Uses of Yogurt Outside of Cooking.

  Many of us eat yogurt.  We have it with our granola, eat it as part of our Indian cooking, even drink it but how many of us use it outside of the kitchen.  I've used it so many ways in the kitchen myself and love it but I've never used it in other ways.

It can be used as a beauty product. If you smear a layer over your face and leave it there 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off, it will leave your face in much better condition because it contians lactic acid which is actually a alpha-hydroxyl acid.  This type of acid is good for the skin, helping to bring clarity.

It is also suggested that if you suffer from psoriasis, smoothing plain yogurt over the effected areas and leaving for 30 minutes helps soothe the skin.

If you run out of conditioner, use plain Greek yogurt instead.  Rub it in, leave for 3 minutes before rinsing out.   You can also use yogurt in a scalp massage, where you massage it in, leave 3 minutes before rinsing out.  If you mix 1 cup yogurt, 2 tablespoons each of virgin olive oil and honey, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, mix well, apply to hair especially at the ends and let set under a hot towel for 25 minutes before rinsing in cool water.

If you take the liquid that accumulates on top of the yogurt (whey), mix it with a little ground oatmeal or almonds, apply to face, let dry, then wash off.  This mask helps exfoliate the dead cells off the face.  If you prefer a body scrub, mix equal parts of yogurt and sugar, rub it in a circular motion over your body, then rinse. 

Since yogurt contains zinc, it can be applied to any sunburned area, allow to set for 20 minutes and rinse off.  It helps soothe the burned areas.  Another use is to apply to acne, let set for 30 minutes, then rinse off. 

Yogurt can be added directly to bathwater before soaking in the mixture for 30 minutes.  When done, rinse off, dry off, for nice skin.

Lets move from beauty to practical uses of yogurt.  It can be used to clean tarnished brass.  Apply it straight onto the brass and the lactic acid eats away the tarnish.  Once the yogurt is dry, rinse it off and you'll have nice shiny brass once more.  In addition, it can be used to clean copper pans, sinks, or other copper items.  Apply yogurt, let set till green, and rinse clean.

One thing about yogurt is its live probiotics which help a person be more regular and helps avoid constipation.  Only yogurt with live cultures aid the body in this way. 

Just a few uses of yogurt outside of the kitchen that most people are unaware of.  Have a good day and let me know what you think.