15 Surprising Ways Baking Soda Is Good for You

Everybody is familiar with baking soda. To many of us, it is that lowly box inside our refrigerators that’s supposed to absorb bad smelling stuff. Or it is that solitary box in the kitchen shelf that we use for baking our favorite muffins and cakes. At times, we use it as a cleaning agent to scrub off tenacious stains on the kitchen counter or on our precious pots and pans. Surprisingly, there is more to this humble ingredient than we are accustomed to. Although more popularly known as a leavening agent in baked foods, baking soda also has great health and beauty benefits. Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate is an inexpensive purchase that can offer more benefits than we can ever imagine. Here are some of those benefits:

• It’s power-packed with antacid properties.
• It’s a great alkalizing agent.
• It has many antiseptic properties.
• It’s an amazing exfoliator.
• It’s used as a leavening agent in baked goods.

Baking soda in its natural form is called nahcolite. It’s part of the natural mineral natron and in this form, has been used for centuries. Egyptians used natron as a soap because of its cleansing properties. Through the ages, natron has been refined to produce sodium bicarbonate or we know it today as baking soda. It would be safe to assume that most of us have used baking soda in more ways than just as a leavening agent for baking. It’s also being commonly used as:

• a natural deodorant
• a hand cleanser
• toothpaste
• teeth whitener
• cleaning agent

While baking soda has these benefits, it has some limitations and precautions, especially when there is a chance of ingesting it. For one, it should be consumed only in small quantities. If taken regularly, baking soda can reduce general body functions by regulating the body’s natural pH levels which can further reduce acid levels. This pH reduction can negatively affect the complete body system’s functioning. Baking soda does have proven benefits and yet it comes at the cheapest price. Read on to learn about this humble ingredient for use at home, in more than one way.

All About Baking Soda

For those who don’t have an inkling as to what baking soda is, except for the obvious that it’s used for baking, there are many questions that they may want to ask. What is baking soda, is it organic, a mineral or a chemical creation? These days, the answers are just fingers away from a keyboard. Google baking soda and one can have all the answers and information about baking soda.

To start with, the chemical name of baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. It’s white and solid, although it can appear as a white powder or as small crystals. The taste is mildly salty. In the US, most of the baking soda comes from Wyoming. Actually, a quarter of the world’s supply comes from this place. The trona ores mined in Wyoming go through a type of chemical process in order to create the baking soda. Trona ores are first heated until they’re turned into soda ash. This ash is further treated using carbon dioxide to get sodium bicarbonate or baking soda. One can just imagine how much baking soda is produced in Wyoming, considering that it supplies the stuff to the whole civilized world!

Not all forms of baking soda are created in the lab. Actually, it has been with us in different forms for the past thousands of years. Egyptians have used a form of baking soda for cleaning. These days, it can still be naturally found from the ground in the form of nahcolite. In this form, there aren’t any chemical reactions, there’s nothing altered or added. Nahcolite is the purest form of baking soda as only Mother Nature has intended it to be. Locate the aisle in the supermarket where you can find baking sodas. Simply read the brand’s labels. It should carry the label “natural baking soda” or that the product has been processed but without chemicals.

Which baking soda to opt for will depend on how one would use it. If it were meant for cleaning the sink, the tub or the toilet bowl, then get the cheaper “created” baking soda. However, if one intends to use it for personal hygiene or for baking, then choose the natural baking soda. It may be more expensive but health-wise, it’s the best choice.

As we have mentioned earlier, baking soda is not just for baking where one can make fluffier baked goods. In fact, baking soda is almost suitable for just about anything. Let’s take a look at the surprising ways why baking soda is good for everyone:

It’s an Excellent Exfoliator
If one rubs some baking soda between his fingers, he will find the texture sort of abrasive. This makes it a great exfoliator as it can help remove dead skin cells on the skin’s surface, thus allowing new cell production. This new layer will give the skin a clean glow. The procedure is simple. Just add some baking soda in water and apply this to the face in circular motions. Do this twice weekly only.

