Baking soda is one of those often ignored powerful allies that everyone has at home: we use it for cleaning, to disinfect food, and even for aesthetic purposes, but we can also use it to take care of our garden.

Here at Bright Side we searched for all the useful data on how this mineral can help us protect the health of our plants, and we wanted to share our findings with you.

1. It fights fungi in an ecological way.

Combined with soap and water, baking soda can help prevent fungus infections in certain types of plants, shrubs, and fruit trees. Simply spraying the plant with the solution can stop the spread. But you do have to keep in mind that since we’re talking about a natural product, the effects might take longer to be noticed than if you were to use chemicals. Another recommendation: observe the reaction of each plant carefully, because over-spraying can damage them.

2. It reduces the presence of annoying aphids.

Aphids are one of those little animals that we definitely don’t want in our garden. Aphids love to eat the tender stems of plants, and in the process they excrete a sweet sticky substance that attracts ants and causes a black fungus to appear. This fungus affects the process of photosynthesis, so it’s a sort of sickness for your plant. When this happens, new sprouts become deformed and the plant loses its strength. By spraying or fumigating your orchard or garden with baking soda and soap, we are more likely to keep these insects at bay and avoid the pain of seeing our plants suffer.

3. It repels ants.

As we have previously mentioned, baking soda combined with soap helps to keep aphids at bay and to prevent certain types of fungi from destroying your plants. If we add other stronger mineral fertilizers to this remedy, such as Viçosa mixture (which is basically a mix of water, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, magnesium sulfate, boric acid, and hydrated lime) or the Bordeaux mixture (water, copper sulfate, and hydrated lime), we can also reduce the presence of ants. That’s because they will no longer find it attractive to invade our garden or orchard, since they will not be able to find the molasses produced by aphids that ants like so much.

4. It can be useful when measuring the quality of the soil.

Experts know that healthy soil is one that is neither too acidic nor too alkaline, because the more neutral the pH of the soil, the stronger and more pest-free the plants will grow.

To find out what kind of soil your garden has, you just have to follow these steps:

• Get red/purple cabbage, chop it, and pour it into boiling distilled water.
• Let it soak for 10 minutes and then strain. The resulting purple water is pH neutral.
• Put some of the cabbage water in 2 separate cups: in one of the cups add vinegar (the water will turn dark pink because of the acidity) and in the other one, baking soda (it will turn blue or green because of the alkalinity). These are the “control” colors.
• In separate containers, put some of the cabbage water and one or 2 spoonfuls of the soil you want to test. Wait 30 minutes.

If the water turns pink, the soil is acidic. If it turns blue or green, it is alkaline. If it stays purple, you have the perfect soil!

5. It helps you get a better compost.

You now know that a neutral pH is best for plants, so let’s get to work on your compost! Fill it with all the organic waste from your kitchen: cardboard, crushed stones, bones, shredded pruning remains… And make sure you keep it well-ventilated. Remember what we explained in the previous point about how to tell the condition of the resulting soil? This tool that will undoubtedly help you to start a healthy garden or orchard.

We’ve gotten used to thinking that tomatoes are more useful when we eat them raw and make a salad with them. And while this is true, they’re actually a better choice for your stomach when they’re cooked. And there are many more ordinary foods that can surprise you with their changing benefits depending on the way they’re prepared.

We at Bright Side grew curious about what products can become more useful with time or even after being fried — and we’d like to share what we learned with you.

1. Bananas

If you suffer from diabetes, it’s better to eat bananas that are more underripe than overripe, experts say. When a banana ripens, the starch begins to turn to sugar that you need to control during diabetes.

On the other hand, underripe bananas have some other slight health benefits. It happens because of a starch called resistant starch that they contain. It’s difficult for us to digest because it’s like eating a raw potato. In this case, overripe bananas are better for eating.

2. Mushrooms

Although mushrooms may lose vitamin B after they get cooked, there are some great benefits that they gain after hitting heat. First of all, raw mushrooms are like sponges and can absorb toxins that can be destroyed through cooking.

