Baking soda is a common ingredient in baking and cooking. It helps the batter expand, which when put in heat, rises. You might even know too that it is also a popular cleaning aide. It raises pH in pools, and can also be added to vinegar or lemon to clean surfaces. It is also used to clean teeth. More recently, it is slowly being recognised to have advantages to our health due to helping with pH modulation in the body.

Baking soda has been observed to help decrease the inflammation that is brought about by autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, particularly in patients who were given a daily dosage. This inexpensive antacid that is available over the counter from local stores can help the spleen promote an environment that is anti-inflammatory which is a proven therapeutic effect.

Body cavities are lined with mesothelial cells, surrounding the exterior of the organs, to prevent them from rubbing each other. These cells also acts as the barrier that triggers the organs to start an immune response when it senses an invasion of harmful elements.

The spleen is a part of the immune system, and it acts as a filter for the blood, storing white blood cells like macrophages. When a patient takes baking soda, it lessens the spleen’s reaction to the immune response. After taking baking soda for two weeks, the macrophages were observed to convert to a type of immune cell that reduces the inflammation, an M2, from being an M1 previously, which, on the other hand, promotes inflammation. Macrophages are known for their role in the body to blast garbage, such as debris from dead or injured cells. They are the first ones to call for an immune reaction. This was also observed within the blood and kidneys, aside from the spleen.

The kidney regulates the body’s acid-base balance. When a patient has kidney disease, the function is impaired and can make the blood acidic. This can tremendously lead to cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Baking soda can delay the progression of kidney disease.

It is mostly due to the conversion of pro-inflammatory cells into anti-inflammatory, and the additional production of anti-inflammatory macrophages. The effects were also seen in immune cell types, the regulatory T cells in particular, which lowers the autoimmune response.

So baking soda, simple, accessible and helpful for your health! A Perth Naturopath's health tip for autoimmune inflammation reduction.