It’s a Natural Antacid and Alkalizing Agent
Acid reflux is becoming one of the more annoying disorders these days, especially affecting older people. This is a condition where the stomach acid flows from the stomach back into the esophagus. This action will definitely irritate the esophagus causing the heartburn, a burning sensation that can occur between the abdomen and the throat. Baking soda here will act as a neutralizer against the stomach acid. This will relieve the many symptoms of acid reflux and some other stomach related problems.

Baking soda can act as a natural alkalizing agent as well. Being a non-toxic chemical, it can be used to reduce the effects of acid and inflammations in the body. It’s also used in treating many other ailments. Baking soda is the best natural remedy in the balancing of the body’s pH level which can improve overall health. If one has excess acids in the body, this can lead to various ailments like osteoporosis, arthritis, and others.

It Can Help Relieve Cold and Flu
Colds and flu are the most common illnesses, affecting people of any age all over the world. A natural way of preventing these illnesses is through good health care and a healthy diet. Choose foods that are rich in nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. If one ever contracts either flu or colds, he can use baking soda as a relief provider through a nasal wash. Making a nasal wash solution is very simple. Just mix some lukewarm water, some salt, and baking soda. This solution can help in cleaning and getting rid of nose mucus. Repeat this wash 2-3 times a day.

It Can Help Enhance Exercise
When one exercises or involves himself in strenuous activities, the body will release lactic acid which has a tendency to accumulate in the joints and muscles. This accumulation will cause muscle fatigue and joint stiffness. One can avoid these discomforts from happening by simply drinking baking soda diluted in water.

Helps Reduce Itching and Swelling
Baking soda has anti-itching properties. It’s an anti-pruritic agent which many uses to treat several skin conditions. Just make a paste by mixing water and baking soda, then applying this paste to the affected skin.

Being stung by bees or wasps could be an unpleasant experience, what with the accompanying swelling and pain. Again, baking soda can come to the rescue. Make a paste of baking soda and water and apply this paste on the stung area to reduce the swelling and relieve the pain.

It Gives the Kidneys a Boost
Since baking soda is an alkaline substance, it can be used to reduce acid levels in the body. This action can help in keeping pH levels in check. A study stated that the rate of kidney function decline was significantly reduced in patients who were treated with baking soda as against those patients who were not.

Another health benefit of baking soda is providing relief for those who have kidney stones. This is another common ailment that affects many and some of these cases can be attributed to genetics. There are different types of kidney stones including cystine stones, calcium stones, uric acid stones, and more. Usually, the smaller kidney stones can pass out through the urethra with a considerable amount of pain involved. However, the bigger ones can cause really severe pain. Baking soda can help in decreasing the formation of stones by removing the material that causes kidney stone formation.

It Helps One Maintain Fresh Breath
There can be several reasons why people have bad breath, the most common of which is the presence of bacteria in their mouths. Baking soda has been used for years as an instant solution to this unpleasant condition. Simply mix a teaspoon of salt with baking soda in water. This has been proven to work effectively in the restoration and maintenance of fresh breath. Just gargle the solution every morning to ensure that those bacteria feeding on food remnants in the mouth are completely eliminated.

It’s an Excellent Alternative to Deodorant
Read the labels on almost all antiperspirant deodorant brands and you will find that they contain some type of paraben and aluminum as the active ingredients, even when these components aren’t for ideal use. Aluminum may have a link to cancer development, however, a majority of users are not aware of this, blindly using their antiperspirants every day.

Baking soda could be a healthy alternative. As a matter of fact, some brands use it now as the active ingredient in their products. It’s true that baking soda doesn’t have an artificial scent that can make other products appealing but it’s effective in eliminating odors and in reducing the presence of bacteria in sweat. It’s these bacteria that causes perspiration and its offensive odor. If the baking soda can get rid of odors, then use it. It’s as simple as that. Start by doing some tests at home. Just dust some baking soda on the armpits on the weekend and observe. If one is pleased with the results, it’s time to switch from relatively expensive roll-ons to a cheap but effective alternative.