Secondly, cooking increases the number of antioxidants in mushrooms that our body needs so much in the modern world. If you like to eat this veggie, it’s recommended to grill or microwave it instead of boil or fry it. In this case, they boast more valuable health benefits.

3. Tomatoes

We’ve gotten used to eating raw tomatoes. Yes, they contain vitamin C, but experts say that when they’re cooked, they have much higher levels of lycopene. And this can be a more potent antioxidant than vitamin C. Also, cooking tomatoes can soften fiber so they become easier to digest.

4. Carrots

It’s a little surprising, but carrots, which are so good for us thanks to their beta carotene, have higher levels of the nutrient when cooked. This vegetable likes to be heated. Boiling can create even more available beta-carotene in carrots.

It’s better to cook carrots with the skins still on so it can triple their overall antioxidant power. At the same time, chopping them up before cooking might not be the best idea because it eases the surface area for leaching nutrients into the water. It’s better to chop them after boiling.

5. Spinach

Spinach is packed with nutrients, but you may absorb more calcium and iron if you cook it, doctors say. It happens because it’s loaded with oxalic acid, which blocks the absorption of iron and calcium. When you cook spinach, this element breaks down and you can get more health benefits from it.ADVERTISEMENT

6. Cheese

Cheese is an excellent source of protein but each type can have different additional benefits. For example, mozzarella is lower in sodium and calories than most other cheeses. It also contains bacteria that act as probiotics so it may improve gut health and your immune system.

At the same time, blue cheese has more calcium than most other cheeses but can be too salty for some people.

7. Bread

It was found that toasted bread has a lower glycemic index. This index has an effect on your blood sugar level, so it can be a better option for diabetics.

Sourdough bread contains higher levels of antioxidants and folate than other types of bread. Also, it has lower phytate levels so it allows your body to absorb the nutrients more easily.

8. Beetroot

A study examined the effects of drinking 250 milliliters of beetroot juice every day on 68 people with high blood pressure. As a result, researchers found that it significantly lowered blood pressure. On the other hand, boiled beetroot can be easier to digest because its hard fibers break down the same way they do in boiled potatoes.

What’s your favorite food? Would you prefer good tasting food or healthy food?

If a kid comes home crying because she had a fight with her friend, a mother might try to assure her that she’s not alone by saying, “I know how horrible you feel, I had a fight with my own friend once too.” If Rachel tells her best friend Monica that she just got fired, Monica might say, “I know you feel sad, I’ve gotten laid off before too. But look at me now, I have a great job.” But by saying that you understand exactly what they’re going through can sometimes hurt more than it makes them feel better.

We at Bright Side delve into the reasons why we should be careful about saying that we know exactly what other people feel.

We don’t really know how they feel.

We might think we can relate to their situation, but the truth is, even if we have gone through something similar, there’s no way we know 100% how they feel. People experience things differently, and there could be some things that are unique to their situation.

We take the focus away from them.

© The Skeleton Twins / Roadside Attractions

When people tell us how they feel, they really just want to be heard. By saying “I know how you feel,” we’re likely to continue to talk about why we know what they’re going through. We’d give examples and therefore switch the focus to ourselves instead.

© One Day / Universal Pictures

Turning the conversation to be about ourselves is one type of “conversational narcissism.” It comes from the desire to take over the conversation so you can do most of the talking and talk about yourself instead of listening. See the difference in these examples:

Hijacking the conversation

Friend: I’m so tired. I wish I could take a vacation.

Me: Ugh, me too. I haven’t gone on a vacation in like, forever!

Supporting the other person

Friend: I’m so tired. I wish I could take a vacation.

Me: Are you overworked? Maybe you should take a break.

We might sound more insensitive than we think.

© Side Effects / Open Road Films

Saying “I know how you feel” may come from a good place, we may simply want to show empathy. We may just want to let them know that their feelings are valid. But sometimes, it’s hard to empathize with other people’s suffering, especially when we’re not in the same boat at the same time.

© The Hunger Games / Lionsgate Films

One study found that when participants were exposed to the same unpleasant things, like maggots and stinkbugs, they could easily guess the emotions of their partners. But when they were exposed to pleasant things, like puppies, while their partners were exposed to unpleasant things, they thought their partner’s experience was less severe than it actually was.

