baking soda Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Baking Soda Before Exercise May Protect Against Effects of Overheating

AHA Publisher — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 08:00:28 +0000

American Physiological Society (APS) via Newswise – Researchers find in a new study that drinking a solution of sodium bicarbonate and water prior to exercising in heat improved outcomes. The study is published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, and was chosen as an APSselect article for December. Exercising in the heat can lead to hyperventilation, decreased performance and risk of heatstroke. In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers from the Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Japan, investigated whether drinking a sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) beverage could mitigate the effects of exercising in the heat. The team recruited 11 healthy men for a crossover-style study. Participants each completed two experimental sessions consisting of one trial and one control. Each session was separated by at least three days and conducted in an environmental chamber set to 95 degrees F. The sodium bicarbonate solution was 300 mg per kilogram body weight mixed with 4.5 mL of mineral water per kilogram body weight. The control solution was a comparable amount of saline (salt water). Both beverages included grape syrup and aspartame to blind participants to their contents. Participants consumed the beverages 90 minutes before beginning to exercise. The sodium bicarbonate trials showed a number of improved metrics. Participants showed reduced measures of hyperventilation, improved ratios of carbon dioxide in the blood and greater blood flow in the brain. Perhaps most telling, the participants reported lower perceived exertion. “Sodium bicarbonate ingestion may be a beneficial strategy to mitigate the risk of heatstroke and decreased exercise performance in the heat,” researchers wrote. To read the original article click here.

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Can This Inexpensive and Safe Treatment Combat Viral Infections?

AHA Publisher — Mon, 04 May 2020 07:00:20 +0000

Lori Alton via NaturalHealth365 – With cases of COVID-19 topping 3 million globally – and the death toll exceeding 230,000 – scientists are working feverishly to develop vaccines, treatments and therapies. But, some natural health experts maintain that the key to fighting COVID-19 and other viral infections could lie much closer to home – in the form of a common kitchen staple. Scientific studies show that certain viruses – including coronaviruses – are much more infectious in an acidic environment. Could bicarbonate of soda (a natural antacid) possibly play a role in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses? While clinical studies have not been performed, advocates say that bicarbonate of soda, also known as baking soda, may be used as a safe, cost-effective therapy to help ward off infection. Key point: Viruses Must Invade Cells in Order to Replicate and Spread Viruses, which are little more than tiny bits of protein containing genetic material, infect healthy cells by penetrating cell membranes. At this point, they may begin reproducing, or replicating. At some point, the virus-laden cell bursts, releasing the virus to infect other host cells. In other words, in order to successfully spread, viruses must find ways to breach protective cell membranes – and inject their genome. Scientists have now learned that the pH level of cells can affect this process. The pH scale, which runs from 0 to 14, measures how acid or alkaline a substance is. 7.0 pH signifies a neutral reading, with lower numbers indicating acidity and higher numbers showing alkalinity. Important to note: Blood has a normal pH range of 7.35 to 7.45, placing it in the “mildly alkaline” range. According to noted physician and teacher Eddy Bettermann, MD, certain common viruses – including coronaviruses and rhinoviruses – are classified as pH-dependent. This means that they require lower, more acidic pH levels in order to fuse with and penetrate cellular membranes. Research Says: Alkaline Conditions Make it Difficult for pH-Dependent Viruses to Thrive In a cell study of a strain of coronavirus that infects mice, scientists found that the virus was stable at pH 6.0 – but was completely inactivated by brief exposure to pH 8.0 (alkaline). And scientists have found that coronavirus strain 229E – one of the viruses responsible for the common cold in humans – has maximum power to infect at pH 6.0. In a separate cell study published in Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, the team noted that fusion of cell membranes was dependent on the “acidification” of the endosomal compartment and was triggered by “conformational changes in viral glycoproteins induced by low pH.” In somewhat less-technical terms: pH-dependent viruses seemed to need acidity to reproduce. Conversely, raising alkalinity seemed to deactivate them – and take the wind right out of their sails (in a manner of speaking). Understand, although the difference between 6.0 and 7.0 pH may seem “negligible, the fact is: each increment up or down the scale represents a stunning tenfold increase or decrease in potential risk of infection. According to Dr. Bettermann, this is where sodium bicarbonate (bicarbonate of soda) comes in. Not only does he endorse it as the best way to safely increase pH in clinical emergency conditions – but he credits it with a therapeutic history dating back over a hundred years. Unsung Hero: A Safe Treatment Ignored During Pandemic Times In 1918, Edward R. Hays, MD, a physician with the US Public Health Service, utilized bicarbonate of soda against the Spanish flu. An early advocate of baking soda therapy, Dr. Hays believed in its power to alkalize the body, increase resistance to disease and fight colds and flu. “In many, many instances within 36 hours the symptoms would have entirely abated,” reported Dr. Hays. Dr. Hays also credited baking soda with the ability to treat a variety of other ailments, including rheumatism, eczema, hives, insect bites and burns. Other proponents of baking soda therapy maintain that it promotes the delivery of blood and oxygen to cells, while buffering metabolic waste acids. And, recent research shows that baking soda may even be effective against the inflammation associated with autoimmune disease. Natural health authority Dr. Mark Sircus endorses baking soda as well, characterizing it as an “almost perfect medicine.” Combat Viral Infections Safely and Simply with Baking Soda Dr. Hays’ suggested protocol for fighting colds and flu is as follows: During the first day, take six doses consisting of a half-teaspoonful Arm and Hammer bicarbonate of soda, dissolved in a glass of cool water – at regular intervals throughout the day. During the second and third day, take two half-teaspoonful doses in water. And, for every day thereafter, take a half-teaspoonful in water every morning until symptoms disappear and the cold is cured. For maximum benefit, avoid taking too close to mealtimes. One to two hours after eating is ideal. Naturally, don’t hesitate to seek medical treatment when ill. And, as we always suggest, check with your physician before attempting to treat or prevent viral infections with baking soda or any other substance. It is particularly important to check with your doctor if you have high blood pressure or kidney disease, as bicarbonate of soda contains high levels of sodium. Of course, never underestimate the importance of getting sufficient sleep, eating organic foods and reducing stress through natural techniques such as acupuncture, guided meditation, or biofeedback. You can also boost the immune system with vitamin C, glutathione and zinc – but check with your doctor before adding these supplements to your health routine. To sum up: convenient, safe, and cheap, baking soda has been used for decades as a trusted home remedy to ease ailments from heartburn to bee stings. Now, it may prove to have powerful antiviral effects as well. To read the original article click here.

