If you’ve ever used a water filtration system or pitcher, you’ve already seen the benefits of activated charcoal in action. Activated charcoal does essentially the same thing in your intestinal tract that a charcoal block does in your water filter. Toxins and chemicals bind to the activated charcoal, and since the charcoal doesn’t get “digested” per se, these toxins are then flushed out. It can attract and trap thousands of times its own weight in gases, toxins, food additives and other chemicals. In fact, activated charcoal is estimated to reduce absorption of poisonous substances by up to 60%. Even more, it can absorb over 3,000 known drug residues.
Activated Charcoal for Poison or Overdose – While common uses of this natural remedy aren’t vast, activated charcoal can be quite effective when it counts. A perfect example of this is its use by hospitals to treat certain types of poisoning and drug overdoses. In fact, research shows that it in some cases, it may work even better than stomach pumping.
Activated Charcoal for Teeth Whitening – One unexpected use for activated charcoal is its ability to help whiten teeth naturally. In the same way it works in the body, it adsorbs plaque and toxins from the mouth, killing bad bacteria and removing stains.
Activated Charcoal for Gas and Bloating – Another positive effect of activated charcoal is that it may help reduce gas and bloating when eating known gassy foods. A double-blind clinical trial showed that symptoms of bloating and abdominal cramps attributable to gaseousness were significantly reduced in both groups by activated charcoal.
Activated Charcoal for Skin Health – In addition to some of the benefits already detailed, you will probably find activated charcoal in many natural remedy first aid kits in case of bug bites, rashes, and even acne. It is known to help with issues ranging from mosquito bites to bites from snakes and poisonous spiders.
Activated Charcoal for Digestive and Internal Health – Even with an extremely healthy diet, our bodies are exposed to countless toxins from our environment, the food we eat, and the water we drink, which can create an unhealthy stress on our bodies and organs. Removing these toxins can provide many positive side effects from more energy, less joint pain, increased mental functions, a decrease in premature aging and improved digestive functions. Activated charcoal helps absorb and flush out the toxins that are causing damage and extra stress to our organs including candida and mold, allowing our entire body to function better.
How to Use Activated Charcoal
If you have talked to me in the store before, you may very well have heard me recommend Activated Charcoal for a lot of reasons. You want to take it 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals, supplements, and prescriptions unless taking it with a meal to reduce a gas reaction. Why you might ask? While Activated Charcoal is selective in its choices of what to bind to, it can at times bind to things we want to retain, so taking it separately allows it to focus on all the negatives we want to remove. I also typically recommend 2 capsules twice daily, so be sure to pick up your bottle of Activated Charcoal the next time you are at Whitaker’s.
