Baking soda can do wonders for the body — both inside and out. Here are a few ways using this simple ingredient can help you look and feel your best.
Brighten Yellow Teeth
Baking soda is a great natural tooth polish. The gentle abrasive removes stains and neutralizes the acids produced by dental plaque. To use baking soda as a teeth whitener, sprinkle a little baking soda on your toothbrush along with a pea-sized amount of regular toothpaste. alternatively, you can create a homemade baking soda “toothpaste” by mixing together 2 tablespoons of banking soda, 4 tablespoons of turmeric root powder, and 3 teaspoons of coconut oil. Use a small amount of this natural toothpaste to brush your teeth once a day for a few days. Avoid brushing with baking soda too frequently — doing so can damage your enamel.
Get Glowing Skin
Exfoliating with baking soda is an easy and inexpensive way to achieve a brighter, clearer complexion. Baking soda also balances your skin’s pH level, which is the key to an even skin tone. Make your own baking soda exfoliator by missing a couple of tablespoons of baking soda with enough water to create a paste. Apply the paste to your face, and let it sit for one minute. Gently massage your face using only your fingertips before rinsing your face with lukewarm water. Pat your skin dry with a towel to reveal clearer, brighter skin. Maintain your glowing skin by exfoliating with baking soda two or three times per week.
Clean Your Combs and Brushes
Baking so day is a great, chemical-free way to remove oils, residue, and product buildup from your hair styling tools. Make a cleaning solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a cup of water. soak your combs and brushes in the solution for 30 to 60 minutes, then rinse and dry thoroughly.
Relieve Heartburn
When mixed with water, baking soda is a safe, effective antacid. It not only helps in reliving the symptoms of acid indigestion and heartburn, but it can also reduce acidity in the urine and blood. The key to baking soda’s effectiveness in treating acid reflux is the ingredient sodium bicarbonate. Our bodies naturally produce sodium bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid and protect our intestines. Baking soda is believed to mimic natural sodium bicarbonate production in the body. Sodium bicarbonate is the active ingredient in over-the-counter antacids like Alka-Seltzer. A simple baking soda antacid recipe can be found here. You can find more information about how to safely drink baking soda at thealternativedaily.com.
Ditch Your Shampoo
Many people swear by using baking soda instead of harsh shampoos, which strip natural oils from the hair and scalp. To make your own hair cleansing solution, mix 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda into 16 ounces of water. Stir the solution until the baking soda is dissolved. Apply the baking soda mixture to your hair and gently massage it into your scalp as you would with regular shampoo. Rinse with water, then finish off with an apple cider vinegar rinse for super shiny locks.
Freshen Your Breath
Baking soda eliminates bad breath by neutralizing acid buildup on your teeth and tongue. Make your own mouthwash by mixing 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a glass of water. Swish the solution, then spit and rinse.
Remove Yellow Stains from Fingernails
Use baking soda to whiten stained nails. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Stir the mixture until the baking soda is dissolved. Soak your nails in the solution for 2 or 3 minutes. Repeat every two weeks. For even better results, mix 2 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of 3% hydrogen into a paste. Apply the mixture to your nails using a clean cotton swab. Let the solution sit for 2 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Repeat once every 2 months.
Relieve Sunburn
Baking soda has mildly drying and antiseptic properties that have a soothing effect on sunburned and blistered skin. To quickly heal sunburn blisters, dissolve 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda in a cup of cold water. Use a washcloth to apply the mixture as a cold compress on the blistered area for 5-10 minutes. Repeat 2 or 3 times a day until the skin is healed. You can also add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath daily for a few days.
Claire Archer is a hippy mom who is on a mission to banish sugar and chemicals from her home once and for all. She writes about her green, nature-loving, tree-hugging lifestyle, sharing tips on ways to make changes in your life and home and lead, what she thinks, is a better life.
The post For Your Hair, Skin and Body: Natural & Gentle Baking Soda for DIY Beauty appeared first on Mama Dweeb.