Baking Soda And Lemon Juice: Why This Drink Is Trending Again
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen, especially if you have underlying health conditions.
In May 2026, online users searched for the question, “Is the baking soda weight loss recipe legit?” Users wished to know whether Oprah Winfrey or Dr. Ania Jastreboff truly mentioned a “baking soda water shot” recipe, as well as if the pantry mixture actually helps people lose weight.
My name is Jordan Liles. I am a senior reporter with Snopes.com by day. I come here to my YouTube channel on nights and weekends to help consumers stay away from scams. In my investigation, I found that the baking soda weight loss recipe is a scam. The recipe has no legitimacy whatsoever. The “baking soda water shot” appeared in social media and website advertisements leading to fake websites designed to look like the “Today” show. Those deceptive pages mention Oprah and Dr. Jastreboff to make you think there are simple pantry ingredients that can make you lose a lot of weight.
This baking soda recipe scam appears to be driven by people likely operating out of Brazil. The promise of a recipe is just a trick to get you to watch a really long video on a fake website. The scammers know that if they tell you from the beginning that they are selling a bottle of pills, you won’t watch. By dangling the promise of a recipe instead, they keep people watching until the very end, where they finally admit it’s a bottle of pills that they hope a certain percentage of viewers will buy.
The truth is that there is no baking soda recipe, and following this online advice is bad for you. Do not ingest baking soda with anything out of a glass of water! The videos and websites are entirely fraudulent, fake, and terrible, and none of this will ever help you lose weight!
Consumers wishing to lose weight would do best to go see a doctor to discuss options. Do not ingest baking soda like these videos say to do, as the recipe is a scam and will not help you!
Editor’s Note: Google Gemini partly contributed to this text description but I originally authored the format and other text. Without this assistance, I wouldn’t have been able to post this video in a timely manner to help consumers.
Sean Thompson, MS, MPH, RD, LDN
Registered Dietitian, Nourish
“Based preloads can be a practical tool for bariatric patients who struggle with portion control,” says Sean Thompson, a Northampton-based dietitian with a 4.99-star rating across 385+ reviews. “But I always tell clients: the foundation is still protein-first meals and mindful eating. Think of the gelatin trick as training wheels, not the whole bike. And if you have kidney concerns, check with your doctor — excessive gelatin can be protein overkill.”
Sean specializes in accessible, evidence-based nutrition for individuals with disabilities and those navigating post-surgical diets. She holds dual master's degrees from Tufts University and approaches care without a weight-centric lens.
