October 2015

In this video I discuss what is baking soda, is baking soda bad, and how is baking soda used.  I also discuss baking soda ph balance and some baking soda health benefits.

Transcript (partial with notes)


What is Baking Soda?  It is also known as Sodium bicarbonate, and it is a chemical compound with the formula NaHCO3. Take note of that we can pull a CO2 out of that formula, we are going to use it later in the video.  Baking soda is a white crystal, but often appears as a fine powder.

Where does baking soda come from? The 2 ways it is made is from a mining process or chemical manufacturing.  The chemical manufacturing of baking soda is known as the Solvay process, and it involves using limestone, salt and ammonia

This process produces baking soda, but also produces Solid waste products that can be harmful to the environment. 

For the mining process we need to go back a long long time ago, to the land surrounding Green river Wyoming. There was a large lake,  and over time this lake evaporated and left a 200 billion ton deposit of something called trona deep underground.  

This trona ore is mined, then brought to the surface  where it goes through a processing phase that produces the baking soda that we know.

So, what are some baking soda uses?  It has many uses, It is added to toothpaste to help remove plaque and deodorize your teeth.  Some people use it as a topical paste to relieve irritation from insect bites and stings.  It is used as a deodorizer…whoa.  Ahh, little more. Much better.

Baking soda has many other uses, including being used in cooking.   You see baking soda is a great raising agent.  When exposed to heat, baking soda releases carbon dioxide (CO2), which if you remember from our earlier formula I said could be pulled from that formula.  

this carbon dioxide release makes baked goods rise,  gives it a light crumb texture, and leaves it with holes left by the escaping carbon dioxide bubbles.

How does Baking soda/sodium bicarbonate affect the body?  Well, in my salt video, we learned that sodium helps maintain BP and fluid balance, as well as transmitting nerve impulses.

Bicarbonate is naturally produced in the body, and is a chemical (buffer) that keeps the pH of blood from becoming too acidic or too basic. Our bodies must maintain a ph very close to 7.4. 

So, for example, physical exercise increases the production of lactic acid, key word is acid, in order to buffer this acid, the body uses the bicarbonate buffer system.  When the exercise is intense, this natural buffer is limited and fatigue occurs.

Sodium Bicarbonate is sometimes used as a medication to make urine less acidic, which helps the kidneys get rid of uric acid, helping to prevent gout and kidney stones.

As with anything, its about moderation. High consumption can cause headache, nausea, rise in BP, or even worse.

Timestamps
0:00 What is baking soda?
0:29 Where does baking soda come from?
0:37 Chemical manufacturing of baking soda
1:00 Mining process of making baking soda
1:33 Uses of baking soda
2:24 How baking soda affects the body