It’s Great for Bites and Stings from Insects
Bug bites are annoying. They tend to make one scratch until it leaves a big red mark on the skin. At times, the bites can lead to swelling and that just makes it worse. But no need to worry too much, baking soda is here to save the day. Simply make a baking soda paste and apply this to the affected area. Let it dry, then wash it with clean water. For some fancier concoction with more benefits, one can combine the baking soda with cornstarch and oatmeal. This combo is a boon for the itchy skin as it could give you that much-needed relief. A word of advice though, daily application is not good for the skin.

Those who have more sensitive skin to insect bites and stings like bees and mosquitoes may tend to break in large, red rashes at the contact area. The soda paste can still remedy their situation. Apply the paste on the affected area. This will minimize the redness, at the same time can also soothe itching. Leave the paste overnight for best results. In the morning, observe the effects of the paste. It may leave one pleasantly surprised.

It Also Works as an Emollient
Emollient is a preparation that softens the skin and baking soda also has this property. Emollients are usually applied to the soles of the feet and the insides of the hand to get that soothed and smooth skin. Make the preparation by mixing baking soda with a little water to create a mixture with a fairly thick consistency. Rub this paste in circular motions on the desired areas, leave it there for half an hour then wash it off.

It Increases Energy
Baking soda mixed with lemon juice will not only revitalize the body but will also help in the fight against chronic illnesses. Preparing the mixture is simple. Just add a teaspoon of baking soda to the juice of one lemon in water and let stand overnight. Drink the concoction early the next morning. This will maintain the energy level for the whole day. Be warned though that if one is suffering from high blood pressure or have some type of kidney disease, daily consumption of baking soda isn’t recommended.

It May Help Soothe Some Skin Issues
One may be a sun lover but he never wants to experience sunburn. This is especially true for those who have stayed in intense sun’s heat. Sunburn can be excruciatingly painful. It can take days or even weeks to completely heal. Baking soda will not speed up the healing process of sunburn but it can certainly help because it has a soothing effect on the tender and painful sunburned areas. Prepare a warm bath, add some baking soda in it, and let it sit there for some time. If the person has any psoriasis flare-ups, the bath can help as well. After the bath, there is no need to rinse it off because it can serve as a protective layer of the skin.

Baking soda can also act as an anti-inflammatory agent and using it can work wonders in soothing irritated skin. Just mix one part baking soda with three parts water and apply directly to the affected area. Let stand for a few minutes then wash it off with cold water. If the itch occurs on the entire body, just prepare a bath, add a tablespoon of baking soda, and soak in the bath for ten minutes. Do this every day until the skin is completely healed.

It Can Help Ease Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infection or UTI is an infection in any of the parts of the urinary tract. This includes the urethra, the kidneys, and the bladder. When confronted with UTI, people would generally resort to antibiotics without knowing that these can weaken the body, not to mention the side effects. How about trying baking soda for a change? Apparently, baking soda can neutralize the acids in a person’s urine and will help in detoxifying the kidneys. These actions can stop the infection from getting worse. In lukewarm water, add a teaspoon of baking soda then drink this on an empty stomach. If one sees no improvements, consult with a medical professional immediately.

It Can Help Hasten the Healing of Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers or canker sores are tiny pesky sores that form on the gum lines which are tender as raw openings in one’s mucus linings. These tiny pests can be extremely painful and it can take days for them to heal if one doesn’t use anything to speed-up their departure. Well, almost nothing. Applying a simple paste of baking soda on the sores can significantly hasten the healing time because the baking soda paste can minimize bacterial contamination. This type of contamination can make the lesions more painful, wider, and can even lengthen the healing period. The applied baking soda paste can kill bacteria and will protect the delicate membranes in the mouth from further trauma. Apply the paste several times throughout the day. Saliva will gradually wash the paste away.

It Can Be Used for Diaper Chafing or Diaper Rash
Babies will always be exposed to diaper rashes. Even adults are no exception because they can suffer chafing between their legs. Both conditions can cause a lot of pain but relief can be obtained by a simple baking soda paste which one can make at home. Many of the OTC remedies already contain baking soda as one of the active ingredients. This is evident by the remedy’s gritty texture. Just apply the paste on the affected areas overnight. In the morning, the person will feel as good as new.