Activated charcoal: 22 benefits of activated charcoal

Did you know that… The activated charcoal can be ingested orally safely to remedy many health problems?

Indeed, the activated charcoal USP grade of Léo Désilets including drug identification number (DIN) is the only activated charcoal safe authorized by Health Canada for oral ingestment into the human body.

But what are the factors that make the activated charcoal therapeutic? And when should it be used?

Let's take stock of the activated charcoal, a true ally for health.

What is activated charcoal?

The activated charcoal is a natural and pharmaceutical health product with therapeutic properties that have gone through history.

Used since Antiquity for medicinal use, activated charcoal has been used throughout time to facilitate the filtration of liquids, remedy poisonings and relieve indigestion.

Today, the activated charcoal is a preferred remedy used in hospitals to treat overdose of xenobiotics, which includes any chemical molecule toxic to the body. Among the xenobiotics commonly encountered in humans are pesticides, drugs and pathogenic (harmful) bacteria.

The activated charcoal appears as a fine, odorless black powder resulting from the degradation of carbon-rich plant matter. It can be made from the combustion and degradation of wood, coconut bark, sawdust, food kernels or more commonly, peat. When coal is heated to very high temperatures, its porosity is changed and the contact surface of the coal is increased. The result is a very porous carbon with a high absorption capacity. It is said that a teaspoon of activated charcoal has an absorption surface as large as a football field. ^{1, 2}

Is consuming activated charcoal safe (even for children)?

The activated charcoal medical grade should not be confused with coal used as a fossil fuel.

Although they can be made from the same plant materials, the charcoal sold as an energy resource has not been heated to high temperatures, which does not give it therapeutic properties. In addition, certain materials present in coal dedicated to combustible use can be dangerous for human consumption, as can carbonized residues from burned food.

Unlike these types of coal, the activated charcoal of medical grade (USP) having a drug identification number (DIN) or a number natural product (NPN) is safe and can be ingested orally. Manufactured to the highest industry standards, the activated charcoal is suitable for consumption and can be used for therapeutic purposes.

When and why use activated charcoal?

The activated charcoal is shaped to increase its absorption surface and its porosity. This process allows the activated charcoal to cling to the molecules, ions and atoms it encounters. Since the activated charcoal is not absorbed by the body, any substance it clings to is held captive and will not be able to pass through the intestinal wall. This is how it carries the captured substances throughout the digestive tract to the natural elimination pathways. ⁶

1. Activated Charcoal to Reduce Flatulence

Able to absorb up to 100 times its volume in gas, activated charcoal is a favorite remedy to counter flatulence and intestinal gas. Although little understood, this phenomenon has been confirmed by numerous clinical trial groups and medical imaging.

This remedy is so effective that it is now recognized by the European Food Safety Authority which recommends taking activated charcoal 30 minutes before meals to obtain maximum benefits. Thus, regular intake of activated charcoal can improve the quality of life of thousands of people affected by intestinal pain and discomfort due to excess gas. ^{1, 2}

2. Activated charcoal for gastroenteritis and diarrhea

Whether to relieve gastroenteritis, traveler's diarrhea or to counter the effects of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), medication or intestinal cancer, activated charcoal soothes diarrhea. The great porosity of activated charcoal and its absorption surface give it anti-diarrheal properties. With few or no side effects, activated charcoal can be taken safely for any type of acute diarrhea. ³

3. Activated charcoal to counter food poisoning

Food poisoning, also called food poisoning or more precisely foodborne illness, is an infection or irritation of the gastrointestinal system due to food contaminated by bacteria, a virus or a parasite. Signs usually appear quickly after ingestion and can include sudden symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and chills.

Activated charcoal can limit the symptoms of food poisoning by absorbing the causative organisms and driving them straight to the exit.

4. Activated Charcoal as a Detoxification Agent

The ability of activated charcoal to bind to various substances makes it a preferred remedy for eliminating toxins and poisoning agents. For example, activated charcoal is administered in hospitals during overdoses of drugs or pharmaceutical agents in order to limit its absorption by the body. The faster the charcoal is administered, the higher the effectiveness rate. Activated charcoal However, it has its limits and cannot bind to all substances. Medical help is necessary when an overdose is suspected. 

