can you eat baking soda raw

Eating baking soda raw is technically possible but not generally recommended. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is safe to consume in small amounts when used in cooking or as a remedy for indigestion, typically mixed in water. However, consuming baking soda raw in large quantities or pure powder form can be harmful and cause side effects such as digestive discomfort, vomiting, diarrhea, and in severe cases, poisoning due to high sodium content. It can rapidly produce carbon dioxide gas in the stomach, potentially causing dangerous pressure and even stomach rupture if consumed excessively. Also, only food-grade baking soda should be eaten, as household or cleaning-grade baking soda may contain harmful impurities. Therefore, raw ingestion in small amounts is possible but not advisable for safety reasons. Always use baking soda as intended and preferably diluted or cooked, not raw powder on its own.