For Daily Needs....

Baking soda is well known as an ingredient for cooking, or removing odors from our refrigerators, but it is also good for your health and home! It is an inexpensive and common ingredient with uses in daily hygiene, to injuries, to many health issues... so let's explore a bit more on this universal ingredient every house should have.

Baking soda lasts a very long time (especially sealed and kept cool), in fact there is no expiration date. A simple test to tell if your baking soda is still potent, add a bit of vinegar, if it bubbles, it's still usable.

Health

Baking soda is known as nahcolite, which is part of the natural mineral natron. Natron contains large amounts of sodium bicarbonate and has been used since ancient times as a deodorizer, soother and cleanser. Baking soda remains a simple yet effective cleaning and stain removing agent, but there are many health benefits associated also aided by the use of baking soda. In fact there are recommended dosages from the Arm and Hammer Company stated for colds and influenza which date back to 1925.

Here are a few more uses:

Heartburn and Indigestion Baking soda is a cost-effective way to reduce heartburn and indigestion, by adding a half a teaspoon of baking powder to two cups of water. Just drink this mixture an hour after eating to gain some relief.

Cancer Prevention Baking soda has been known to increase the pH of acidic tumors without affecting the pH balance of healthy tissues and blood. A pH imbalance in your body allows unhealthy organisms to flourish. This in turn can damage many tissues and organs, by compromising your immune system. So by ingesting baking soda, we can add nutritional and immune support for cancer victims.

** Improved Kidney Function** Because of its alkaline structure, baking soda acts to buffer the acids in your body which helps maintain balanced pH levels. When your Kidneys are not functioning optimally, are less efficient at removing acids from your body, but by consuming baking soda it aides in acid removal.

Reduce Ulcer Pain Baking soda naturally neutralizes your stomach acid, so it greatly helps ulcers. Just by drinking a glass of water with 1-2 teaspoons of baking soda will help relieve your symptoms.

Here are a few more of the many health issues baking soda can help you with:

• Fights off diseases
• Kills fungi, mold and parasites
• Minimizes cough and sore throat
• Reduces the duration of cold and flu
• Helps pH balance
• Reduces the symptoms of gout
• Promotes kidney health
• Treats urinary tract infections
• Reduces muscle pain and fatigue
• Eases stomach pain
• Helps with digestive issues
• Relieves bloating and gas
• Neutralizes acid

Additional Remedies:

Remove deep Splinters Splinters will ease out naturally after a few days of soaking it in warm water and baking soda (soak the area twice a day).

Bug Bites Yes even bug bites... just rub baking soda on your bug bite to relieve the itching.

Sunburns Even fragile sunburned skin benefits from soaking in baking soda and water or you can mix baking soda into your favorite body lotion.

Cosmetic Uses

Baking soda is not just a kitchen staple it’s also a huge component in cosmetic use. It is inexpensive, easy to find, it’s probably already in your kitchen, yes baking soda has countless uses like:

Natural Deodorant You can create your own deodorant by mixing a teaspoon of baking soda with water to create a milky paste, then rub it under your underarms or feet.

_Exfoliator Baking soda removes dry skin from your body by combining one teaspoon of baking soda with half a cup of water... just rub and rinse.

Hand Softener Baking soda works to scrub away dry skin, dirt and odors, just mix with warm water and rub it on your hands to make them cleaner and softer.

Feet Soother A foot bath with a tablespoon of baking soda and warm water will remove bacteria and odors, as it also helps to prevent toenail fungus.

Itchy Skin Relief Baking soda also reduces discomfort from allergic rashes, like poison ivy or poison oak. Just mix a teaspoon with some water to create a paste and then rub it on your skin.

Hair Cleanser Just a teaspoon of baking soda in your shampoo removes more dirt, oil and residues from hair products.

Brush and Comb Cleaner Baking soda is great for cleaning your brushes or combs naturally and efficiently, just drop them in a warm water and baking soda mixture.

Toothpaste Baking soda is fantastic at plaque removal and why it’s commonly used in toothpastes. But using it straight has abrasive qualities, and in time may wear away your enamel. So for fresh breath, just add baking soda to your toothpaste or use straight a few times a week.

Teeth Whitener To keep your teeth looking pearly white, create your own paste with a teaspoon of baking soda and water. Just use once a week... by rubbing the paste onto your teeth and letting it sit for five minutes before rinsing.

Cleaning

Baking soda's claim-to-fame has always been to freshen and clean many items and areas in your home. It's a powerfullly effective (and gentle) abrasive as well as a great natural deodorizer, so it is perfect for so many cleaning uses around the house.

Here is only a small sample of ideas:

Kitchen Scrub Sprinkle baking soda on any surfaces that need cleaning in your kitchen and using just a sponge or rag to scrub. By adding lemon, lavender, peppermint or any natural and favored ingredient you can even create a healing fragrance aspect to your cleaning needs.

Pots and Pans Just by soaking pots and pans in baking soda for 15-20 minutes … the grease, grim or food will just come right off... no need for heavy scrubbing.

Carpet Cleaner Bakin soda is a perfect and natural carpet cleaner that eliminates the chemicals that can be harmful to your pets and children. Two ideas; Sprinkle your carpet with baking soda, letting it sit for 15-20 minutes, and then vacuum. or mix with warm water for wet cleaning preferences.

Fruit and Veggie Scrub Soaking or scrubbing them in baking soda and water is a great way to remove bacteria from your fruits and veggies.

Oh so many...

• Microwave Cleaner
• Drain Cleaner
• Dish-Washer additive
• Fire Extinguisher, just our baking soda on the fire (great for frying pan fires) and it exhausts the flames instantly.
• Shoe Deodorizer
• Coffee and Tea Pot Cleaner
• Shower-Curtain Cleaner
• Closet Freshener
• Wash Your Car – removes greases and tars... just make sure to thoroughly dissolve as baking soda is abrasive in its powdered state.
• Kitty-Litter Deodorizer

And of course it's uses are infinite...safe, effective and inexpensive.

Oh Yes Cooking

Baking Soda is used in cooking as a rising ingredient (for Breads, Cakes, Ect) for baked goods. This is because it is a 100% sodium bicarbonate that, mixed with an acidic ingredient, such as vinegar, yogurt, buttermilk, or cream of tartar, creates foam and gases causing dough to rise.

But what other cooking ideas can baking soda enhance:

• Baking soda gives cooked shrimp a crisper, snappier texture
• A quarter teaspoon of baking soda can functionally neutralize excess acidity in canned tomatoes
• Baking soda added to a boiling pot of spaghetti, creates a ramen type noodle
• Baking soda efficiently softens beans ie. helping the chickpeas break down and tenderize easily
• Baking soda helps brown foods faster, cutting cooking time

Exercise Enhancement

Yes baking soda can even be a great exercise enhancer as the benefits can change your exercise routine, too. Baking soda can absorb the lactic acid that usually builds up in your muscles during vigorous workouts. It will delay fatigue and enhance your athletic performance just by drinking a teaspoon dissolved with water.

Cautions

Using baking soda on the skin or body is safe and nontoxic even consuming orally, just don’t exceed the recommended dose.
Too much baking soda will upset the body’s acid-base balance which can lead to nausea and diarrhea.

Baking soda is high in sodium, so high doses aren’t safe, as it can raise your blood pressure and cause swelling.

So if you have edema, liver or kidney disease and especially high blood pressure, avoid taking baking soda internally. And you should also refrain from consuming baking soda if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Good Health – Evan Pantazi #Kyusho

Image Credit: paleoplan, gloryfountain, healthambition,omegalaserandskin