Baking soda is a versatile ingredient whose uses extend far beyond cooking. This household staple shines when it comes to neutralizing odors and cleaning. In addition, baking soda has a variety of health benefits. For example, it may alleviate heartburn, boost exercise performance, and even whiten your teeth. What’s more, baking soda is inexpensive and widely available. It never hurts to have a container on hand.
Here are some ways you can use it.
1. Natural Antacid
Since baking soda is a natural antacid, it can help adults with heartburn and stomach aches by neutralizing the stomach acids that produce these symptoms.
Because baking soda contains 630 mg of sodium per 1/2 teaspoon (2,3 grams), keep in mind your sodium intake. Prolonged use may result in heart issues and metabolic alkalosis, a condition in which your blood becomes excessively alkaline. Consult your doctor regarding this before trying.
2. Mouthwash
Mouthwash is an excellent complement to your oral hygiene regimen because it gets to the areas of your teeth, gums, and tongue that brushing could miss. A study indicated that using baking soda mouthwash did not significantly reduce oral bacterial levels. However, it did raise saliva’s pH levels, which is crucial for preventing bacterial growth.
3. Teeth Whitening
A common application for baking soda is tooth whitening. Toothpaste with baking soda works better than toothpaste without baking soda to whiten teeth and remove plaque. This is probably due to baking soda’s mild abrasive qualities, which can break the bonds of stains-causing molecules.
4. Body spray
Did you know? Human sweat actually has no smell. Sweat only develops odor after being broken down by bacteria in the armpits, which produce the acidic waste products that give sweat its stink.
Baking soda is often used as a natural deodorant to get rid of odor by neutralizing acidic scents.
If you want to make your own deodorant, try pressing baking soda on your underarms or combining it with a little cornstarch, coconut oil, or shea butter.
5. Fruit and vegetable pesticide remover
Pesticides are used to protect crops against insects, pathogens, rodents, and weeds, but many of them have detrimental effects on human health. As a result, a lot of people are worried about pesticide residue on food.
Although peeling fruit is the best approach to get rid of pesticides, you lose out on vital nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals that are found in the skin of many fruits. Research shows that washing produce with baking soda is an efficient approach to remove pesticides from fruits and vegetables without having to peel them.
According to one study, soaking apples in a mixture of baking soda and water for 12 to 15 minutes was able to eliminate pesticide residue significantly.
Keep in mind that this approach does not eliminate pesticides from vegetables that have penetrated the skin, and additional research is required to see whether it is effective on other types of produce.
6. May relieve canker/ cold sores
Unlike cold sores, which develop on your lips and are communicable, canker sores are small, painful ulcers that can develop inside your mouth.
Although additional research is required, several earlier studies show that canker sore discomfort may be relieved by mouthwash containing baking soda.
7. Soothe sunburns and irritated skin
After insect bites or bee stings, a baking soda bath is frequently suggested to relieve itching skin. Additionally, oatmeal and cornstarch may work better together than baking soda alone to relieve the itching that results from sunburns on the skin.
Add 1-2 cups (220-440 grams) of baking soda to a lukewarm bath to create a baking soda bath. Make sure the affected area is well submerged.
Apply a thick layer to the problematic area after making a paste out of baking soda and a little water for specific places. Consult your dermatologist first.
Conclusion
Baking soda is a handy substance whose uses go far beyond cooking, but consuming it too quickly could represent an additional risk. Too much baking soda can poison some biological systems and produce things like diarrhea, vomiting, and gas that can induce kidney failure, dehydration, or even convulsions.
Baking soda is a common household item that excels at cleaning and neutralizing odors because it can be used to remove stubborn stains, get rid of bad smells, and clean hard-to-reach places like tile grout. Additionally, baking soda has a number of health advantages, including the potential to reduce heartburn and even whiten teeth.
Never take baking soda or any concoction without clearance from your doctor.
Learn other Nutrition Facts here.
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