Dr. Carlos Jaramillo, a functional doctor, discusses the misconception that baking soda can help alleviate gastrointestinal problems and alkalize the body. He explains that the stomach needs an acidic environment to function properly, with a normal pH between 1 and 2. Using baking soda to neutralize stomach acid can actually hinder digestion and nutrient absorption.
Dr. Jaramillo also addresses the idea that drinking water with baking soda can alkalize the body. However, he notes that each compartment in the body has a different pH, and attempting to alter the body's pH with baking soda can be counterproductive. Instead, he recommends achieving a balanced lifestyle through a healthy diet, adequate sleep, stress management, and regular exercise to maintain a slightly alkaline blood pH.
The doctor emphasizes that baking soda is not a miracle solution and can even cause harm if used improperly. He only recommends its use in specific cases, such as diagnosed kidney failure, and advises against using it as a digestive aid or to alkalize the body.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The stomach has an acidic pH, ranging from 1 to 2.
2. The stomach needs acid to function properly and break down food.
3. A pH of 4 in the stomach is still acidic, but not the right level for proper stomach function.
4. The stomach produces mucus to protect its lining, but this production can stop when the pH is not adequate.
5. Bicarbonate is an alkaline substance that can bring the stomach to alkalinity.
6. Taking bicarbonate can decrease the assimilation of calcium, zinc, and selenium.
7. Acid levels in the stomach can affect the thyroid hormone process and the assimilation of vitamin D.
8. Bad acid levels in the stomach can favor the colonization of Helicobacter pylori and other bacteria.
9. The pH of the blood should be slightly towards alkalinity, between 7.35 and 7.45.
10. Each compartment in the body has a different pH, and the skin, mouth, and intestine have different pH levels.
11. A lifestyle that is alkaline can be achieved by eating well, sleeping, controlling stress, and exercising.
12. A bad lifestyle can lead to acidity, but drinking water with baking soda is not a solution to this problem.
13. Bicarbonate is only recommended for patients with diagnosed kidney failure, and only in small amounts to help eliminate kidney stones.
14. Bicarbonate can alter the pH of the stomach, damaging it and making it not work properly.