That coffee is acidic is a well-known fact, but it is also well known that this acidic drink also has many health benefits. Aside from the great taste, coffee can reduce the chances of having strokes, it can lower prostate cancer risk in men and depression in women. It also lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer’s diseases. Hence, many people will be glad to continue drinking their cup of coffee every morning even though they are aware that it may make gastroesophageal reflux more serious. But you don’t have to accept the consequences of the coffee acidity, you have the option of neutralizing it. But first, how acidic is coffee.
Coffee has a pH of 5. That is slightly acidic. pH is used to describe the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. It ranges from 0 to 14 with 0 being very acid, 14 very alkaline, and 7 neutral. Anything from 0 to 6 is acidic, but the higher the pH, the less acidic the substance. Therefore pH of 5 is acidic but not like battery acid that has a pH of 0 or lime water with a pH of 2.
Baking Soda Can Neutralize Coffee Acidity
To neutralize an acid you need an alkaline. That is where a base like a baking soda comes in. A base is a substance that dissolves in water to form an alkaline solution. While pure water which is neutral has a pH of 7, coffee has a pH of 5 and Baking soda has a pH of 9. The logic can be easily seen. If you need to raise the pH of 5 to 7, a substance with a pH of 9 comes in handy. Though the mathematics is not that straightforward but adding a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to a pot of coffee will effectively neutralize the acidity. Alternatively, you can add a small pinch of the soda to a cup of coffee to neutralize it.
Baking soda is a naturally occurring sodium salt. Chemically it is sodium bicarbonate with a chemical formula NaHCO3. It is a white salt containing sodium, hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. When the salt dissolves in water, it forms an alkaline solution that can be used to neutralize the acid. Although its popular use at home is for baking, removing stains, or deodorizing.
Baking Soda in Coffee Reduces the Risk of GERD
If you suffer from gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) you may be scared of drinking coffee so it won’t add more to your condition. We all know that caffeine and acid will add more to the symptoms of GERD. But studies show that it doesn’t matter whether the coffee is caffeinated or decaffeinated, both increase the risk of GERD. However, that is not enough reason to do away with your morning coffee, you can neutralize the acid reflux simply by adding a very small quantity of baking soda to your coffee. Fortunately, apart from preventing GERD, baking soda will also add more to the taste of your coffee. But you must be careful not to add in excess to preserve the taste.
Adding Baking Soda to a Cup of Coffee Will Relieve Gout
Gout is caused by the formation of acid crystals in the joints which may cause serious pains, swelling, and redness of the joints. Gout is common among people whose blood contains too much uric acid. However, a little quantity of baking soda will break down the uric acid component by neutralizing it. When the acid structures are broken down, the kidney will separate them from the blood and they will be excreted through urination. You don’t have to mix baking soda with water to treat Gout. You can easily add a pinch of soda to your cup of coffee every morning. It will add a unique taste to the coffee and also help in relieving gout.
Baking Soda Can Treat Ulcer
You can neutralize the acid in your stomach with baking soda. This is best taken by adding the base to your coffee. Half or a quarter teaspoon of baking soda in a pot of coffee will neutralize your stomach acidity and help a lot in treating stomach ulcers.
Side Effects of Baking Soda
A lot of baking soda is used in the United States every day for different purposes. It is mostly produced in the country by mining the salts from trona ore in the Green River, Wyoming. The ores are believed to have been formed over four million years ago. After the extraction, the ore is heated to produce soda ash and the ash is then dissolved in water. The solution is pressurized to obtain the baking soda.
Baking soda is used in antacid to neutralize the acidity of the stomach and relieve indigestion. You can also add it to your cup of coffee for all the benefits that have been mentioned above. However, you must be careful about the quantity of baking soda to add to your coffee as excess alkaline might be dangerous to your health.
When baking soda is consumed in too much quantity, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart problems as well as kidney diseases.
Also, adding excess sodium bicarbonate to your coffee will affect the taste of your coffee. Hence to enjoy your coffee and the health benefits of baking soda, you must add the appropriate quantity.
With Gratitude and Love
Dewvy 
