Baking soda is frequently used in everyday life, but still remains a mystery to many in regards to its benefits and qualities. It isn’t only good for cooking- it actually provides numerous healthy properties. It is completely composed of sodium bicarbonate. This compound can be used in the culinary field, helping the dough to rise and enriching other dishes in flavor and texture. It has been used to make bread for centuries back, and it is even used for that purpose today.
In Egypt, people used it for cleaning their households. Then, in 1846, Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight began the process of creating the version that is still used today. However, it wasn’t until the 1920s that it was first used as a medical resource.
10 Ways to Use Baking Soda for Your Health
Baking soda is extremely cheap and available in all stores. It is often used to heal accidents and injuries, but it found a place in other cosmetic products as well.
1. Natural Deodorant
Store deodorants can contain plenty of parabens and aluminum, so if you want to avoid these heavy compounds, baking soda is the key. By solely brushing it under the arms and on the feet, you’ll get rid of the unpleasant smell of sweat.
2. Insect Bites and Poison Ivy
Prepare a baking soda and water paste and apply it directly on insect bites to stop the itching. It can also help with treating poison ivy rashes and other itches.
3. Heartburn, Indigestion, and Ulcer Pain
Baking soda is very powerful when it comes to treating stomach acid, heartburn, indigestion and even ulcer pain. The ideal recipe is to mix 1teaspoon baking soda in a half a glass of water. Take this every two hours, and be mindful if you are over 60- this might be a huge dose for you.
4. Foot Soak and Exfoliator
Mix three tablespoons of baking soda with warm water and soak your feet in it. Also, you can prepare a paste and scrub the feet with it. It is also beneficial to use this method to cleanse the skin without any side-effects.
5. Relaxing Soak
Combine it with apple cider vinegar and you’ll get an amazing soak-in bath. Afterwards you can leave it a little bit more to clean the bathtub as well!
6. Hand Cleanser
Combine three parts baking soda with one part of water and use this to clean your hands from dirt and unpleasant smells.
7. Splinter removal
Mix one tablespoon with a small glass of water. Use this on affected area two times per day. It takes only days for the splinters to go away.
8. Enhanced Sports Performance
Baking soda capsules are known to athletes who use them all the time as an energy booster. Still, make sure to do a full research before trying this at home. Here is what researchers pointed out on the subject: Essentially, sodium bicarbonate is an alkali substance that increases the pH of the blood. This seems to reduce and offset the acidity produced in the muscles during intense, anaerobic exercise that produces lactic acid most quickly, such as fast running or swimming.
9. Tooth and Gum Paste
Teeth can benefit amazingly from using baking soda. However, keep in mind not to abuse this method in order to protect your dental health. According to a study, baking soda soda enhanced plaque removal effectiveness of tooth brushing to a significantly greater extent than the traditional toothpaste brushing. The oral hygiene is very important and baking soda can help you get rid of all bacteria in no time.
Mix six parts of baking soda with one part of sea salt.
Pulse them in a blender for 30 seconds and transfer to a tube. To get the gums clean, use index finger to massage a small amount of it on the gums directly.
Let the paste act for 15 minutes and then rinse your mouth. Still, be careful not to overuse baking soda as far as the teeth and gums are concerned.
10. Teeth whitener
Use a ripe strawberry and combine it with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Apply on your teeth and let it act for five minutes. Brush teeth and rinse well. Repeat once a week, but not more, because you might hurt the teeth enamel.
Baking Soda as a Natural Cleanser
Baking soda has long been used as a household cleanser, and even served to clean the Statute of Liberty during its 1986 restoration. It can help you clean your kitchen just by sprinkling it on the dirty surfaces. To enhance the effect, add a couple drops of essential oil.
Also, by combining it with apple cider vinegar you can clean the bathroom, and even the drain. Mix with hot water and soak pans in it. Let it act for 15 minutes and then clean them well.
The same method is great for cleaning the grill as well. This is also good for cleaning toys- all you need to do is combine 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart of water.
Furthermore, feel free to use it soda as a fabric softener or a fabric whitener.
Use this marvelous product to clean your carpets, by sprinkling it and letting it sit for 15 minutes. In the end, vacuum well.
Cutlery and silverware can be cleaned with it, too. Just fill kitchen sink with hot water, add a sheet of aluminum foil and baking soda, and throw in all cutlery.
Finally you can clean your veggies by using it when you wash them- this will help get the dirt away.