5. Activated Charcoal to Support Kidney Health

Healthy kidneys are able to filter blood and metabolic wastes (metabolites) efficiently. However, if a person is affected by kidney disease, the kidneys need additional support to adequately filter metabolites, particularly urea. Activated charcoal may support kidney health and optimize the functions of these organs by reducing the burden of detoxification. Indeed, charcoal has the ability to bind urea to other toxins to facilitate its elimination. This process allows urea to be eliminated through the stool efficiently without placing additional stress on the kidneys. Thus, activated charcoal reduces the detoxification load imposed on the kidneys, which improves overall kidney function. ^{4, 5}

6. Activated Charcoal for Oral Health

The mouth inhabits a very complex microbial flora that can be altered by lifestyle and eating habits. The imbalance of oral flora promotes the proliferation of microorganisms predisposing to many oral health disorders, including gingivitis, dental caries and plaque formation. ⁶

Given its antimicrobial action, activated charcoal promotes better oral health by maintaining the balance of good bacteria. This is why activated charcoal is included in several oral health products, including toothpaste and the whitening powder. Activated charcoal is also used as a whitening agent, making it an important ingredient in many oral care products.

7. Activated Charcoal to Eliminate Body Odor

Many air filters owe their effectiveness to the properties of carbon. Thanks to its absorbent and antibacterial action, usp activated charcoal is not only an excellent filter but also an excellent regulator of body odors.

 Indeed, body sweat has few odors. Rather, it is the action of bacteria developing in humid environments that is identified as the cause of unpleasant odors. Thus, many Natural deodorants feature the properties of activated charcoal.

8. Activated Charcoal for Skin Care

The properties of activated charcoal are interesting for skin care. From the facial, to the treatment of acne to the cleaning of wounds and wounds, activated charcoal promotes the maintenance of skin health.

Thanks to its great absorbency, activated charcoal powder removes sebum, fluid and toxins present on the surface of the skin, particularly wounds, making it easier to care for and heal the skin. In addition, the antibacterial action of activated charcoal helps control microbial activity on the surface of the skin and wounds, reducing the proliferation of bacteria and the risk of infections harmful to the healing process. ⁷

9. Activated charcoal to reduce bad cholesterol

As several clinical studies have demonstrated, activated charcoal can help reduce the level of bad cholesterol (LDL), which is harmful to cardiovascular health, while increasing good cholesterol (HDL), which contributes to good health. In these studies, taking high doses of activated charcoal, or up to 30 grams per day, helped reduce bad cholesterol levels by up to 41%. Thanks to the porosity of activated charcoal, a scientific principle, cholesterol binds to charcoal, preventing absorption by the body. ^{8, 9, 10}

10. Activated carbon to filter water

Although drinking water is a convenience of the modern era, it is not flawless. Many municipalities allow the addition of chlorine and fluorine to their water while allowing for the presence of environmental contaminants such as heavy metals. Contaminants present in water can interfere with maintaining optimal health. Carbon filters are highly efficient in the filtration process and result in purer water, free from pollutants.

This is the case of the Clean Sip straw which purifies water by filtering many pollutants including lead, mercury, aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chlorine, fluoride, e-coli, algae, yeast and giardia.

11. Activated vegetable charcoal: what exactly is it?

It is a medicinal grade charcoal which comes from the carbonization of wood (beech, birch, bamboo, etc., or coconut shells) at high temperature (600-900°C) and without air. This same coal is subjected to a second calcination, but this time in the presence of water vapor, air or oxidizing gases. And it is thanks to this second process that the charcoal becomes “activated” and allows it to have absorbent qualities of different molecules..^{1, 3}

Return to health: In naturopathy, taking care with activated charcoal is useful

We live in a world where the human body is subject to the presence of waste or foreign substances that chronically penetrate it. For example, we think of food chemicals such as colorings, additives, artificial flavors, preservatives, etc., as well as contaminants such as pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, etc.

All these foreign substances which invade our body and overload the work of our emunctories (kidneys, liver) can be absorbed with the help of activated vegetable charcoal and excreted out of the body through the natural pathways of intestinal elimination..^{2, 3}

13. Bad breath

Bad breath can be caused by a lack of hydration or insufficient oral health (dental hygiene), but more often its origin comes from an intestine overloaded with toxic substances that the body seeks to eliminate. At work, it can be annoying! Vegetable charcoal is part of the natural pharmacopoeia to help eliminate the effects of intestinal fermentation to regain good breath.^{3, 4}

14. Charcoal relieves aerophagia because it captures gases

The coal proves to be the most effective remedy against intestinal gas responsible for flatulence, often the cause of bloated bellies. It absorbs the gases produced during digestion at the same time as it captures all unwanted substances such as bacteria, environmental pollutants, etc.

