Description
Sodium bicarbonate derived from salt molecules that disintegrate into sodium and bicarbonate in water. The derivative is an alkaline solution capable of neutralizing acids. When introduced into the bloodstream, sodium bicarbonate can promote internal conditions which the body needs to recover from ailments related to high acidities, such as heartburn.
An uncounted number of anecdotal evidence suggest that sodium bicarbonate can also boost athletic performance, treat certain types of kidney damage, and remedy ailments stomach ulcers, dental plaque, and indigestion.
However, the evidence backing these claims have been mainly anecdotal and not scientific. Scientific evidence has so far only shown cues of how sodium bicarbonate interacts with the body.
How Does Sodium BicarbonateWork in the Body?
When introduced into the body, sodium bicarbonate dissolves in bodily fluids like blood and urine to yield sodium and bicarbonate. The solution is counteractive to acidity, reducing acid levels in the body. Excessive quantities of acid in the body can lead to indigestion, heartburns, and kidney problems. By neutralizing the body’s acidic contents, sodium bicarbonate can facilitate the body’s recovery from acidity-related ailments.
How to Use Sodium Bicarbonate
Athletic Performance:
Research suggests that sodium bicarbonate can improve energy levels during exercise. This outcome achieved in studies where the subjects, who were professional male athletes, consumed sodium bicarbonate orally 1 – 3 hours before a high-intensity activity. However, no significant energy gains recorded in studies involving females and non-athletes.
The energy-boosting effects of the substance also appear not to last beyond 10 minutes of the highly-intense activity.
But be that as it may, anyone who wants to experiment with sodium bicarbonate to boost athletic performance can start with a dosage of 100 – 400 mg/kg body weight taken 1 – 3 hours before a workout session.
Kidney Damage:
Research suggests that the risk of kidney damage resulting from contrast-induced nephropathy can be significantly minimized through a procedure involving the intravenous injection of sodium bicarbonate.
Sodium bicarbonate often used to prep patients for cardiac angiography.
