Baking Soda Remedy for Gout?
Baking soda is touted as one of the natural remedies for gout. Its use for gout symptoms began in the 19th century when British doctor Alfred Garrod discovered that a way to treat gout was to alkalize the blood. This prevents gout by diluting uric acid in the urine.
The reason why baking soda is a popular remedy is because it’s so cheap and accessible. Almost every household has this product in their cabinet. So if you suffer from gout and are looking for a quick remedy, baking soda might just work for you.
How to Use Baking Soda for Gout
Add half a teaspoon soda to a glass of water and mix it. Make sure it is entirely dissolved in the water before drinking it. You can also add lemon for flavor. The lemon is also good for improving alkalinity and vitamin C content of the drink. You’ll want to consume this four times a day. One of those has to be before bedtime because this is when the body is most acidic. It would explain why most gout attacks happen in the middle of the night.
If you can get away with using just a quarter teaspoon of baking soda per glass of water, even better. Remember that baking soda is high in sodium. If you’re already consuming a lot of sodium in your diet, baking soda is just going to make it worse. A teaspoon of baking soda alone contains 1200mg of sodium. Some of its serious side effects include burns in the mouth esophagus, stomach rupture, and alkalosis. So, in addition to consuming baking soda, you should also be drinking plenty of water.
It is not advised that you drink baking soda daily. Only consume it if you’ve recently had a gout attack or you feel like your uric acid levels are too high. The solution is known to ease joint pain and decrease inflammation during a gout flare.
How Does Baking Soda Work?
The body can either be acidic or alkaline. Depending on your lifestyle, yours may range from 0 to 14 in the pH scale. If yours is below 7, you’re acidic. If it’s above 7, you’re alkaline. What baking soda does is increase the body’s pH level which makes uric acid more soluble. This makes it easy for the kidneys to flush uric acid out, allowing the body to restore its natural alkaline balance.
When your blood is at a healthy alkaline level, you are also able to avoid kidney stones since the blood does not hold on to more uric acid and crystallize it. Baking soda has also been found to slow down the progress of chronic kidney disease. In a study conducted in 2014, they found that baking soda was able to slow down stage 4 chronic kidney disease. It even improved the health of those who are in stage 5 of the disease.
How Do I Know If It’s Working?
A way to find out whether baking soda is working for you is by using pH strips. You simply dip the pH test strip in your urine and wait for a few seconds. The strip, with its pH scale, will then indicate whether it’s acidic or alkaline. This is usually indicated by color. Red means acidic while blue means alkaline.
Let’s say you do get the blue result. Great! Baking soda as a remedy for gout works for you. This doesn’t mean that you should rely on it alone to treat your gout. The best way will always be with a proper diet consisting of low-purine foods.
Baking Soda Side Effects
Consuming baking soda may cause you to experience the following side effects:
● Increase in blood pressure
● Nausea
● Loss of appetite
● Headaches
● Vomiting
● Gas
● Increased thirst
● Bloating
● Abdominal cramps
If you suffer from gastrointestinal issues, speak with your doctor first before consuming baking soda.
Will Baking Soda Work for You?
Before you use baking soda as a gout remedy, make sure to tell your doctor first. You may be taking prescription medicine that does not interact well with baking soda.
If baking soda doesn’t work for you, don’t worry. Everyone is different and what may have worked for others is not necessarily going to work for you. In fact, about 15% of gout sufferers say that baking soda did not work for them. So, you’re not alone if you do find that it has no effect on you.
There are still other natural remedies you can try out that can help with your gout such as the following:
● Water: As mentioned earlier, water is important for managing your gout symptoms since it helps dilute the uric acid in your body. Make sure to drink 8 glasses of water a day. If you can do more, even better!
● Apple cider vinegar: Just like baking soda, apple cider vinegar has an alkalizing effect on the body. Simply mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of ACV in a glass of water and drink it 2 to 3 times a day. You can also apply this on the affected joint. Just mix 1 cup of ACV with 4 cups of hot water and soak the affected joint for 30 minutes.
● Cherries: Cherries are one of the best foods to eat for gout. For it to be effective, you’ll want to consume 10 to 12 cherries a day, that’s about half a cup of cherries.
● Ginger and turmeric: Ginger and turmeric are powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients that can help with the inflammation caused by a gout flare. Chop an inch size of ginger and boil it in water for 20 minutes. Once done, sprinkle a bit of turmeric and mix with a spoon.
● Epsom salt: Epsom salt contains an alkaline material, magnesium, which is supposed to help treat gout. To treat the affected joint, you’ll want to soak it in a basin mixed with Epsom salt for 30 minutes.
Now onto you. Have you tried baking soda as a remedy for gout? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Do you want to learn more about gout? If so, please visit our website at www.GoutandYou.com
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for any health concerns.
