Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is used as a leavening agent in cooking and can sometimes provide short-term relief for heartburn due to its acid-buffering effect. However, it is not ideal for routine use. Its sodium load can be risky for people with hypertension, heart failure, or kidney disease. Unsupervised use may also disrupt electrolyte balance. It should not be confused with mineral water, which is a naturally mineralized beverage with a different profile. If reflux or stomach symptoms are frequent, it is safer to address the cause rather than self-treating with bicarbonate.