Unusual Uses for Yogurt
Yogurt is a nutritional superstar! Ever thought about its unusual uses?
Here are some of our favorite unusual uses for yogurt:
1. Use on hands
Take plain yogurt and add 1 tablespoon honey to make a sweet soak. Since honey is a natural humectant, it will help retain moisture to keep skin soft and smooth. Apply to your hands and let it dry for 30 minutes before washing it off.
2. Relieves Sunburn pain
Suffering from sunburn? There is a solution in your fridge! Apply yogurt to the painful area and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. It will soothe your pain and leave you refreshed and relaxed.
3. Hair Conditioner
You can stop using chemically-based conditioners and complaining about hair loss. Use plain yogurt on your hair and scalp to condition them. Take a container of yogurt to your shower and massage it into wet hair. Let it sit for 10–15 minutes before rinsing. This will also help eliminate dandruff and relieve itchy scalp. You will love your smooth and shiny hair!
4. Dry and patchy skin on feet
Use leftover yogurt on your feet. Mix yogurt with 1 ½ cups finely ground walnuts and use this paste as a scrub for your feet. This will improve the texture of your skin and relieve dry patches and calluses. Yogurt adds moisture to your skin and the walnuts exfoliate rough spots. The best part is that when you are rubbing it on your feet, you are treating your hands too!
5. Relieves canker sores
Canker sores are painful white and yellow sores on your gums, inside your mouth, and on your lips. Yogurt will help reduce pain and heal the sores. Include it in your diet and/or apply it directly to the affected area.
6. DIY face mask
Yogurt is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. It contains lactic acid which is mild on skin and works wonders. Use it for evening skin tone, tightening pores, and cleansing skin. It may even fade freckles over time. Apply a thin even layer of regular yogurt on your face, neck, ears, and chest. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Use this treatment everyday and get naturally glowing beautiful skin. For better result you can add honey to the mask and it does miracles for your skin. Also you can squeeze a lemon into your yogurt for an even skin tone and reducing discoloration. [More anti aging masks recipes]
7. Alternative for milk
Here is good news for those who are lactose intolerant: if you cannot absorb lactose, yogurt is often easier on your system. If you are lactose intolerant, you might tolerate Greek yogurt better than other types of yogurt. It’s because manufacturers strain Greek yogurt, which removes some of the lactose. Use it in place of milk.
8. Fights acne and prevents premature aging
Get rid of pimples using leftover yogurt, it has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. Apply yogurt to acne-prone areas and let it work for 30 minutes before washing it off. Yogurt can also help preventing wrinkles and fine lines that occur as we age, the lactic acid in yogurt dissolves dead skin.
Unusual Uses for Yogurt
By Divya Shree
Edited by Stephanie Dawson
Reviewed by Nima Shei, MD
[Last Updated on May 25th 2014]
