“The gut is at the center of our health. Healing your gut is the first step for optimising health and healthspan,” said Tanya Malik Chawla, a digital creator and “biohacker,” in an Instagram reel, and suggested taking a one-minute test to find out whether you are prone to acidity.
The test involves taking baking soda with water on an empty stomach. Baking soda (an alkali) will mix with stomach acid to produce carbon dioxide (gas), leading to burping. The time you take to burp is used as an indicator to decide whether a person has low stomach acid.
In her video, Chawla challenged a common misconception—that acidity is caused by excess stomach acid. Instead, she claimed that low stomach acid causes food to sit undigested in the gut, leading to fermentation and acid reflux (GERD).
To verify Chawla’s claim, we consulted Meenu Balaji, chief nutritionist at Pragmatic Nutrition, Chennai, who told us that the test is a popular home method for assessing stomach acid production.
“Our stomach produces hydrochloric acid that breaks down food with other digestive enzymes. Many people experience acidity due to excess acid production, which is why antacids are commonly prescribed. However, insufficient stomach acid can also impact digestion and nutrient absorption, affecting gut health,” she said.
However, she pointed out that burping can occur for several reasons—low or high stomach acid, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), eating too quickly, or swallowing too much air. Therefore, according to Balaji, burping alone is not a reliable indicator of stomach acid levels.
Is the baking soda test reliable?
“This is not a widely accepted, standardised diagnostic test. Some people with digestive issues burp even before eating, making it difficult to determine whether burping is caused by the baking soda or pre-existing conditions,” she said.
Balaji also said that stomach acid levels vary from person to person, and fluctuate throughout the day, making it even harder to draw conclusions based solely on burping.
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According to Balaji, the most effective way to determine stomach acid levels is to consult a doctor about your symptoms. The doctor may recommend tests such as the Heidelberg pH test for a precise assessment.
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.