You’ve likely seen activated charcoal “wellness” shots at your local hipster coffee shop or perhaps you’ve swigged it as a juice. But its use as a detox and healing remedy goes way back - traditional healers have used it for thousands of years, because of its numerous benefits.
Activated charcoal is known for its ability to bind to certain poisons, heavy metals, and other toxins and flush them from your body, making it a wonder substance for acute and general detoxification.
It also carries a host of anti-ageing and cardiovascular benefits. One of the main tenets of a healthy lifestyle is avoiding the things that make you weak. This includes energy-sapping processed snacks, sugar, and overexposure to toxic chemicals. But sometimes avoiding crappy food and environmental toxins are easier said than done. Whether you’re forced to eat at a less-than-ideal restaurant or you want to try a deeper detox, activated charcoal is your ally.
WHAT IS ACTIVATED CHARCOAL?
The Activated charcoal is the by-product of burning a carbon source like wood or (better yet) coconut shells. The substance is “activated” by high temperatures, removing all the oxygen and changing its chemical structure to create much smaller particles with more surface area. The result is ultra-fine charcoal with millions of tiny pores that capture, bind, remove poisons, heavy metals, chemicals, and intestinal gases. The porous surface has a negative electric charge that attracts positively charged unwanted toxins and gas.
WHY USE ACTIVATED CHARCOAL?
Western medicine primarily uses activated charcoal to soak up poisons or other toxins in a hospital setting. It works through a process called “adsorption” (that’s an ad and not ab), which means “to bind to” rather than “to absorb.” But activated charcoal is so much more than an antidote for drugs and poisons. It’s a global remedy for general detoxification, digestive health, gas, bloating, heart health, and anti-ageing. It is a part of mould toxin detox protocols. Unscrupulous industrial cattle mills intentionally alter spoiled feed with activated charcoal, knowing it will allow them to increase profits without killing the animals.
BENEFITS OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
The ancient physicians used inactivated charcoal for a variety of medical purposes, including treating epilepsy and anthrax. In the early 20th century the medical journals began publishing research revealing activated charcoal as an antidote for poisons and a way to improve intestinal disorders.
The current research supports these earlier practices of activated charcoal and also introduces additional benefits to using it. Here are just a few ways activated charcoal works:
GENERAL DETOXIFICATION
Toxins from low-quality, processed food, and environmental pollution sap your energy and contribute to brain fog and digestive issues. Chronic exposure to toxins causes cellular damage, allergic reactions, compromised immunity, and rapid ageing. Regular use of activated charcoal can remove unwanted toxins from your body, leaving you feeling renewed and more vibrant, often in minutes.
RELIEVES DIGESTIVE ISSUES, GAS, AND BLOATING
After digesting foods like beans, the decomposition process from bacteria in your body creates by-products like gas or diarrhoea. Activated charcoal enters the digestive tract and counteracts this process by binding to by-products and easing these digestive issues.
BINDS DRUGS, CHEMICALS, AND POISONS
The activated charcoal adsorbs most of the organic chemicals, many inorganic chemicals, drugs, pesticides, mercury, and even lead before they harm your body.
If you are poisoned, go to the emergency room. But there’s no reason you shouldn’t start binding a poison right away.
A reader inadvertently took a huge dose of Tylenol (the capsules were in the wrong bottle), which is highly toxic to the liver. He realized his mistake, took a handful of activated charcoal capsules, and went to the emergency room. His liver was undamaged.
ANTI-AGEING
Activated charcoal has powerful anti-ageing properties, and studies show it prevents numerous cellular changes associated with ageing. In one study, activated charcoal increased the average lifespan of older test animals by roughly 34 per cent.
Activated charcoal slows the rate at which the brain becomes sensitive to toxins as you age, which makes for better cognitive functioning. It also builds a better defence mechanism by improving the adaptive functioning of essential organs like the liver, kidneys, and adrenals.
BETTER HEART HEALTH
The activated charcoal may also lower your cholesterol levels. In one study, patients with high cholesterol who took 8 grams of activated charcoal three times a day showed a 25% reduction in total cholesterol. They also lowered their LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 41 per cent and increased their HDL (good) cholesterol by 8%.
Studies examining microscopic tissues show a daily dose of activated charcoal may prevent abnormal hardening (sclerosis) in heart and coronary blood vessels.
WHEN TO USE ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
It doesn’t matter how clean we eat - our environment is saturated with high levels of toxicity. This is even more of a problem when you have to eat out or are travelling. A commercial flight exposes you to high levels of toxic jet fuel and other airborne contaminants. And that’s not even counting the additives from the crappy aeroplane food.
Activated charcoal always saves the day when we overindulge on food or when on long trips. And it does wonders when our kids suddenly drop into uncharacteristic fits of whining or tantrums, especially after snacks at a friend’s house. Activated charcoal always brings them back to normal within about 10 minutes. It’s amazing to watch.
Take activated charcoal when:
- You eat out at restaurants or eat processed junk foods
- You drink bad quality coffee
- You’re drinking any alcohol
- You feel moody or tired
- You’re travelling, especially air travel
Activated charcoal isn’t just for isolated situations. Taking activated coconut charcoal daily is a great way to help you thrive in an overly toxin-filled environment. It’s best to take it between meals and a few hours after using any vitamin or mineral supplements, as it may interfere with their absorption.
Be sure to take charcoal capsules at a different time to your prescription meds, which won’t enter your body when they bind to charcoal.
HOW TO TAKE ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
Charcoal dosage: Take two capsules (1,000mg) when consuming food of unknown quality or when drinking alcohol. Or try it in a recipe.
When to avoid taking charcoal: Never take activated charcoal with prescription meds or with other supplements. Charcoal binds a lot of substances, even the good stuff like prescription medications, vitamins, and minerals. Wait 2-3 hours after taking charcoal to take your other supplements or meds and talk to your doctor about the details.
Drink plenty of water: The Excessive charcoal consumption, especially without magnesium, can result in constipation. Take 300-400 mg magnesium glycate about 3 hours after taking charcoal and drink plenty of water to avoid constipation.
And speaking of poop. If you use activated charcoal, it will turn your poop black. This is great because it tells you how long food takes to go through your bowel (called transit time), but it can be surprising.
Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for direct, individual medical treatment or advice. It is the responsibility of you and your healthcare providers to make all decisions regarding your health. We recommend that you consult with your healthcare providers regarding the diagnosis and treatment of any disease or condition.
Products sold on this website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
All you need to know about Activated Charcoal