Please, don’t reach for your box of baking soda until you read this article. If I hadn’t become aware of the dangers of GMOs and other poisons in our food supply, I would have never asked, “What is baking soda and where does it come from?” Learn all you need to know about baking soda for the health of your family.
While baking soda is a natural product, they are not all equal. It’s baking soda, there wouldn’t be a reason for anyone to mess with that, right? Wrong.
As we continued to make the transition into a non-Gmo, organic, no processed food life, I began to wonder about the base ingredients I was using to prepare our food and make our hygiene products.
how is baking soda made?
Almost all of the baking soda in the United States and about 1/4 of the world, comes from Green River, Wyoming. In Wyoming, trona ore is mined from the earth as a raw material. It is then “refined” using chemicals to get soda ash.
Then the soda ash is treated with heat and carbon dioxide to create sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and sodium phosphates (detergents). Ta-Da! You now have chemically created it! The kind that comes in the “orange box….”
This blows my mind! Why go through all that trouble to chemically create it when it can be mined straight from the earth in its natural form?
As one of the most useful products in our homes, there are many jobs it does excellently. Here are just a few of them:
- a rising agent in cooking
- taking some of the gas out of beans while cooking
- scrubbing agent for cleaning
- deodorizer and odor absorber
- personal hygiene
- fungicide and insecticide in the garden
- abrasive agent for scrubbing
Natural baking soda is not a health risk to animals or humans. However, chemically created baking soda brings risk simply because of the way it’s created.
To be cost-effective, I do use the “orange box” for cleaning tasks instead of natural baking soda. Since I wear gloves to scrub things, it doesn’t come into contact with my skin.
All Baking Sodas are Not Created Equal
So where does baking soda come from? Most of the world’s baking soda is made by chemical reactions! Shocked? I know I was.
Naturally mined baking soda is not the mainstay on our grocery shelves, but it is available if you know how and where to look for it.
Difference between Baking Soda and Baking Powder in 60 seconds – Warren Nash
FAQ
Are all baking soda the same?
Is there a difference in baking soda for cleaning and cooking?
Can you use Arm and Hammer baking soda for baking?
Is Arm and Hammer baking soda made in a lab?
Are there different types of baking soda?
There are not two different types of baking soda, as baking soda is the chemical sodium bicarbonate. There are two different ways that baking soda is sourced, which is why people often think that there are different types of baking soda. Can I use pure baking soda for baking?
Is baking soda safe to use as a teeth whitener?
Because of its mild abrasive qualities, baking soda, is frequently used as a natural remedy for tooth whitening. It may remove surface stains from teeth, making them appear whiter. However, it also has some disadvantages. If a patient wants more significant and consistent teeth whitening effects, then they should check into professional whitening alternatives offered by dental professionals. They can provide treatments that are both effective and appropriate for unique needs, all while reducing the risk of enamel damage and other concerns.
What is the difference between baking soda and baking soda brands?
The main difference between baking soda brands would be where they get their sodium bicarbonate from. Some brands will mine for baking soda directly from the ground, while others might manufacture sodium bicarbonate in a facility. However, despite the processing involved, the sodium bicarbonate produced is identical.
Does baking soda make a difference?
It really does not make a difference what brand of baking soda you buy, as there are no secret recipes or ingredients that make one brand better than another —it is all just sodium bicarbonate. You might be loyal to one brand, and that is absolutely fine.