What does sodium bicarbonate do to you?

Answer 1

Make sure you're not confusing Bicarbonate (which is naturally produced in the human body by the pancreas) with Sodium Bicarbonate (which is not). Bicarbonate ( HCO3− ) is an alkaline that acts as a buffer to maintain the normal levels of acidity (pH) in blood and other fluids in the body. Bicarbonate levels are measured to monitor the acidity of the blood and body fluids. The acidity is affected by the function of the kidneys and lungs. 70%-75% of CO2 in the body is converted into carbonic acid (H2CO3) which can quickly turn into bicarbonate. Acidity is also affected by medications and food we ingest. Bicarbonate is released by the pancreas into the intestines. There it quickly neutralizes any acid that escapes from the stomach into the intestines before it can cause damage.

Sodium Bicarbonate( NaHCO3 ) is a white solid that is crystalline but often appears as a fine powder. It has a slight alkaline taste resembling that of baking soda (sodium carbonate). The natural mineral form is known as "nahcolite", but it is also produced artificially. Sodium Bicarbonate has many different applications, used in everything from cooking and cleaning...to putting out fires (NaHCO3 is the component in dry chemical fire extinguishers). In the human body, sodium bicarbonate is used as an antacid to treat acid indigestion and heartburn. An aqueous solution can be administered intravenously for cases of acidosis (low pH), or when there are insufficient sodium or bicarbonate ions in the blood.

Answer 2

neutralizes stomach acids and digests enzymes

Answer 3

Sodium bicarbonate is an OTC medicine that can help to settle an upset stomach.

Answer 4

sodium bicarbonate acts as a buffer by dissociating into sodium and carbonic acid. The carbonic acid then goes onto pick up hydrogen ions therefore decreasing the gastric pH.

Answer 5

Sodium bicarbonate is a mild antacid. You take it to neutralise excess acid in your stomach (indigestion).

Answer 6

It would tend to lower acidity