Here is an example of how we could sound insensitive while trying to make our friend feel better:

Friend: I had a miscarriage. I don’t know how to deal with this.

Me: It’s okay, I know just how terrible it feels. I had a few miscarriages too. But today, I have 2 beautiful children.

What they need is a listener.

© Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker / Lucasfilm Ltd

Silence can sometimes be golden. When people are telling us what they’re feeling, using body language, like hugging them, patting them on the back, or just nodding with our eyes looking at them can be enough. We could also try to gently get the story out of them so they know they have a trustworthy confidant to talk to. These gestures could be a thousand times better than telling them you understand their pain completely.

Has anyone ever said they know exactly what you’re going through? If yes, how did that make you feel? Have you yourself said to others that you get what they’re feeling? What was their reaction like?

We at Bright Side have been busy looking for the best tips and tricks to simplify and improve your everyday life. Here’s an awesome list of 20 life hacks that will teach you how to quickly dry your clothes, make your shoes waterproof, amplify your phone’s speakers, and much more!

1. Grow roses from cuttings

Here’s a great tip for growing roses from cuttings. Before planting, push the bottom ends of the cuttings into small potatoes. Moisture and nutrients in the potatoes will allow the cuttings to develop healthy roots.

2. Waterproof shoes

To turn your canvas shoes into waterproof ones, you need nothing but beeswax and a blow dryer. Spread beeswax all over your shoes. Next, use the blow dryer to melt the beeswax until you can no longer see it. Voila! Your waterproof shoes are ready!

3. Dry your clothes faster

If you don’t have a dryer and need to dry your clothes quickly, here’s what you can do. Place your wet clothing on a dry towel. Roll the towel with the garment inside. Pick it up, and twist it as tightly as possible to squeeze out the excess water. After you’ve drained the excess water, hang your garment on a hanger to fully dry.

4. Smelly shoes

If you have bad-smelling shoes, place a few dry tea bags inside each shoe to absorb the smell. If your shoes are not just smelly but also wet, fill them with a mixture of rice and baking soda and leave for a few days.

5. Tight shoes

If your new shoes feel too tight, here’s a way to stretch them. Stuff each shoe with wet newspaper as tightly as you can. Let the shoes dry, and then remove the newspaper.

6. Start a fire

Chips are not just a tasty snack. Fat, oil, and the chemicals in potato (or other) chips make them a perfect fire-starting material.

7. Find small lost items

Use your vacuum cleaner to find tiny items you’ve lost, such as earrings. Just cover the end of a vacuum cleaner with a stocking or pantyhose, and start your search. Check from time to time to see if the object you are looking for is already there.

8. Time-marked water bottle

Here’s a great way to keep track of your daily water intake. Draw lines on your water bottle with a marker pen, and then write the time beside the marked level. The marking will serve as a visual reminder for you to drink water, and it will help you achieve your daily water intake requirement.

9. Remove toilet bowl stains

Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl, and let it sit overnight. Then wash it with soapy water, and flush clean.

10. Unclog drains easily

Run hot water down the drain for a minute, and then sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda down the drain. Slowly pour 1 cup of vinegar down the drain. Flush one more time with hot or boiling water.

11. Clean the shower head

To clean your shower head or bathroom faucets, fill a plastic bag with white vinegar and secure it to the shower head with a rubber band. Allow it to soak in the vinegar overnight, and remove the bag. It will be as good as new!

12. Keep buttons from falling off

To keep your buttons in place, simply paint a bit of clear nail polish over the threads.

13. Body odor

If you forgot to put on deodorant and you don’t want to smell like you’ve been at the gym, cut a fresh lemon or orange into two halves and just rub it onto your skin.

14. Amplify your phone’s speakers

Put your phone into a drinking glass or a bowl to boost the volume of its speakers.

15. Make ice last longer in a cooler

When you go to the beach and take your cooler with you, sprinkle salt on the ice so that it stays frozen for much longer.

16. Fresh breath

If you left home and forgot to brush your teeth or you ran out of toothpaste, chewing an apple can help with bad breath.

