If you found this page, you were likely searching for at-home tests for digestive health, a baking soda stomach acid test, stomach acid diagnosis alternatives, or how to test for low stomach acid. After going through several medical tests and working with a primary care doctor and a gastroenterologist, I found myself needing more support to manage my ongoing digestive issues. My registered dietitian suggested an at-home approach—the baking soda burp test—as a non-invasive way to better understand my stomach acid levels.
Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional. This post shares my personal experience with the baking soda stomach acid test, a method recommended by my registered dietitian as a way to track potential trends in my stomach acid levels. Some individuals on medications or with specific health conditions should not ingest baking soda. Always consult with your healthcare provider for proper diagnosis and treatment.
How to Test for Low Stomach Acid at Home Using the Baking Soda Burp Test
Mainstream health websites like WebMD and the Mayo Clinic don’t typically recommend at-home tests for low stomach acid. Instead, they advise seeing a healthcare provider for diagnostic tests like the Heidelberg pH test (Mayo Clinic, 2020). However, in addition to professional advice, my dietitian recommended trying the baking soda test to see if any trends in my stomach acid levels could guide my next steps.
When I was working with my dietitian to help determine what sort of digestive enzymes might help me, she explained that, in my case, I had two main types of digestive enzymes to consider. One type has additional acid, and the other is without extra acid. She explained that if someone had high stomach acid, they would likely not take the digestive enzyme with acid, which might increase their symptoms (like acid reflux). People with low stomach acid may benefit from adding acid to their diet to aid digestion. In my case, I was looking for a quick and inexpensive way of testing my stomach acid levels at home since I was traveling soon. So, she suggested the baking soda acid test.
How the Baking Soda Stomach Acid Test Works
The burp test is an easy and non-invasive way to assess whether you might have low stomach acid. It involves drinking a mixture of baking soda and water and timing how long it takes you to burp. This test is based on the reaction between baking soda (a base) and stomach acid, which produces carbon dioxide gas, leading to burping.
How to Perform the Baking Soda Stomach Acid Test:
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4-6 ounces of water.
- Drink it on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.
- Start the timer as soon as you finish drinking.
- If you burp within 2-3 minutes, your stomach acid levels are likely normal. It might suggest low stomach acid if it takes longer than 3 minutes to burp or if there is no burping at all.
I was asked to do the test for five days to make sure the results were consistent. I picked a work week (Monday through Friday) and did the test each morning. To make it easier, I kept the baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon, and water cup in my bathroom and used my phone’s stopwatch to time it.
Baking Soda Test Results: What They Mean for Your Digestive Health
After five days of testing, I never burped, which suggests I may have low stomach acid. However, this test alone is not diagnostic. It did help me feel more informed as I moved forward with my dietitian’s guidance to try digestive enzymes with added acid.
What I Learned from a Baking Soda Stomach Acid Test
My dietitian clearly stated that the baking soda stomach acid test is not diagnostic. Rather, the results correlate with the likelihood of having high or low stomach acid. Repeating the test improved the possibility of seeing a trend in the results, consistent with what I found online. Most mainstream health sites don’t have the baking soda test on their sites since it is not a stand-alone, medically rigorous test.
From this test, my dietitian could see which type of digestive enzyme to try first, and in my case, she recommended trying the ones with the added acid. Again, this isn’t telling me that I have clinically low stomach acid, but rather, it could help me make decisions about what course of digestive enzyme I could try next. While this test doesn’t provide a diagnosis, it gave me a clearer direction for experimenting with different enzymes. I plan to follow up with my doctor for more formal testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the baking soda burp test?
The baking soda burp test is not considered a definitive diagnostic tool by mainstream medical sources. The Cleveland Clinic notes that it is a basic at-home method that can give some insight into potential stomach acid levels but should be followed up with professional medical tests for accurate results.
What should I expect during the test?
The goal is to see how long it takes to burp after drinking a mixture of baking soda and water. If you burp within 2-3 minutes, your stomach acid levels are likely normal. It could indicate low stomach acid if it takes longer or you don’t burp at all. However, these results are not definitive and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for further guidance.
Does it taste good?
No, but it’s not horrible either.
Should I talk to a doctor before doing this test?
Talking to a medical or allied health professional before doing any home health test is always a good idea.
Key Points to Remember:
- Searching for a Solution: I discovered the burp test through a registered dietitian after exploring standard medical advice and tests for digestive issues.
- Mainstream Medical View: Websites like WebMD and Mayo Clinic (2020) don’t mention at-home tests like the burp test for diagnosing low stomach acid. They recommend professional testing, such as the Heidelberg pH test, for proper diagnosis.
- Dietitian’s Advice: The dietitian suggested using the burp test as a simple, non-invasive way to assess stomach acid levels at home and make decisions about digestive enzymes.
- Baking Soda Stomach Acid Test: Instructions for the burp test include mixing 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in water, drinking it on an empty stomach, and timing how long it takes to burp. The results could suggest low stomach acid if burping is delayed beyond three minutes.
- Test Consistency: I repeated the test for five days and used fresh baking soda to ensure reliability.
- Non-Diagnostic Nature of the Test: The burp test is not a diagnostic tool but a method to help guide the next steps with the dietitian, like choosing digestive enzymes.
- Further Medical Evaluation Needed: Professional medical testing would be needed to confirm low stomach acid.
Reactions and Next Steps
What did you think when you read about the baking soda acid test? Have you done this, too? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below!
By sharing my learning experiences, I hope I’ve sparked something positive in you. Maybe you felt like, “I’m glad I’ve never dealt with that,” “I’ve had this same issue,” or “My experience is way worse.” Whatever your experience is, feel free to share it! If you’d like to stay connected and receive more tips on digestive health, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. I’ll email you weekly posts to help you find a community of people who are also learning to thrive while managing digestive issues.
Additional Information
Disclaimers: At the time of writing this post, no financial compensation was derived from any of the sources, products, or people mentioned in this post. For more information about the financials of this blog, please go here.
Update History: None.
References
Cleveland Clinic. (2020). Low stomach acid testing. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23392-hypochlorhydria
