Baking Soda Uses, Benefits, and Side Effects

You might have dozens of ingredients in your kitchen and all of them are used in one way or the other. Out of all, one of the most useful kitchen staples is baking soda having a lot of uses and benefits whether it be in the kitchen or in our daily life.

What is Baking Soda?

Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. The key thing is that it dissolves readily in water and gives off carbon dioxide when it is exposed to acid or heated in an oven. It’s very useful for making quick bread, cakes, and homemade soda pop. Also, it is used for cleaning, toothpaste, personal hygiene, neutralization of acids, and for kid’s science fair projects to make volcanoes. The preparation of baking soda is either from mining, reduction of waters from certain hot springs, or being made in a factory by the Solvay process.

Uses and Benefits of Baking Soda

It is something which can be used frequently in our day-to-day life. Apart from its uses, it has various benefits in different conditions such as:

1. Treat Heartburn

Heartburn which is also known as acid reflux is a painful, burning sensation that occurs in the upper part of your stomach and can spread up to your throat. Baking soda is very helpful in treating heartburn as it neutralizes stomach acid.

To use as heartburn just mix a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of cold water and drink it slowly, you’ll feel relieved. Caution: Continued use of baking soda may cause metabolic alkalosis and heart problems.

2. Mouthwash

Mouthwash is very important for a good oral hygiene routine. It reaches to all lengths and breadths of your mouth and crevices of your teeth, gums, and tongue and cleans your mouth properly. Baking soda can be used as a replacement for mouthwash. It helps to freshen up your breath and it also provides antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

To use baking soda as a mouthwash simply add ½ teaspoon of baking soda to half a glass of warm water, and then swish with it like always.

3. Soothe Canker Sores

Canker sores are small, painful ulcers that are formed inside the mouth. Canker sores do not occur on the lips and are not contagious, but a cold sore does. So, by using baking soda as mouthwash, we can get the remedy to soothe the pain that occurred due to canker sores.

For this, simply rinse your mouth with baking soda mouthwash once a day and the canker sore will heal.

4. Whiten Your Teeth

Baking soda is an underrated home remedy for teeth whitening. Toothpaste that contains baking soda is good for whitening teeth and removing plaque than toothpaste without baking soda. This is because of the mild abrasive properties of baking soda that help it in breaking the bonds of molecules that stain the teeth. It also contains antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that fight harmful bacteria.

5. Deodorant

You know human sweat is odorless!!

Sweat only becomes smelly because it is broken down by bacteria in your armpits. The sweat is converted into acidic waste products by these bacteria, and it gives sweat its bad odor. Baking soda helps in eliminating the smell of sweat as its lovers the acidic property of the odor.

To use it as deodorant, try to pat baking soda onto your armpits, and you will notice a difference.

6. May Improve Exercise Performance

Baking soda is also called sodium bicarbonate, is a popular supplement among athletes. Baking soda can help you in performing at your best for longer, especially when you are doing anaerobic exercises or high-intensity training and sprinting. While doing high-intensity exercise your muscle cells produce lactic acid which makes you feel like burning during exercise. Lactic acid lowers the pH of your cells, and your muscles get tired. Since baking soda has a high pH, so it helps in delaying tiredness, and you can exercise at your peak for longer.

7. Fights Acne and Pimples

If you want to get rid of acne or pimples, you do not need to use harsh chemicals. Baking soda will do the work easily. The antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of baking soda help in treating the cause as well as reducing the symptoms of acne and other breakouts. It also helps in balancing the skin’s pH, which then reduces the formation of skin breakouts.

To use baking soda to fight against acne and pimples, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with a small amount of water and prepare a paste. Apply it to the affected area for 1 to 2 minutes. Rinse it off with cold water.

8. Relieves Sunburn and Sunburn Blisters

During the hot summer keep a box of baking soda with you. Because baking soda is basic in nature it has a soothing effect on sunburned skin, which helps to get relief from the itching and burning sensations. It also contains antiseptic and drying properties and is helpful to dry out sunburn blisters quickly.

For this, mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a cup of cold water then Soak a clean cloth in this solution, throw out the excess water and apply it as a cool compress on the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes. Repeat 2 or 3 times a day until you get relief.

9. Improves Skin Complexion

Uneven skin tone is a major problem for many. Baking soda is an easy and inexpensive solution for you to get a brighter and even skin tone. It is a good exfoliating agent that helps in the removal of dead skin cells. It also balances the pH level of your skin to maintain even and clear skin.

As for the use, mix 1 to 2 teaspoons of baking soda with water or rose water and make a paste. Apply the paste on your face. Allow it to dry for 1 minute, and then gently rub it off. Finally, wash with lukewarm water and pat dry to reveal brighter skin. Do not forget to moisturize your skin after using baking soda.

10. Treats Stained or Yellow Nails

Stained nails can be unsightly but baking soda can whiten your nails so no need to hide them in your pockets or gloves. The bleaching and exfoliating properties of baking soda help to remove stains.

To treat nails, put ½ cup of water, 1 teaspoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide, and 1 tablespoon of baking soda in a small bowl. Mix well till the baking soda dissolves. Dip your nails into the solution for 2 to 3 minutes. And you’ll see the results yourself.

11. Removes Dandruff

Dandruff is difficult to get rid of, especially in winters. With proper and regular hair care, you can easily get rid of dandruff. Baking soda can help in the removal of those irritating white flakes on your scalp and hair. It cleans the scalp and helps clear off flakes. Also, as baking soda is basic, it helps in balancing the pH of the scalp to a healthy equilibrium.

To get rid of dandruff, you just need to rub 1 tablespoon of baking soda onto your wet hair and scalp. Wait for a minute, then rinse it out thoroughly with water and see the amazing results.

Harmful Effects of Baking Soda

Baking soda is not a cure for the disease, nor is it a substitute for regular medical care. Consult a doctor, to see if the baking soda is right and how much quantity is safe to consume for you. Some of the harmful effects are:

• Soothe the skin: When there is acidity in the body baking soda helps to keep the harmful bacteria out of the body. But if someone has sensitive skin, one is likely to find alkaline substance irritating.

• Style the hair: Some people wash hair with a mixture of baking soda and apple cider vinegar instead of shampoo. Overtime this makes a bad hair day. Baking soda might shine hair lock up first but overtime it will cause frizz, tangles, and breaks.

• Boost athletic performance: Runners drink a large amount of baking soda before a race or meet, called Soda loading, but it can make one sick, if one gets too much too often.

• Baking soda high blood pressure patients: Baking soda is high in sodium and is not safe in high doses and not should be used over a long time. It is not safe for people who have medical conditions such as high blood pressure, liver, kidney diseases.

• Baking soda for pregnant women: Pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid baking soda unless directed by doctor.

• Baking soda on a full stomach: If baking soda is not dissolved properly or if taken on a full stomach it can cause an upset stomach.

Apart from this baking soda have other side effects such as:

Drinking baking soda may have side effects like stomach cramps and increased thirst. It may also have side effects like nausea, weakness, slow breathing, and swelling of the feet.

In any of the above symptoms consult the doctor

Baking soda is a ‘must have at home” for anything! It’s super cool! In cooking, cleaning, health and skin products, and a lot of other stuff! It’s just a wonderful substance if you know the dangers and so avoid bad uses.