An astounding study shows that 1/2 a teaspoon of baking soda lowers inflammation within hours.
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Study was published in 2018 in The Journal of Immunology.
Some experiment were done in rodents including baking soda in the water.
Some groups had their vagus nerves cut.
Other animals had a surgery to disturb the spleen.
Both surgeries were done to see if these tissues mediated the effect of baking soda.
Then, the human studies were done comparing drinking 2g of baking soda dissolved in water vs 2g of salt.
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Animals consuming baking soda in the water showed decreased inflammation in several areas.
In both the kidneys and in the spleen, they had decreased inflammatory M1 macrophages, one of the primary immune cells.
Baking soda increased M2 macrophages, signifying that the macrophages turned into a more anti-inflammatory phenotype.
They also had:
↑IL-10 in the kidney (anti-inflammatory cytokine)
↑FOXP3 cells in blood + kidney (Treg cells, anti-inflammatory immune cells)
↓CD4 T Cells (inflammatory)
↓CD44 T cells (inflammatory)
↓TNFα macrophages (primary inflammatory mediator)
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The more baking soda consumed, the lower the inflammation.
Animals consuming up to 0.1M baking soda had substantially lower ratios of M1/M2 macrophages, reflecting an anti-inflammatory skewing of these immune cells.
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In humans, taking 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda rapidly reduced inflammation.
Within an hour, it shifted immune profile toward less inflammation by:
↓ M1 macrophages
↓ TNFα neutrophils (primary inflammatory cell)
↑ M2 macrophages
in the blood.
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Baking soda's anti-inflammatory effects were dependent on the spleen.
If the spleen was either completely removed (splenectomy) or moved around, there was no difference in the inflammatory macrophages in the kidneys.
The fact that the spleen could be simply moved meant that the collagenous tissue surrounding the spleen is necessary.
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Baking soda also cut the amount of inflammatory T cells that were proliferating by nearly half.
Another indicator that it is lowering inflammation systemically.
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Baking soda's anti-inflammatory effects were blunted if a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor blocker (MLA) was given.
That means that baking soda's benefits act on the same receptors in the immune system that nicotine does.
More on that below.
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Why is baking soda such a good anti-inflammatory?
Since baking soda's effects were dependent on the spleen, the vagus nerve and the tissue surrounding the spleen, it's clear that it is acting through this system.
The vagus nerve connects to the spleen, which houses many immune cells where they can mature into their distinct types. They found here that the connective tissue surrounding the spleen is vital for this interaction.
Activating the vagus nerve tends to calm these immune cells into anti-inflammatory varieties.
This is incredibly relevant for a host of conditions.
The researchers mentioned diseases mediated by inflammatory macrophages & excessive TNF-α:
➥ Rheumatoid arthritis
➥ Cardiovascular disease
➥ Atherosclerosis
➥ Irritable bowel disease
➥ Type 2 diabetes
➥ Neurodegenerative diseases
Diseases benefitted by having more Tregs:
➥ Allergy
➥ Asthma
➥ Multiple sclerosis
➥ Graft-versus-host disease
➥ Diabetes
➥ Hypertension
Meaning baking soda could have a role in treating all of these.
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Baking soda has been helpful for a ton of our clients as a part of a personalized plan, and we could help you next.
For personalized help with any of your health goals, schedule a free call with us here: go.prism.miami/consultation
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