7 Ways Baking Soda Affects Your Body

Baking soda is a critical element in many baked goods because it causes food to rise. Without it, all cakes and cookies would be flat bricks. You don’t need a lot of baking soda in any given recipe, but the box it comes in is relatively large. Wouldn’t it be nice to have another use for the product?

Well, there are actually a ton of things you can do with baking soda that doesn’t involve baking. It is quite a useful natural cleanser. But even more exciting are the 7 great things baking soda can do for your hair, skin, and body. Dollar for dollar and use for use, it is probably the most affordable and versatile health and beauty product out there.

We are confident in saying that these 7 uses qualify as real-life hacks. If you’ve ever desperately needed # 4, you know what we’re talking about.

1. Treatment for heartburn

Heartburn is one of those relatively harmless conditions that make you feel like your chest is going to explode. Also known as acid reflux, heartburn occurs when stomach acid leaves your stomach and enters your throat. Chronic heartburn can cause permanent damage to the esophagus, but even if it hits you after an excess of rich or spicy food, the pain is enough to drive you crazy.

Baking soda can neutralize stomach acid and provide quick relief from acid reflux. Just dissolve a teaspoon of it in some cold water and drink the mixture slowly. (Swallowing can cause a large amount of foam on your stomach that will make you feel bloated.)

2. Take care of your breath and whiten your teeth

Baking soda is a great oral care tool too. Research shows that toothpaste containing baking soda is better at breaking down plaque and whitening teeth than toothpaste without it. But you don’t necessarily have to buy toothpaste to enjoy the benefits. You can make a small amount of paste with baking soda and water, and then dip your toothbrush just before brushing.

Baking soda also has strong antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that make it an excellent mouthwash. Just a half teaspoon of baking soda in half a glass of water is enough – swish and spit it out the same way you would any other mouthwash. The mixture is ideal for reaching cracks between and around the teeth that can get lost while you brush.

3. Treat canker sores

Canker sores cause a lot of pain for how tiny they are! They are simply that form inside the mouth (not on the lips). They aren’t contagious and often occur after a period of overindulging in rich food. Canker sores usually heal by themselves but can be quite uncomfortable until they do.

If you are bothered by a canker sore, use the baking soda mouthwash we described in #2 – ½ teaspoon baking soda dissolved in a half cup of water – on a daily basis. Research indicates that this can significantly reduce the pain as well as speed healing.

Mouth ulcers cause a lot of pain even when small. They are simply small circular ulcers that form inside the mouth (not on the lips). They are not contagious and usually occur after a period of excess rich food. Mouth ulcers generally heal on their own, but they can be quite uncomfortable until they do.

If a mouth ulcer bothers you, use the baking soda mouthwash described in n. ° 2 – ½ teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in a half cup of water, every day. Research indicates that this can significantly reduce pain and speed healing.

4. Use as a deodorant

Deodorant is another product that often contains baking soda because it is great at absorbing odors. This is the same reason why some people leave an open box in their refrigerators or bathrooms. It works for its antimicrobial properties.

Did you know that human sweat is really odorless? It only starts to smell when the bacteria on our skin begin to break it down into acidic waste products. Baking soda doesn’t completely stop this process, but it makes the result significantly less acidic and therefore less pungent. Try patting your armpits with baking soda to use as a natural deodorant.

5.  Boost your training

Baking soda is quite popular with endurance athletes. Research has shown that baking soda allows you to perform at your best for a longer period of time, especially during high-intensity training. During this type of exercise, muscle cells produce something called lactic acid. Lactic acid is the reason you feel a burning sensation when exercising hard. It also lowers the pH within cells, which causes muscles to fatigue.

Baking soda has a high pH and can offset lactic acid a bit. This can help keep it going longer. Research revealed that people who ingested some baking soda before exercising lasted about 4.5 minutes longer than those who didn’t. Remember this is 4.5 more minutes at maximum effort. It may not seem like much in terms of daily training, but when you run a race, it can make a difference.

6. Soothe itchy skin and sunburn

Baking soda is a good treatment for all kinds of skin ailments. It is especially good at eliminating chronic itching and irritation from insect bites. For this, make a thick paste with baking soda and water and apply it to the affected areas.

If your itchy skin is the result of sunburn, try a baking soda bath. Simply add 1-2 baking soda to a warm (not hot) bath. Then soak for at least 30 minutes, making sure the affected areas are completely covered. Some evidence suggests that sunburns respond even better when cornstarches and oatmeal are added to the bath as well.

7. Softens corns

Corns are hard, rough patches of skin that form in areas that receive constant pressure or friction. Guitarists have distinctive calluses on their hands, for example. Corns are also common on the feet because they are often under pressure. Any consistent repetitive action can tend to cause calluses at the point of impact.

Corns are not dangerous; in fact, they are protective. But sometimes they can be unpleasant or uncomfortable and you may want to soften or reduce them. Baking soda can help with that, too. Soaking in a baking soda bath can relieve pain and soften calluses enough to shave off rough spots.

7 Ways Baking Soda Affects Your Body

Conclusion

Baking soda is probably one of the most versatile ingredients in your kitchen, ideal for baking, cleaning, and for health and beauty. These 7 benefits are just the beginning of what you can do with baking soda – it’s also a key ingredient in the volcano modeling we all make at school at some point!

As it is also extremely inexpensive, buy a couple of boxes to store in various places around your house. That way, you can always find some of this when you need to treat a canker sore, whiten your teeth, or eliminate the pains of a long day.