17. Citrus candles

Do you want your house to smell good for hours? Make an orange or a lemon candle, and its light and aroma will last a long time.

18. Open a stuck lid

You’ve probably heard numerous ways to open a stubborn jar lid. One of the most well-known and effective methods is to remove the lid using duct tape. But here’s what you can do if you don’t have duct tape on hand. Try running hot water over the lid for a minute or two, wipe down, and then open. You can also soak the lid in hot water to get a similar effect.

19. Wooden spoon trick

This old trick never fails. To keep your pot from boiling over, put a wooden spoon over the top of it. If it starts to boil up too high, the spoon will pop the bubbles and keep it from overflowing quickly.

20. Open a SIM card tray when an ejector tool isn’t around

Insert the small paperclip you bent earlier into the small pin hole opening in the SIM tray.

Who would have thought that you could do this with an aloe vera plant and a banana!

Do you have an aloe vera plant at home? Not only does it look great, but besides that: you can do much more with it than you might expect. This quirky and moisture-rich plant has many health benefits. For example, it is widely used for its medicinal effect. Curious what this plant can do in combination with a banana? We’ll tell you!

Health benefits of aloe vera

For centuries, the aloe vera plant has been used for an infinite number of things. The tropical plant consists of around 99 to 99.5 percent water. It is an easy plant to grow because it requires only a tiny bit of water and grows well in both sun and shade. The majority of the aloe vera plant consists of about 75 different substances, including various vitamins, minerals, sugars and enzymes.

Medicinal effect

The Egyptians discovered this peculiar plant about 6000 years ago. Aloe vera was mainly used for its medicinal effect, and the Egyptians called it “the plant of immortality.” The plant is particularly useful for healing wounds, skin conditions, asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and even as a laxative. Aloe vera also works wonders on burns and psoriasis.

Aloe vera plant harvesting

Would you like to use the plant for its medicinal effect? Then it is important that you know how to harvest this plant to extract the liquid gel that is on the inside of the leaves. How do you do this? You can read that on the next page!

Aloe vera in banana

The question is of course, what does a banana have to do with aloe vera? It is actually quite simple; the aloe vera plant cannot grow new leaves, so it is important to cut the plant correctly. A banana is the perfect fruit for growing a new aloe vera plant. Leave the skin around the banana and cut out a small square in the middle. Insert a piece of the aloe vera plant and leave it for at least one day. The banana will turn brown, but when you remove the piece of aloe vera from the banana, you will see that the plant has many new roots! After that, make up a mixture of clean sand and garden compost, and plant the new aloe vera roots in this mixture. In no time, you will have grown a completely new aloe vera plant!

This research has some astounding results!

Research is done all the time and most of it goes by unnoticed, but sometimes we come across some results that are too interesting not to share. It can be fun to find out about new facts, although at times you come across things you’d rather not have known. And then there’s the issue that it’s not always completely clear whether the results are accurate.

Fingers

Luckily, the facts we’ve got for you today are of the fun kind! It turns out that your hand can tell you a lot about your personality. It’s really quite bizarre. This research mostly focuses on your fingers. Go to the next page to figure out what your fingers say about your personality!

The secret lies in your ring finger and index finger. It can say a lot about what kind of person you are. This test only applies to men because the length of these fingers indicates the level of testosterone in men. There are three types: A, B and C.

A. The ring finger is longer than the index finger

We’re talking about handsome men here. They’re charming and can get along with everyone. Yet they are a little more aggressive and are quick to take risks. This also means that this type of person often makes more money than their colleagues with a shorter ring finger.

B. The ring finger is shorter than the index finger

Men with these hands are very confident and can even be a little narcissistic. These people have no trouble being alone often and don’t like being disturbed. However when it comes to love, they are less confident as they’re not the ones to make the first move and take the initiative.

C. The ring finger and index finger are the same lengths

Maybe this says enough already… men with these hands are good mediators, very loyal and loving. Everything is balanced with this type. They’re calm and everything seems to run smoothly, as if it’s all organised.

What do you think, do you recognize yourself or a loved one in one of these categories?