The 65p kitchen staple super ingredient that can ease heartburn and reduces fatigue

A kitchen staple that is most likely already in the majority of Brits' kitchen cupboards has been highlighted for having benefits that could help ease heartburn and reduce fatigue. In fact, the benefits are so great that it's said that Olympic athletes use it.

Bicarbonate of soda, often used for baking and cleaning and available from supermarkets for as little as 65p, has anti-acidic properties that neutralise acid in body tissues. Bicarbonate of soda mixed with water is also a well-known home remedy for indigestion and heartburn. Heartburn is caused when stomach acid flows back up into the oesophagus, but adding half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into water can quickly neutralise stomach acid - aiding in relief.

Additionally, the alkaline properties of the ingredient prevent lactic acid build-up in the muscles to reduce fatigue, Mail Online reports.

The benefits are so great that, according to sports scientists who worked with teams from the UK and the US during Paris Olympic Games, more than 80% of middle-distance runners used some form of "bicarb loading".

Professor Andy Jones, a sports physiologist at the University of Exeter, who has worked with some of the best runners, including Sir Mo Farah, explained that during high-intensity training, lactic acid is quickly produced, which makes it more challenging for the muscles to contract properly, resulting in fatigue.

Professor Jones said: "We already have some bicarbonate in our blood. However, by ingesting sodium bicarbonate we can increase our blood bicarbonate store and therefore our ability to neutralise this acid, allowing the muscles to keep working longer."

While it does have its benefits, doctors highlighted some crucial notes for those planning to use bicarbonate of soda regularly for health reasons.

Professor Laurence Lovat, director of the London Gastroenterology Centre and a consultant gastroenterologist, highlighted that it is high in sodium and the risk of using it regularly can mask more serious digestive problems.

Bicarbonate of soda, while helping many athletes, can also cause problems as it reacts with acid in the stomach, producing carbon dioxide, leading to bloating and nausea.

To manage the benefits and drawbacks, Maurten, a Swedish sports nutrition company, launched a formula to make bicarbonate more tolerable. The Bircab System formula is applied in two stages: the bicarbonate powder in tablet form is combined with a thick gel that coats the pills. The gel prevents the bicarbonate from reacting with stomach acid, meaning fewer cramps.

A sachet costs £15, but the active ingredient is the same baking soda that is found in supermarkets.