Ah, if I had a euro for each supposed new "trick" make you lose weight naturally!
I don't think I will ever need to work again...
Do you know the latest "miracle" product for losing weight?
Well, believe it or not, it's baking soda.
You read that right...
We are talking about the white powder that you use in the kitchen to make very soft cakes...
As incredible as it may seem, several blogs claim that baking soda facilitates weight loss.
And as is often the case, none of these blogs can prove by A plus B why it works.
So, drinking baking soda to lose weight? It really is an effective natural remedy… or just a pipe?
The truth is that there is none scientific proof that baking soda helps you lose weight. Explanations:
So what exactly happens when you ingest baking soda?
Before getting to the heart of the matter...
Let's start with a little remedial lesson, for those who skipped their chemistry class :-)
Baking soda is exactly the same as baking soda.
Generally, it is taken by drinking it, mixed with water.
To help us understand the effects of bicarbonate, we asked the opinion of a nutritionist:Dr. Rachel Pojednic.
According to her, when you drink it, the bicarbonate reacts with acidic substances in your stomach:stomach acid.
This reaction essentially forms salt, water and carbon dioxide.
"The most common medical use of bicarbonate is due to its powerful antacid properties ", explains Dr. Pojednic.
Thus, thanks to its very basic pH, baking soda is an effective remedy for relieving indigestion and nausea.
Indeed, these digestive disorders are often due to excessive production of stomach acid.
So, by relieving the stomach, you feel "lighter". Makes sense!
But know that the stomach is supposed have a very low pH – i.e. acidic.
"It is this acidity that triggers the first steps in the digestion of proteins", explains Dr. Pojednic.
In simple terms, what does it mean?
Let's take a concrete example:
You eat a large meal, high in protein or fat.
To break down these foods, your stomach cells must produce more stomach acid than usual.
But it's not this overproduction of stomach acid that's causing you pain...
In fact, when there is too much pressure in your stomach, acid may back up into your esophagus.
And it is precisely these acid reflux that cause pain and irritation.
Well... and the baking soda in all this?
"If you take bicarbonate, it neutralizes stomach acid that has gone up into the esophagus," adds Dr. Pojednic.
"This means that baking soda is a very effective remedy for relieving irritation and pain caused by stomach acid."
But, there is still a little thing to know...
In the short term, baking soda can cause even MORE bloating because it turns into carbon dioxide.
Fortunately, this gas is released very quickly. Just burp!
Here's what to remember:
Yes, baking soda is an effective remedy... but only to relieve stomach pain.
But in no case will it be able to help you lose weight!
Indeed, there is no physiological explanation that proves that bicarbonate promotes weight loss.
Except maybe because it makes you feel fuller, which in theory could decrease calorie intake.
Scientifically speaking, in order to lose weight, you must create what is known as a calorie deficit .
Simply put, that means you eat fewer calories than you burn.
But drinking bicarbonate of soda water can't magically make the calories disappear...
Unless you feel so bloated after taking it that you don't want to eat!
Conclusion:drinking soda to lose weight is not a good idea.
Taking baking soda to lose weight is useless.
But, while we're on the subject, another question arises...
Is there just one good reason to ingest this powder?
And beware, I'm only talking about scientifically proven benefits.
It's true:we're still talking about swallowing the same product that my grandmother uses to unclog her sink!
Know that there is strong evidence that baking soda helps to enhance your performance at the gym.
Does that seem unlikely to you?
And yet, this is proven by a study published in the very serious European Journal of Applied Physiology . (Source 1)
In another study, athletes were asked to take baking soda 60 minutes before their usual weight training session.
The researchers found that these athletes could do more reps, and with less muscle fatigue. (Source 2)
Dr. Pojednic explains:
"If bicarbonate helps increase stamina, it's because it makes the blood slightly more basic (i.e. less acidic)."
During intense muscular exercise, the blood produces lactic acid .
This builds up in your muscle tissue as you exercise.
In fact, this is what ends up creating that burning sensation characteristic of muscle cramps.
As a result, you have muscle pain, which forces you to stop or slow down your physical activity.
Dr. Pojednic explains:
"Having less lactic acid during physical activity delays the onset of muscle fatigue."
But know that to take advantage of these benefits on your endurance, you have to take a hell of a dose of baking soda.
It turns out that the recommended dose is 0.3 g per kg of body mass per day.
So that's more than 20 g per day for a 70 kg man.
"This dose is the one recommended for athletes who are training for a competition", specifies Dr. Pojednic.
So not for those who go to the gym occasionally, like you and me!
And that's not all...
Taking soda too often also tends to cause abdominal discomfort.
Which, in the end, can harm your sports performance.
It's not easy to be in top physical shape if you have a stomach ache!
Use baking soda in the kitchen to make your bread and cake recipes a success.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a magic remedy to lose weight...
It is certainly not the bicarbonate that will be able to help you!
If you want to lose weight, it is better to use proven and effective methods , like:
- eat healthy and balanced meals and
- engage in regular physical activity.
