Okay, so you’re not going to eat it by the spoonful. But a quarter-teaspoon in a glass of water can occasionally soothe indigestion—if you’re desperate and have no antacids. The American Heart Association even says it’s okay for urgent relief, but only once in a blue moon.
Fun fact: some athletes used to eat baking soda before races to delay muscle fatigue. It’s called “soda loading,” and it’s about as pleasant as it sounds—cramps, nausea, and the sudden urge to tell your coach you’re “not feeling it.” So unless you’re training for a marathon through a Porta-Potty, skip it.
Also, never eat it if you’re on blood pressure meds or have kidney issues. That box of baking soda is basically a sodium grenade. Your doctor would rather you chew on a salt lick.
Sodium Bicarbonate: Uses, Forms, Risks
The Surprising History of Edible Baking Soda
Back in the 1800s, people used baking soda for everything—including brushing teeth and curing hiccups. Mark Twain once joked it was a cure for “everything from a broken heart to a broken leg.” Spoiler: it wasn’t. But it did make for some legendary stomach aches.
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists baking soda as “Generally Recognized as Safe”—but only in tiny amounts. Think of it like a very boring, dusty cousin of salt. You’d never eat salt by the fistful, right? Right?