ACV & Baking Soda Tonic: Boost Health Naturally - Ted's Q&A

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Why Combine ACV with Bs?

Posted by Jamie (Huntington Beach, CA) on 11/29/2006

I have been reading about & taking both ACV & Baking Soda daily with water & together. I am confused though why you recommend adding Baking Soda to ACV since they are both Alkaline? Do the two together make the drink too Alkaline? Does adding Baking Soda cancel out the benefits of ACV? ' Also, I've been taking about 1 Tbl. ACV with water 20 minutes before I eat protein to enhance digestion (as protein is Acid producing). I've read that I shouldn't take Baking Soda with food as it will reduce the acid used for digestion, so at this point I have not added Baking Soda to this recipe. However, I started adding 1/4 tsp or less Baking Soda to my breakfast smoothie because I read that fruit juices can be too acidic. Is this recommended? Thank You ;-)

Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
391 posts

Dear Jamie: They are alkaline in different ways. ACV has minerals that cause to be alkaline but there are no "shock absorbers" to prevent acid and alkaline to reach optimum levels without the use of bicarbonates.

Do the two together make the drink too Alkaline? Does adding Baking Soda cancel out the benefits of ACV?

If you don't do it the body will do itself by using its own bicarbonates to neutralize the ACV. If there is insufficient bicarbonates, some can even get acid reflux from just taking ACV instead of curing it. And in many cases people who do take ACV alone will have acid tongue. In particular extreme case, the tongue was so acidic it tore apart. The condition was cured after adding the baking soda to the ACV. This happens quite often to people who are athletes who tend to eat high protein diets.

However, I started adding 1/4 tsp or less Baking Soda to my breakfast smoothie because I read that fruit juices can be too acidic. Is this recommended?

If you fear being to acid or too alkaline, get a pH meter and measure your urine pH. This will tell you. In general, fruit juices I do not recommend be taken as they are often high in sugars and there is lack of fibers to prevent the sudden rise in blood sugar. Eating whole fruits is recommended.

If you insist on drinking them then just add sodium alginates or food thickeners such as apple pectin which will buffer the body against a sudden increase in sugar to the body and this can have a negative impact for people with diabetes or sugar problems.


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