Some truths are simple, safe, affordable and sitting in your pantry. Baking soda, sodium bicarbonate, is one of them.
For P25 a box, you're holding a chemistry set, a natural medicine cabinet and a cleaning crew. Our grandmother knew it. So now, it's time we do too.
Kitchen wizard
Do you know that a pinch of baking soda in your marinade can break down meat protein? It is a meat tenderizer. It can soften any tough slice of beef to a restaurant-soft serving in 15 minutes. Just remember to rinse before cooking. It can also revive leafy greens. When blanching or boiling vegetables, add 1/4 teaspoon to the water. The color green will become more vibrant.
It also kills the acidity of some foods like tomatoes or tomato sauce. Just add 1/8 teaspoon baking soda to your sauce. If fresh veggies, mix it in the rinse then wash it well before serving. The result: less acidic food. Your tummy will thank you for it.
Health helper
A half cup of warm water mixed with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda can help with slight indigestion or a queasy stomach. Take it at least 45 minutes after a meal. After five minutes, you will get that big burp of relief. In addition, it can also address canker sores. Add 1/2 teaspoon to warm water and gargle. It makes for a gentle mouthwash without the sting of salt.
For insect bites, add a paste of baking soda (powder and a few drops of water) on the mosquito bites. Because it also has a drying effect, try it on any skin irritation like small pimples. And if you accidentally touched some hot water, a bit of its paste can soothe the pain. Of course, for serious burns, you must seek medical help.
Forgot your toothpaste? This is what they did in the olden days. Dip your wet toothbrush on some baking powder and brush your teeth. It is gently abrasive and does a good job of cleaning. It kills bad breath bacteria too.
House cleaner and aid
Open the top lid of a baking soda box and place it inside your ref. It does not mask odor. Instead, it absorbs the acid molecules causing the smell. You can place the powder under the driver's seat in your car. In a plastic container with makeshift holes on top, add half a box of the powder as a natural deodorizer.
Add a dash of powder on your carpet that has been peed on by your cat or dog. Sprinkle it and leave on for 15 minutes, then vacuum it.
Baking soda can clean your burned pans. Add two tablespoons to hot water and start scrubbing your pans clean.
Clogged sinks? A temporary solution is to mix two tablespoons baking soda with 1/2 cup lemon juice. Place the soda and lemon on the sink first. Then pour boiling water on the drain.
Perhaps you did not know this, but it is also a good grease fire extinguisher. To control a fire while cooking, throw baking soda, not water, on the pan. It releases carbon dioxide, thus smothering the flames.
Do you need a garden hero? Sprinkle baking soda at the base of your tomato plants to lower the acidity of soil and yield sweeter fruits. And if you see mildew on your plants, sprinkle some powder on the affected area.
This ingredient has so many uses, including cleaning your corroded car battery terminals to remove corrosion.
A kitchen ritual you can do daily is to wash your veggies and fruits in a baking soda mixture of one teaspoon in a bowl of water. It can remove pesticide wax and other sediments. Let it soak for a good 10 minutes.
In life, like in chemistry, balance is everything. Too much acidity? There is baking soda to neutralize it. It is imbued with possibilities because it acts like a buffer.
Baking soda may not fix a broken heart, but it can fix your gassy tummy.
Affirmation: "This is my moment."
Love and light.