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How Baking Soda Affects People with Type 2 Diabetes

AHA Publisher — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 07:00:56 +0000

Chloe Bennett, B.Sc. via News-Medical Net – Type 2 diabetes is a life-persistent condition characterized by high blood sugar levels and is considered to be the most prevalent type of diabetes resulting from interactions between behavioral, genetic, and environmental factors. The metabolic disorder is caused by either the body failing to produce sufficient amounts of insulin or the body cells not reacting to insulin. Those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes often experience some of the following symptoms: Slow healing cuts Persistent fatigue Weight and muscle loss Increased thirst Blurred vision Increased frequency of urination Recurrent thrush or itching around the genital area How Baking Soda Affects People with Type 2 Diabetes New research has found that the cupboard stable, sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, can affect insulin and inflammation in those with type 2 diabetes. Inflammation caused by obesity, often seen in those with diabetes, is associated with the impaired ability to respond effectively to insulin, known as insulin resistance. As a result of this, the immune system, including the spleen, is then activated to help reduce the prevalence of chronic inflammation. Early research into the effects of oral sodium bicarbonate on inflammatory response has found that in healthy rats, found that the solution triggers the mesothelial cells of the digestive tract to signal to the spleen to increase the synthesis of anti-inflammatory, immune cells. Before the current study, the potential anti-inflammatory properties of sodium bicarbonate were yet to be investigated using a model of enduring systemic inflammation, as seen in type 2 diabetes. The new study aimed to investigate such effects. Using an animal model, the researchers noted the effects of baking soda on type 2 diabetes. Over three weeks, diabetic rats were given a baking soda solution and were found to show a decreased response to insulin compared to healthy controls. This effect was attributed to being indicative of an impaired ability of the rat’s body to respond to insulin effectively. Other, more positive effects were also noted by the researchers. Specifically, the team observed that the spleens of diabetic mice who were given the baking soda solution synthesized an increased number of anti-inflammatory cells. This, in turn, increased overall immunity even in instances where the mesothelial were unable to send trigger signals. The researchers noted that the increase in immune response despite insulin resistance suggests that the effects of baking soda on insulin may be associated with the negative effects of alkali load – the chemical compounds of sodium bicarbonate – rather than being mediated by inflammation. Implications of the Research This is an animal study, so although the results are promising there is still no evidence that these effects happen in humans until a human clinical trial is complete. The researchers noted that the association between the alkali load of baking soda and metabolic activity that occurs irrespective of immune activity might prove vital in understanding the effects on sodium bicarbonate on the body. Baking Soda and Diabetes Similar research has shown that sodium bicarbonate may be effective in treating patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) – a fungal infection that disproportionally affects diabetic individuals compared to the non-diabetic population. The research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation successfully identified the mechanisms in DKA, which led to the increased growth of the fungus, mucormycosis, using a mouse model. Specifically, it was shown that the typical role of phagocytes to ingest invading microorganisms is diminished during DKA, allowing the fungal protein CotH to bind to the receptor of the GRP78 cell, resulting in the onset of mucormycosis. Increased glucose and irons levels were reported to exacerbate the progression of the infection. However, when the researchers administered sodium bicarbonate, the effects that previously increased the progression of the injection were reversed. This research adds to literature outlining the potential benefits of researching baking sodium as a potential treatment for those with diabetes. This article has been modified. To read the original article click here.

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