This quick, simple self-test can give an idea of whether you might have insufficient stomach acid.
- Mix 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 4-6 ounces of cold water, ideally first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything (or at least 3 hours after eating if doing the test later in the day)
- Drink the baking soda solution and start a timer running.
- Time how long it takes you to burp. Time for up to five minutes.
- If you have not burped within five minutes, stop timing.
If your stomach is producing adequate amounts of stomach acid you’ll burp within two minutes.
Early and repeated burping may be due to excessive stomach acid (but don’t confuse these burps with small little burps from swallowing air when drinking the solution).
No burping until after 2 minutes means that insufficient stomach acid is likely.
