Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is an essential ingredient in baking. It leaves the dough to rise as it produces carbon dioxide during the baking process. Apart from baking, baking soda is needed in every household because of its many health benefits. These include:
1.Treating heartburn
Baking soda can help treat heartburn by neutralizing stomach acid. Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of cold water and drink the mixture slowly.
2. As mouthwash
Many people use baking soda as a replacement for mouthwash. Some studies have shown it can help freshen your breath and even provide antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
3. Soothing canker sores
Canker sores are small, painful ulcers that can form inside your mouth. Unlike cold sores, canker sores do not form on the lips and aren’t contagious. Though more evidence is needed, some research has found that baking soda mouthwash is great for soothing pain caused by canker sores.
4. Whitening of teeth
Baking soda is a popular home remedy for whitening teeth. Many studies have found that toothpaste containing baking soda is better for whitening teeth and removing plaque than toothpaste without baking soda.
5. As deodorant
Baking soda may eliminate the smell of sweat by making odours less acidic. Try patting baking soda onto your armpits, and you may notice a difference.
6. Improves exercise performance
Baking soda has a high pH, which helps delay fatigue, allowing you to exercise at your peak longer. Some studies show that baking soda can help you perform at your peak for longer, especially during anaerobic exercises or high intensity training and sprinting.
7. Relieving itchy skins and sunburns
A baking soda bath is often recommended to soothe itchy skin. These baths are a commonly used remedy for itching from bug bites and bee stings.
8.Slowing the progression of chronic diseases
A study including 134 adults with CKD found that those taking sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) supplements were 36% less likely to experience rapid disease progression than people who did not take the supplements.
9. Improving certain cancer treatments
Some research shows that baking soda could help chemotherapy medicines work more effectively. Baking soda may make the environment for tumors less acidic, which benefits chemotherapy treatments.
10. As air freshener
Baking soda is an excellent and safe alternative to commercial air fresheners. It interacts with odour particles and neutralizes them, rather than masking them.