A nutritionist explained how a simple test can help measure stomach acid levels, an important indicator of gut health.
Meg McDonald, a holistic nutritionist, posted a video on TikTok last month explaining the baking soda test. The test, which has 32 million views on the platform, is designed to give participants an idea of what their stomach acid levels are.
If these levels are too low, you may experience bloating, flatulence, constipation and heartburn.
“I know I failed this test when I was working on my gut health, but with time and consistency and the right strategies, you can do it,” Ms McDonald said in the video, which has been viewed 1.2 million times .
Meg McDonald, a holistic nutritionist, posted a video on TikTok last month describing the baking soda test, which she says can help measure stomach acid levels
Baking soda has been shown to calm digestion, but there is no research to prove that the stomach acid test is accurate
In the video, Ms. McDonald pours half a cup of water into a glass and adds a quarter teaspoon of baking soda.
“You have to do it in the morning on an empty stomach, otherwise the results won’t be accurate,” she said.
After drinking the mixture in one go, she recommends setting a timer to see how long it takes before you start burping.
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“A small farmer is not really what we’re looking for,” Ms McDonald said. “We’re looking for consistent burp or a really good burp.”
“This shows us that baking soda combined with the acid in your stomach should create a gas that causes you to burp. So if burping doesn’t occur within two minutes, your stomach acid is probably low.”
“Stomach acid is a very important part of digestion and gets depleted when we take a lot of acid-suppressing medications or are under a lot of stress.”
Stomach acid, which is mainly hydrochloric acid, helps the body break down food. The stomach lining naturally secretes it, but if levels are too low, it can be difficult to digest food, leading to abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux and heartburn.
Although long-term use of antacids can cause a deficiency of stomach acid, the risk may be greater if you are over 65 and have certain infections.
A major cause is Helicobacter pylori infection (H. pylori), which usually causes no symptoms.
However, when symptoms do occur, they include abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite and bloating.
Although the burp test is making a resurgence on TikTok, it has been used as a home test for several years. Baking soda has been shown to calm digestion, but there is no research to prove whether the stomach acid test is accurate.
Typically, doctors measure stomach acid through a Heidelberg test, which involves swallowing a radiofrequency capsule. Patients then drink a baking soda solution and the transmitter measures how long it takes for stomach acid levels to change. It indicates how much acid the stomach produces.
Low stomach acid can be treated with vitamins such as iron and calcium if the patient is deficient, or with hydrochloric acid supplements.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
