarrhea and vomiting. When taken in small doses, though, baking soda with lemon is harmless for most people, Kramer says.

“Give it a fair shot,” she advised. “Natural remedies can work. But you have to do them consistently and make them a part of your lifestyle if you want to see any benefit.”

This all sounded great to me, so I spooned some baking soda into a glass of lemon juice and water, and prepared to feel amazing. But one sip of that salty and sour drink had me dumping it down the sink—health benefits be damned.

“You have to be able to tolerate the taste,” Kramer warns. “It’s not for everyone.”

Next Steps and Useful Resources

• Could starting your day with a shot of ACV be just what your body needs? Our expert weighs in.
• The keto diet: A craze or just crazy?
• Curious about plant-based eating? Read one woman’s story about giving it a try.

June 14th, 2021 Tags: healthy living nutrition

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