Healthy Habits: Baking Soda

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is inexpensive and has so many uses – not just as a household cleaner though. For instance, because it is anti-fungal, oncologists have reported that it can shrink cancerous tumors within days. That’s because there is a connection between fungal infection and growing cancers.

Internal vs. External

When you’re taking baking soda mixed with filtered water internally as a home remedy for heartburn/acid reflux, migraine headaches or any of its other amazing cures, it is important to use an organic, naturally made brand such as Frontier or Bob’s Red Mill.

While generic brands and even the trusted Arm & Hammer is great and cheap for cleaning and refreshing all the rooms in your home, as well as laundry and oodles of other household cleaning hacks, those brands typically do not mine the sodium bicarbonate naturally. It is not just mined with a chemical reaction process but is also then usually heated and treated before being boxed, rendering it less potent and less natural. If you are ingesting it or applying it topically in any way, then reach for the natural stuff and save your Great Value brand for freshening up the fridge.

Detox

Brands like Frontier Co-op mine the sodium bicarbonate directly from the ground, in its natural state. Choose these for when you’re, for instance, mixing a teaspoon or less of baking soda with filtered water and drinking first thing in the morning for an excellent detox from parasites, heavy metals and other toxins that you may have absorbed from the environment around you – the air, your drinking water, additives in foods/drinks, etc.

Make yourself a detox bath to help pull toxins out. To a full bath, add a half cup of baking soda, several drops of detoxing essential oils such as lavender, and a half cup of Celtic sea salt or other natural sea salt. The same ingredients can be used for a detoxing foot soak.

Baking soda can also be used as a natural hair rinse and as an exfoliative. Use the natural brands for these purposes, and for swishing with as well. Swishing with a small amount of baking soda mixed in filtered water after brushing your teeth is a great extra step to sanitize the gums and teeth and prevent cavities. Follow that with swishing a small amount of hydrogen peroxide diluted with filtered water (swish and spit out). Brushing with baking soda is a great teeth-whitening method also.

Here is a list of just some of baking soda’s many possible health perks: boosts the immune system, alkalizes/balances pH, reduces ulcer pain, can cure ulcers, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-parasitic, anti-cancer, relieves sunburn, soothes itchy skin/treats mosquito bites & poison ivy (add filtered water and make a paste to apply), relieves digestive challenges, alleviates urinary tract infections (UTI), promotes kidney health, treats canker sores, helps remove splinters, reduces calluses, can help increase athletic performance/boosts stamina, relieves cough & other cold symptoms, clears acne, a natural deodorant, fights skin infections, eases rheumatic pains and is a powerful ingredient for sitz baths.

Counterindications

Baking soda is very high in sodium and ingesting a large amount is not recommended. Make sure you do your research and/or talk with your doctor first before taking baking soda mixed with water as a detox, for example. Abide by the recommended dosage for your age, weight and height.

Be Well and God Bless You.

By Jennifer Wimmer