The humble baking soda, a staple in every home, comes with more health and beauty benefits than you think! It is also called sodium bicarbonate or even the bicarbonate of soda. The baking soda formula makes it a popular ingredient for baking, used in cakes, breads, muffins and even cookies. What are the uses of baking soda? It is used in baking cookies, cakes and so on, along with being used as a teeth whitener, hand cleanser, general household cleaner, natural deodorant and more.
Leavening attributes are its main plus point, i.e., its ability to react with acids like lemon juice or vinegar, making dough rise and fluff up through the production of carbon dioxide.Â
Give us the chance to unfold the various surprising baking soda uses and its health benefits in this article.Â
Baking Soda Nutritional Content
Now that you know what is baking soda, you should know about its nutritional content. Here is a list:
Calories- Zero
Ash- 1.7 g
Sodium- 1260 mg
Fat- 0 g
Sugar- 0 g
Carbohydrates- 0 g
Protein- 0 g
Sugar- 0 g
10 Biggest Baking Soda Benefits
While we all know about the wide spectrum of baking soda uses for the household, did you know that it has several beauty and health benefits as well? Here is a list of sodium bicarbonate uses in this category.
1. Functions as an Antacid
Baking soda is an excellent natural antacid, tackling acid reflux and similar issues. It helps in neutralizing acid in the stomach while relieving multiple symptoms at the same time.
2. Is an Alkalizing Agent
Baking soda is versatile enough to be a natural alkalizing agent too. What does that mean? It helps in lowering body inflammation while combating a majority of health problems simultaneously. It greatly improves pH levels naturally in the body.Â
3. Combats UTIs
Also note, that baking soda and water forms a potent mixture that combats UTIs (urinary tract infections). This happens due to its powers of lowering the levels of acid in urine.Â
4. Enhances Kidney Functions
The list of health benefits of baking soda doesn’t end here. It naturally lowers the levels of acid within the body, thereby keeping pH levels balanced. This results in improved functioning of the kidneys.Â
5. Relieves Joint Issues and Gout
It can go a long way towards neutralizing extra acid in the body, helping relieve gout and joint pain caused due to high uric acid accumulation.Â
6. Functions as a Natural Exfoliator
Baking soda is a great exfoliator for your skin. It helps in eliminating dead cells and stimulates production of newer counterparts, ensuring that elusive glow that we all seek!Â
7. Tackles Acne
Baking soda does not only bring back your lost skin glow; it also helps you get rid of acne. Baking soda lowers skin inflammation considerably, thereby reducing risks of pimples and acnes. This is because of its anti-bacterial features which help in reducing skin breakouts to a large extent.Â
8. Say Goodbye to Dark Lips
Many people have darker lips than normal. However, baking soda is the cleansing agent that they need. You can mix it with some honey and then apply on your lips for a few minutes. You can then wash off the mixture with water. This will help you improve your lip texture and condition.Â
9. Whitens Your Teeth
With baking soda, you can use a natural teeth whitener as per your convenience. It helps greatly in eliminating tooth plaque owing to its abrasive properties. It may also help in fixing discolored teeth with its alkaline properties.Â
10. Say Yes to Better Hair with Baking Soda
Baking soda can also be a great solution for better hair. It may soften your hair naturally, thereby stimulating hair growth in the long run.Â
Side Effects of Baking Soda
Here is a list of possible side effects of baking soda:Â
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headaches
- Pain in the stomach
- Frequently feeling thirsty
- Chronic fatigue
- Urinating frequentlyÂ
- Excessive gas
- Swelling of the limbsÂ
The Bottom Line
Baking soda is as versatile as it is effective. It works to improve your hair, skin and teeth considerably, while also lowering acid levels in the body, improving kidney functions and tackling UTIs at the same time. You should look to integrate baking soda into your daily regime for these benefits.Â