Is Baking Soda Edible? ANSWERED

Just like myself, you most likely have baking soda sitting in your cupboard shelf and have heard that this natural ingredient can be used for many many things! There are hundreds of articles on how to use baking soda for beauty, health and cleaning. But, is baking soda edible?

In this article we’re going to explore how much baking soda is safe, if it’s edible raw, its uses and even if it’s safe for everyone in our family – including our furry friends.

Table of Contents

• Is It Safe To Eat Baking Soda?
• Is Baking Soda Edible Raw
• Is Baking Soda Edible For Dogs
• What Is Baking Soda Used For
• FAQs
• Be Careful With Baking Soda!

Is It Safe To Eat Baking Soda?

So, what exactly is baking soda? Baking soda is a fine white powder that is made of sodium bicarbonate, which makes baking soda a strong alkaline. Baking soda has a very strong PH level of 9. This means that when applied to other ingredients or even our skin, it can neutralize and balance those PH levels.

Baking soda became popular in 1846 and was made hugely known by the brand Arm & Hammer, which is still around today!

The main attraction of baking soda was how versatile the product is. This is mainly due to its strong properties that can be very effective when cleaning, stripping dirt, and also reacting with other ingredients when cooking.

What kind of baking soda is edible? From the title, we assume we can use it when baking! And that is 100% correct. Baking soda is safe when used when cooking and baking as it acts as a leavening agent which will make the baked goods rise and become fluffy.

There are different types of baking soda and it’s very important to not consume the wrong type! Apart from baking soda, there is cleaning soda which is designed for cleaning and is double the strength of regular baking soda. Cleaning soda should never be consumed as it can be very toxic and cause a lot of side effects.

It is not safe to consume too much baking soda or consume any cleaning soda. Many people believe that eating large amounts of baking soda can help with health conditions but there isn’t enough medical evidence to prove this.

Baking soda can help relieve symptoms but only when taken in small quantities. Many people mix a teaspoon of baking soda with water to help relieve heartburn and indigestion. This home remedy is only suitable for those that are not pregnant.

Can you eat Arm & Hammer baking soda? Yes! But make sure you always go for baking soda and not washing soda. It is best used when making cookies or muffins.

Is Baking Soda Edible Raw

We highly recommend that if you want to use baking soda raw you do not consume a larger amount than half a teaspoon as day. It is also not recommended to use every day as it can have very damaging long term effects on your health due to being so high in sodium.

Here are a list of baking soda side effects:

• Poisoning: Poisoning occurs when too much baking soda is consumed which can cause a lot of stomach and digestion issues. These issues can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea and excess gas. These symptoms occur when the body attempts to counteract the level of sodium by drawing water into the stomach.
• Toxicity: This is caused by consuming too much baking soda. You will often experience poisoning symptoms as the sodium has become toxic in the body. Long term toxicity and overuse of baking soda can cause illnesses like seizures, kidney failure and difficulty in breathing. Baking soda should never be given to children raw as it can cause toxicity.
• Ruptured Stomach: An overdose of baking soda can rupture the stomach as it can cause a chemical reaction within the organ. The chemical reaction causes excessive gas which can then cause the stomach to rupture.

Is Baking Soda Edible For Dogs

Baking soda can be used around dogs as it is free from harmful chemicals. Baking soda is most commonly used to deodorize your dogs’ bedding, your home, or your car. It works very effectively. The use of baking soda will not irritate your dog.

Just like us humans, dogs can face nasty reactions when eating raw baking soda in large amounts. If your dog does consume large amounts of raw baking soda, the side effects will show very quickly. These side effects can include spasms, seizures, heart issues and vomiting. If your dog consumes large amounts of baking soda, take them to a vet immediately.

What Is Baking Soda Used For

Baking soda is a very versatile product and can be used for cooking and cleaning!

To read more about the difference between baking soda and washing soda in detail, head to our post: Baking Soda For Cooking vs Cleaning.

Here is a list of what baking soda can be used for:

• Produce wash
• Natural cleanser
• Treatment for acne
• Remove blackheads
• Cooking
• Baking
• Washing clothes
• Relieving indigestion symptoms and heartburn

FAQs

Be Careful With Baking Soda!

Baking soda can be fantastic when cooking and can make your bakes fluffy and impressive. It’s best to stick to using baking soda in cooking as that is when it is considered to be nontoxic. We advise that if you consume baking soda raw, be very careful with how much you eat and you don’t want to end up with any nasty side effects or health conditions.

Do you use baking soda when cooking and baking? Have you consumed baking soda raw?

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