7 Unexpected Health Benefits Of Baking Soda Baking soda, otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate,
is a white, powdery substance used primarily as an ingredient in baking. Alternatively, if you happen to be a middle
school student, you might recognize baking soda as the stuff you mix with vinegar in
order to create an erupting science fair volcano. But what if we were to tell you that, outside
of these two more widely known used, baking soda can be used to fulfill a variety of other
needs as well? As it turns out, baking soda has a number
of potential benefits beyond creating baked goods and semi-realistic volcanic eruptions. Here are just a few of the ways in which you
can use baking soda in your everyday life to greatly improve your health. Before we continue, you should subscribe to
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content. Use Baking Soda To Treat Heartburn
Also known by the name of acid reflux, heartburn is a painful condition in which a burning
sensation rises up from your stomach and potentially as far as your throat. As the name “acid reflux” would imply,
this condition is caused by acid refluxing out of your stomach and into your esophagus,
and can be triggered as a result of a variety of factors including stress, overeating, and
eating certain foods that your body might not agree with. While this often leads to a painful and uncomfortable
sensation for people who commonly have to suffer through acid reflux, the good news
is that you may be able to stop the symptoms of heartburn with something as simple as household
baking soda. The next time you feel that burning sensation
in your chest and throat, try dissolving a spoonful of baking powder into a glass of
cold water and drinking it slowly. The baking soda will serve as a neutralizing
agent against your stomach acid, taking away the burning sensation and relieving you from
the symptoms of heartburn. 2. Use Baking Soda For Oral Hygiene
Hate that stinging sensation that mouthwash can sometimes cause? Why not try rinsing your mouth with baking
soda instead? Simply mix a spoonful of baking soda with
warm water and swish around as usual. Because of its granular nature, baking soda
does an excellent job reaching the nooks and crannies in and between your teeth that you
might have missed while brushing or flossing. Baking soda also contains antibacterial and
antimicrobial properties that can help eliminate bacteria in your mouth associated with bad
breath, and it's mildly abrasive properties may also help remove plaque buildup and whiten
your teeth. Additionally, rinsing your mouth with baking
soda may also help to relieve pain from canker sores, as evidenced by a handful of studies. 3. Use Baking Soda To Soothe Your Skin
Nothing is more relaxing than taking a serene hike through nature in the summertime; that
is, until you get home and realize you’re covered in itchy mosquito bites. To relieve itching from bug bites, bee stings,
and other sources, try soaking the affected area in water mixed with a few cups of baking
soda in order to lessen the irritation. Baking soda may also help in order to relieve
itching and discomfort associated with sunburns as well, especially when combined with other
ingredients such as corn starch and oatmeal. Additionally, a mixture of water and baking
soda may also help to relieve pain and discomfort caused by callouses as well. According to some studies, soaking a callous
in water mixed with baking soda will cause the hard, scaly area of the callous to soften,
thus making it less uncomfortable and allowing it to heal faster. 4. Use Baking Soda To Exercise Better
When it comes to staying healthy, physical activity is one of the most important ways
to keep your body’s various systems running as efficiently as possible. People who are dedicated to workout results
often end up taking an extra step by purchasing supplements, protein powders, and other tools
to help them reach their goals faster; but what if we were to tell you that a useful
workout supplement might already be in your kitchen? As you might not have guessed, baking soda
may also help you perform better when exercising, to the point where many athletes and gym fanatics
tend to use baking soda as a natural supplement. Studies have indicated that sodium bicarbonate
is highly effective at extending your peak performance during exercise, especially when
it comes to high-intensity anaerobic activities. This is because baking soda contains a high
pH level which cancels out your body’s lactic acid, which is produced by your muscles during
exercise and causes you to feel tired and sore. By keeping your body’s pH in check, you
can exercise longer without getting fatigued, thus enabling you to make the most of your
valuable gym time. The benefits don’t stop there, either; once
your workout is done, you can always pat down your armpits with some extra baking soda to
serve as a natural deodorant. 5. Use Baking Soda To Help Your Kidneys
According to some research, baking soda may be able to improve your health by slowing
the progression of chronic kidney disease, a debilitating illness that, as the name implies,
targets your kidneys and causes them to slowly lose function over time. Because your kidneys play an important role
in filtering your blood and keeping it free of excess waste, it is essential to maintain
healthy kidneys in order to keep the rest of your body up and running. According to one particular study, adults
suffering from chronic kidney disease were found to have their risk of kidney failure
lowered by 36 percent while taking a baking soda-based supplement on a regular basis. 6. Use Baking Soda To Relieve Arthritis Pain
Based on recent studies, it would appear that baking soda may be effective when it comes
to treating rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid Arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune
disease which targets your body’s joints, resulting in joint pain, swelling, stiffness,
and potentially the loss of a joint’s ability to function altogether. According to a study published by the Journal
of Immunology in April 2018, drinking water mixed with baking soda may help treat rheumatoid
arthritis by reducing joint inflammation by promoting your body’s anti-inflammatory
response while reducing the effects of its autoimmune response. 7. Use Baking Soda To Fight Back Against Cancer
In addition to all of the other health benefits listed above, baking soda may also be able
to help people currently undergoing treatment for certain types of cancer. According to data collected from researchers,
baking soda might be able to benefit a cancer patient’s chemotherapy treatment by making
the environment for tumours less acidic, which in turn, allows the chemotherapy medicines
to slow the growth of cancer cells more effectively. However, this research is still in its preliminary
stages and testing was mainly performed from animal and cell studies; as a result, more
human-based research will be required before the true effectiveness of this hypothesis
can be confirmed. So there you have it. While you might only recognize baking soda
as the stuff that’s in the box at the back of your cupboard, it turns out that this innocuous
white powder has a variety of different uses, and may even be able to make a positive impact
on your health in various ways. From painful arthritis to body odour, it truly
seems as though the humble sodium bicarbonate can do no wrong. Did you find this video interesting or informative? Do you have any other uses for baking soda
that you’d like to share with the world? We always appreciate feedback from our viewers,
so let your voice be heard by scrolling down and leaving a comment below in order to help
us keep the conversation going.
