Skip to main content

7 Baking Soda Surprises


What’s baking soda doing in your toothpaste, deodorant, antacid and refrigerator?
Also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda, baking soda is often employed as a leavening agent, since it’s involved in the chemical reaction that causes dough to rise. But this household staple has hundreds of uses. Baking soda is somewhat alkaline—that is, it has a pH above 7 and thus helps neutralize acids, including acidic scent molecules. That’s why baking soda comes in handy in the following (and surprising) ways:
  1. An open box of baking soda can help deodorize a refrigerator or room. You can make an air freshener by mixing baking soda and water in a spray bottle.
  2. It has various uses in cooking, not just baking. Adding a pinch to the soaking water of beans speeds the cooking process and helps reduce compounds that cause flatulence. A pinch added to tomato sauce while cooking, or coffee while brewing, reduces acidity. It’s also an effective meat tenderizer, since it breaks down proteins.
  3. Because it’s a mild abrasive and deodorizer, baking soda is a gentle, inexpensive cleanser for sinks, tiles, toilet bowls and ovens. And it’s a good ingredient in toothpastes, underarm deodorants and denture soaks. Environmentally safe, baking soda can be used in place of potentially toxic products.
  4. When added to laundry water—about half a cup—it can improve the effectiveness of detergent. Added to the rinse cycle, it can neutralize odors.
  5. Added to bath water, baking soda soothes dry skin, sunburn and itching due to poison ivy or mosquito bites. Or, it can be applied as a paste (one part water to three parts baking soda).
  6. Added to swimming pools, it can balance the pH and help keep water clear.
  7. Sodium bicarbonate is an effective antacid, but is not recommended because it’s so high in sodium: 1,250 milligrams per teaspoon, and 1,100 milligrams in two tablets of Alka-Seltzer. And it may cause acid rebound effect, in which case you end up with worse heartburn.
And by the way: Some websites recommend taking sodium bicarbonate to bolster or restore your body’s acid/alkaline (pH) balance. This is nonsensical advice.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE TRUTH ABOUT MENOPAUSE, WEIGHT GAIN AND "THE POOCH"

By Colleen McCleery, MD, OB/GYN—Exuberan® by Virtua Menopause is a mixed bag of little surprises. While most women look forward to saying goodbye to tampons and pads, far fewer are excited to now experience hot flashes and night sweats. And it’s probably fair to say that weight gain is the least popular and often least expected “side effect” of this hormonal shift. Considering many women struggle with their weight on a good day, it’s not surprising that this is the number one complaint from patients who are going through this transition. The biology of menopause During the late 40s to mid-50s, a hormone called FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) increases and no longer performs its job to regulate the ovaries. During this increase in FSH, other hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone decrease. A decrease in testosterone can lead to weight gain and decreased energy. And, not surprisingly, estrogen loss has far-reaching effects beyond hot flashes. It contribut...
Post a Comment
Read more

Banana Corn Fritters

Banana Corn Fritters 3/4 cup  Arrowhead Mills Organic Corn Meal 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon  Swanson Organic Cinnamon 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon  Swanson Organic Cayenne Pepper 1 1/4 cups bananas, roughly mashed (about 3 medium bananas) 1 large egg 2 tablespoons skim milk 2 tablespoons  Swanson Organic Coconut Oil , divided Directions: Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Whisk corn meal, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and cayenne in a medium bowl. Mix banana, egg and milk in a separate bowl. Add the cornmeal mixture to the banana mixture and stir until just blended. Heat one tablespoon coconut oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Using 2 tablespoons of batter for each, space 5 fritters evenly in the pan. Cook until golden brown, 30 seconds to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Cook a second batch with the remaining oil and batter, adjustin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Adopting a Vegetarian Diet

Adopting a vegetarian diet has become a popular choice for individuals looking to improve their health, particularly as heart disease and obesity rates continue to rise in many parts of the world. Vegetarians tend to have lower cholesterol levels and consume fewer trans fats than those who consume meat and dairy products. However, to maintain good health, vegetarians must ensure they obtain the right amount of nutrients from their vegan diets. By taking care to plan their diets carefully, vegetarians can enjoy a satisfying and tasty way of life. While there is no established vegan diet, it is widely agreed that with so many vegetarian diets to choose from, the choice is ultimately up to the individual. However, vegetarians must be cautious not to make their diets too restrictive as this can lead to difficulties in meeting the body's daily nutritional requirements. Commonly deficient nutrients among vegetarians include protein, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. Soy pr...
Post a Comment
Read more