Baking soda is sodium
bicarbonate used in cooking, for cleaning, or in toothpaste.
People are usually
confused about baking soda and baking powder, although both baking soda and
baking powder perform similar function during baking, they both react
differently when other ingredients are added to them so one cannot always
substitute one for the other.
Baking
soda is likely the most inexpensive health remedy in the world. It is effective
at combating everything from colds to Body Exfoliate as well
as beneficial for oral health, deodorants and so much more. If it’s one thing
you want in your home pharmacy, its baking soda.
Amazing health benefits and uses of baking soda:
1. Fresher mouth breath:
Put one teaspoon in half glass of water,
swish, spit and rinse. Odors are neutralized and not just covered up.
2. Teeth whitener:
Baking soda is a popular ingredient in
toothpastes and mouth washes since it has been shown to enhance plaque removal.
Of course, you could just dip your toothbrush in the baking soda and use it as
toothpaste. This method should be
used no more than once a week, as excessive use could potentially damage your
tooth enamel.
3. Heartburn, Indigestion, and Ulcer Pain:
Most
over-the-counter antacids contain some form of bicarbonate. Baking soda works
by immediately neutralizing stomach acid, helping to relieve heartburn,
indigestion and even ulcer pain. I have personally recommended this to many,
including family members, and have been surprised how remarkably effective it is.
Refer to baking soda package for instructions.
4.
Treat
Insect Bites & Itchy Skin:
Apply a
paste made of baking soda and water to insect bites to help relieve itching.
You can also try rubbing the dry powder onto your skin. This is also effective
for itchy rashes and poison ivy. Baking soda helps to relieve minor skin
irritation and itching by neutralizing toxins and irritants on your skin's
surface.
5. Natural Deodorant:
Simply mix about a teaspoon of baking soda
with enough water to create a milky liquid, and rub it on your feet and
underarms.
6. Use as a Facial
Scrub and Body Exfoliate:
Give
yourself an invigorating facial and body scrub. Make a paste of 3 parts baking
soda to 1 part water. Rub in a gentle circular motion to exfoliate the skin.
Rinse clean. This is gentle enough for daily use.
7.
Make a
Hand Cleanser and Softener:
Skip
harsh soaps and gently scrub away ground-in dirt and neutralize odors on hands
with a paste of 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water, or 3 parts baking soda to
gentle liquid hand soap. Then rinse clean.
8. Hair care:
Baking
soda has its place in the shower too. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda
into your palm along with your favorite shampoo. Shampoo as usual and rinse
thoroughly–baking soda helps remove the residue that styling products leave
behind so your hair is cleaner and more manageable.
9. Clean Brushes and Combs:
For
lustrous hair with more shine, keep brushes and combs clean. Remove natural oil
build-up and hair product residue by soaking combs and brushes in a solution of
1 teaspoon of baking soda in a small basin of warm water. Rinse and allow to
dry.
10. Soothe Your Feet:
Add three
tablespoons of baking soda to a tub of warm water for an invigorating foot
soak. You can scrub your feet with a baking soda paste for additional
exfoliation.
Cleaning:
11. Hand wash Dishes and Pots &
Pans:
Add 2
heaping tablespoons baking soda (along with your regular dish detergent) to the
dish water to help cut grease and foods left on dishes, pots and pans. For
cooked-on foods, let them soak in the baking soda and detergent with water
first, then use dry baking soda on a clean sponge or cloth as a scratch
scouring powder.
12. Make a Surface Soft Scrub:
For safe,
effective cleaning of bathroom tubs, tile and sinks–even fiberglass and glossy
tiles–sprinkle baking soda lightly on a clean damp sponge and scrub as usual.
Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry. For extra cleaning power, make a paste with
baking soda, coarse salt and liquid dish soap—let it sit then scour off.
13. Clean the Oven:
Sprinkle
baking soda onto the bottom of the oven. Spray with water to dampen the baking
soda. Let it overnight. In the morning, scrub, scoop the baking soda and grime
out with a sponge, or vacuum, and rinse.
14. Floor cleaner:
Remove
dirt and grime (without unwanted scratch marks) from no wax and tile floors
using 1/2 cup baking soda in a bucket of warm water–mop and rinse clean for a
sparkling floor. For scuff marks, use baking soda on a clean damp sponge, then
rinse.
15. Microwave
cleaner:
Sprinkle
some baking soda on a damp cloth and gently scrub away any microwave mess.
Cleans and deodorizes.
16. Clean Furniture:
You can clean and remove marks (even crayon)
from walls and painted furniture by applying baking soda to a damp sponge and
rubbing lightly. Wipe off with a clean, dry cloth.
17. Absorb toilet odors:
Add a
cup of baking soda to the toilet and leave it for an hour before flushing. It
will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.
18. Boost Your Liquid Laundry
Detergent:
Give your
laundry a boost by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry to make liquid
detergent work harder. A better balance of pH in the wash gets clothes cleaner,
fresher and brighter.
19. Gently Clean Baby Clothes and
dippers:
Baby skin
requires the gentlest of cleansers, which are increasingly available, but odor
and stain fighters are often harsh. For tough stains add 1/2 cup of baking soda
to your liquid laundry detergent, or a 1/2 cup in the rinse cycle for
deodorization.
20. Remove Oil and Grease Stains:
Use
baking soda to clean up light-duty oil and grease spills on your garage floor
or in your driveway. Sprinkle baking soda on the spot and scrub with a wet
brush.
21. Deodorize Your Refrigerator:
Place
an open box in the back of your refrigerator to help neutralize odors. Just be
sure to change the box every couple of months.
22. Remove Odor from Carpets:
Liberally
sprinkle baking soda on the carpet. Let set overnight or as long as possible
(the longer it sets the better it works). Sweep up the larger amounts of baking
soda, and vacuum up the rest.
23. Deodorize Sneakers:
Keep
odors from spreading in smelly sneakers by shaking baking soda into them when
not in use. Shake out before wearing.
24. Fruit and Vegetable Scrub:
Baking
soda is the food safe way to clean dirt and residue off fresh fruit and
vegetables. Just sprinkle a little on a clean damp sponge, scrub and rinse
25. Remove odors from your hands:
Simply rub your hands with baking
soda and water to get rid of strong odors like garlic or onion.
Note: Although sodium bicarbonate contains quite a bit
of sodium, it does not raise blood pressure. The hypertensive effect of salt (sodium chloride) comes from
the combination of sodium and chloride.
Now it’s your turn: How do you take advantage of the health benefits of
baking soda?
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