In this brief guide, we’ll address the query: “Can I put baking soda in coffee?” Also, we’ll explore the effects of putting baking soda in coffee, what the effects of baking soda are on the digestive system, and what substances should not be mixed with coffee.
Can I put baking soda in coffee?
You can add as little as half a teaspoon of baking soda to your coffee to try and neutralize a bit of the acidity. This acidity is the result of the mild roasting process, but can also be attributed to low-quality coffee.
Adding just a touch of baking soda will not affect the taste or flavor of your caffeinated beverage.
However, the effects of baking soda are slight. Adding this substance to coffee is unlikely to help alleviate the underlying symptoms.
People who suffer from sensitivity to coffee in their digestive tract should consult their physician, who may prescribe a course of treatment, or determine that lifestyle changes (mostly dietary) may be necessary.
What are the effects of putting baking soda in coffee?
When adding baking soda, which has a pH of 8 and is considered alkaline, to a cup of coffee, baking soda acts as a mild neutralizer of coffee’s acidity.
Coffee has a pH ranging from 4.85-5.10, making it a mild acid. However, more than a teaspoon of baking soda is needed to reduce the acidity of your beverage entirely.
Adding too much baking soda to your drink can potentially distort the flavor of the coffee altogether, thus making your drink not very savory, and disrupting some of the organoleptic qualities, such as neutralizing aromatic components.
We, therefore, encourage our readers to add modest amounts of baking soda to their coffee.
What are the effects of baking soda on the digestive system?
Baking soda, as it has a slightly elevated pH, can be used to calm the effects of indigestion.
As a home remedy to reduce acidity discomfort, you can add 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of warm water and drink it; however, this should not be consumed regularly, as acidity is not the sole cause of indigestion. Therefore your physician should treat your symptoms in order to identify other possible causes.
Indigestion may be triggered by a diet high in irritant substances, and symptoms may abate once the causative agent has been broken down in the digestive system, after taking an anti-acid.
It should also be noted that taking baking soda within 2 hours of other medications is not recommended. Consuming baking soda within a shorter time frame than other drugs can slow the absorption rate of some medicines and affect how others work.
Moreover, this remedy should not be used in children without the approval of the treating pediatrician, who may prescribe an anti-acid with a more child-friendly dose.
If your indigestion is persistent, or you have regular flare-ups without being able to attribute them to a specific food, we encourage you to speak with a general practitioner who can examine you and provide tailored guidance, along with prescribed treatment.
If your symptoms persist, it may be necessary for you to consult with a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist, who will carry out exploratory tests and help determine the cause of your indigestion.
What substances should not be mixed with coffee?
There are many substances that should not be ingested with coffee, or shortly before or after consuming coffee.
It is not recommended to take mineral supplements with coffee. This includes vitamins containing zinc, iron, magnesium, etc. This is because coffee can bind the minerals, particularly iron, from the supplements or ingested food, therefore not allowing proper absorption by the body.
In general, coffee can reduce iron absorption by up to 64% when consumed with other food. Therefore, mineral supplements should be taken separately and two hours after drinking coffee.
Medications that should not be combined with coffee, as this beverage will also decrease the absorption, include naproxen, acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, enoxaparin, clopidogrel, and any other whose immediate effect is necessary for one’s health.
Medications such as anti-coagulants may not be properly absorbed if consumed with coffee, and as a result, may have potentially lethal subpar effects.
We encourage our readers to follow guidelines for taking prescription medication, to avoid self-medicating, and discuss any doubts they may have regarding their medication with their doctors, such as what substances are contraindicated or antagonize their medication effects.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have addressed the query: “Can I put baking soda in coffee?” Also, we have explored the effects of putting baking soda in coffee, what the effects of baking soda are on the digestive system, and what substances should not be mixed with coffee.
References
https://www.thekitchn.com/have-you-ever-added-baking-soda-to-your-coffee-239348
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coffee-caffeine-iron-absorption#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
https://www.mdlinx.com/article/danger-dont-mix-these-meds-with-coffee/xmjpK7Br2XCuiIKgZgBi1