Bloated? Try The Baking Soda Test To Assess Stomach Acid Levels

How to Test for Low Stomach Acid at Home (In Under 5 Minutes)

Heartburn? Bloating? Burping after meals?You might actually have low stomach acid—not too much.

This might surprise you, but low stomach acid is a common cause poor digestion—and most people don’t even know they have it. (This was me!)

There’s a simple, affordable at-home tool you can try that takes less than 5 minutes: the Baking Soda Test.

Important note: This test is not diagnostic and shouldn’t replace medical advice. It’s simply a functional self-assessment tool—one that can offer helpful clues about what’s going on in your digestion. Think of it as one piece of a much bigger gut health puzzle.

Let’s dive into what low stomach acid is, why it matters, and how this DIY test might help you reconnect with your body and start feeling better.

Why Stomach Acid Is Important

Digestion works north to south, meaning what happens in your stomach sets the stage for everything downstream—your small intestine, gut microbiome, nutrient absorption, energy, and more.

Stomach acid (hydrochloric acid, or HCl) is your body’s first line of defense. It helps:

• Break down proteins into usable amino acids

• Activate digestive enzymes and bile flow

• Kill harmful microbes in food

• Absorb essential nutrients like iron, calcium, magnesium, and B12

When stomach acid is low, it can lead to:

• Poor digestion and nutrient absorption

• Bloating, gas, and undigested food in your stool

• Reflux or heartburn (yep—low acid can cause this too!)

• Higher risk of gut infections like SIBO and H. pylori

The Baking Soda Test To Assess Stomach Acid Levels

This at-home test works using basic chemistry. When baking soda (a base) meets stomach acid (an acid), it creates carbon dioxide gas—aka burping. The timing of the burp can give you insight into how much acid is in your stomach. Here are the instructions for the baking soda test to assess stomach acid levels.

What You’ll Need:

• ¼ teaspoon baking soda

• 4–6 ounces of filtered water

• A timer (your phone works great!)

Instructions:

1. Do this first thing in the morning, before eating or drinking anything.

2. Mix ¼ teaspoon baking soda into 4–6 ounces of water and stir until fully dissolved.

3. Drink it quickly.

4. Start your timer immediately and pay attention to when you begin burping.

How to Interpret the Results

• Burping within 1–2 minutes → Normal stomach acid

• Burping between 3–5 minutes → Possibly low stomach acid

• Burping after 5 minutes or not at all → Likely low stomach acid

Pro Tip: Repeat the test 3 mornings in a row and average your results for a clearer picture.

If you’ve been dealing with chronic bloating, reflux, sluggish digestion, or nutrient deficiencies, your stomach acid may be the missing link. The Baking Soda Test is a safe and easy way to start gathering clues about your digestion—and reconnecting with what your body might be asking for.

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