3 Reasons To Use Baking Soda For Constipation
You will find 3 reasons to use baking soda for constipation in this article.
What is constipation?
Constipation is a condition characterized by the infrequent passage of stools or difficulty with the evacuation of stools1,2.
Symptoms of constipation include1,2:
- Hard stools
- Straining
- Sensation of blockage
- Incomplete evacuation
- Bloating
The normal frequency of bowel movements is between three per day and three per week.
By contrast, a person experiencing chronic constipation has fewer than three bowel movements a week.
What causes constipation?
Common causes of constipation include3,4,5,6:
- Low consumption of fiber-rich foods, such as fruits and vegetables
- Insufficient fluid intake
- Medications
- A lack of mobility
- An overload of heavy metals
- Candida overgrowth
Related: 5 Immediate Constipation Relief Remedies
What is baking soda?
Baking soda (chemically known as sodium bicarbonate) is a white, crystalline, and alkaline salt.
It consists of a sodium cation (Na+) and a bicarbonate anion (HCO3–).
Bicarbonate is naturally present and dissolved in many mineral springs.
3 Reasons to use baking soda for constipation
Sodium bicarbonate is a well-known natural remedy for inducing bowel movement.
Here are 3 reasons to use baking soda for constipation:
1. Baking soda eliminates toxic compounds
One of the causes of constipation is an overload of toxic compounds in the body.
A buildup of medications, alcohol, and heavy metals obstruct the colon.
Sodium bicarbonate eliminates a wide range of toxic substances from your body, relieving constipation.
Baking soda gets rid of poisons
A study revealed that sodium bicarbonate helps your body to eliminate prescribed medications and substances of abuse, such as7
- Sodium channel blockers
- Salicylate
- Toxic alcohols
- Miscellaneous other drugs
Related: 13 Benefits Of A Bentonite Clay Detox Drink
Baking soda removes heavy metals
Studies have shown that sodium bicarbonate neutralizes cadmium, lead, copper, and nickel8,9,10.
It also eliminates uranium, a radioactive heavy metal, from your body11,12.
Related: 10 Best Heavy Metal Detox Supplements
2. Baking soda has antifungal properties
Candida albicans is a yeast (a type of single-celled fungus) that lives on the skin and in the mucous membranes of humans.
It can infect the digestive system and form a biofilm that protects it from external factors such as the host immune system and antifungal drugs13.
This biofilm can make stools as hard as cement and therefore hard to pass.
Studies have revealed that sodium bicarbonate has antifungal activity against Candida albicans, helping relieve constipation14,15,16.
Related: 10 Strongest Candida Killer Supplements
3. Baking soda alkalizes your body
Bicarbonate is an essential chemical in the human body. It regulates the acid-base balance by acting as a buffer7.
Studies have shown that supplementation with sodium bicarbonate alkalizes the body, preventing metabolic acidosis17,18,19.
By alkalizing your body, baking soda maintains homeostasis, a steady condition of optimal cell functioning.
This, in turn, stimulates bowel movement by optimizing digestive functions, such as:
- Digestive enzyme production
- Peristalsis
- Intestinal fluid absorption regulation
Related: How To Alkalize Your Body Fast
How to use baking soda for constipation
Here are 3 different ways to use baking soda for constipation:
1. Drink bicarbonate-rich mineral water
Some mineral springs are naturally rich in bicarbonate.
Studies have shown that bicarbonate-alkaline mineral water enhances gastric emptying in the case of constipation20,21.
Mineral water high in bicarbonate contains at least 600 mg of natural sodium bicarbonate per liter22.
The following brands are, for example, rich in bicarbonate:
Brand | Bicarbonate [mg/l] |
---|---|
St-Yorre | 4368 |
Vichy Celestins | 2989 |
Gerolsteiner | 1816 |
Badoit | 1250 |
Uliveto | 683 |
The bicarbonate content of bottled mineral water is usually mentioned on the bottle label.
Dosage
Drink a glass of mineral water high in bicarbonate first thing in the morning, at least an hour before breakfast.
2. Use baking soda powder
Another way to take baking soda for constipation is to drink a glass of water mixed with sodium bicarbonate powder.
It is noteworthy that too much baking soda powder will not relieve constipation. On the contrary, it will have the opposite effect.
Dosage
Drink a glass of warm water mixed with 250 mg of baking soda first thing in the morning, at least an hour before breakfast.
3. Take a baking soda detox bath
You can also relieve constipation by soaking in a warm bath to which you have added sodium bicarbonate.
When you are soaking in the tub, it is almost the whole surface of your skin that is in contact with the baking soda-water mixture.
Your skin will absorb the alkaline salt and release the toxins through your pores when you sweat, relieving constipation.
Dosage
Take a bath to which you have added a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate.
Soak for at least 20 minutes in the tub.
Related: 13 Health Benefits Of Diatomaceous Earth (Food Grade)
How long does it take for baking soda to relieve constipation?
If you drink baking soda according to the dosage mentioned above, it should relieve constipation within 2-3 hours.
Related: Can Constipation Cause Lower Back Pain?
Does baking soda contain aluminum?
“Baking soda” is pure sodium bicarbonate and does not contain aluminum.
By contrast, “baking powder,” which contains some sodium carbonate and acidifying agents, may contain sodium aluminum sulfate. Avoid it at all costs.
Related: How To Detox Aluminum From The Body
Summary: 3 Reasons to use baking soda for constipation
Constipation is a condition characterized by infrequent bowel movements or difficulty with the evacuation of stools.
Common causes of constipation include a diet poor in fruits and vegetables, an overload of toxic compounds, and candida overgrowth.
The 3 reasons to use baking soda for constipation are the following:
- Removal of poisons and heavy metals from your body
- Elimination of candida
- Alkalization of your body