15. Is it good for relieving nausea?

It is important to understand the origin of a symptom to calm it down. If the nausea is linked to flatulence or bloating, then activated vegetable charcoal will be of great help.^{1, 2, 3, 6}

16. Diarrhea/Tourista

The great porosity of activated charcoal and its large absorption surface give it anti-diarrheal properties. Commercial activated charcoal can be used for all types of acute diarrhea including that of viral, bacterial or parasitic origin..³

17. Food poisoning

Food poisoning or food poisoning is a set of signs and symptoms (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, etc.) that a person presents following the ingestion of food contaminated by bacteria, a virus or a parasite.

Activated vegetable charcoal will be of great help in eliminating these toxins responsible for the disorders associated with food poisoning..^{3, 4, 5, 6}

18. Estrogen and activated charcoal

Excess estrogen (for women and some men) disrupts physical and emotional health. Women feel it as their period approaches (tension, anxiety, cramps, water retention, obsession with sugar, pain, etc.). Activated charcoal has the ability to trap excess estrogen that interferes with hormonal balance.^{3, 6}

19. Allergies

We can think of pollens, grasses, and even poison ivy. Charcoal can trap molecules such as histamine released during the antigen-antibody conflict and thus reduce the severity of the allergy.

20. Cholesterol

Charcoal lowers cholesterol levels (LDL or bad cholesterol) and triglycerides. Still thanks to the porosity of vegetable charcoal, cholesterol binds to the charcoal preventing its reabsorption in the body.

21. Cigarettes

Charcoal can trap its toxic molecules which must be eliminated following inhalation and second-hand smoke.

22. Weight loss

If you are looking to lose weight, by losing fat, it releases highly toxic waste that coal will trap to eliminate them.

Other signs of a toxic environment

If you have a dull complexion, or have a clogged tongue, or have acne breakouts, you can use charcoal to help drain toxins well to cleanse your system..⁶

How to use activated charcoal every day

Vegetable charcoal is consumed orally. It is found in powder form or in capsules. The powder is black and colors when it sets. It is therefore more convenient to swallow capsules, like those offered by the Quebec company Léo Désilets. If you prefer to drink charcoal water, a straw will be useful. The dosage may vary depending on each case.

• We generally recommend for an adult: 1 gram per day which is equivalent to 2 capsules 2 times per day. The capsules are taken with a large glass of water after meals.
• It is possible to use vegetable charcoal cutaneously by preparing, for example, a facial mask with clay..^{3, 6}

You can take the vegetable charcoal before bedtime, it will act all night. This time of day when the body does the major cleaning. Over several months, it will have a beneficial effect on the digestive system, even intestinal, on the skin, on weight loss and even on energy..³

Activated charcoal: some precautions 

• It is important not to consume charcoal at the same time as certain medications such as oral contraceptives. Poisoning could occur.
• Regardless of the medication, it will be good to have a gap of two hours before or after taking a medication. Ask your doctor for advice if you are unsure.
• Prolonged use may cause constipation. Always start with a small dosage and increase gradually. Monitoring is recommended. Especially if it concerns children who have gastro, for example.
• If you are taking activated charcoal and unpleasant symptoms occur, it would be wise to consult a healthcare professional. With charcoal, reading the recommendations, as with any other product, is important!
• The supplement, charcoal or otherwise, should be taken with caution. Depending on the activated product, contraindications could concern you!

Delivery available

Shop our online health grocery store to get this product delivered to your home! Read them reviews from our customers to find out more.

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La Boite à Grains is proud to make available to you USP grade activated carbon from the Léo Désilets company. It is a healthy and safe natural health product but should not be consumed within 2 hours of taking the medication as the desired effect of the medication may be reduced. Other products could be on sale!

Good health!
Meet the team La Boite à Grains (profiles)
_______________________

About the author

Marie Couture, N.D, diplômée

Sources

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5. Combination of oral activated charcoal plus low protein diet as a new alternative for handling in the old end-stage renal disease patients. C.G. Musso, H. Michelangelo, J. Reynaldi, B. Martinez, F. Vidal, M. Quevedo, M. Parot, G. Waisman, L. Algranati. Saudi Journal of Kidney Disease and Transplantation. 2010 Jan; 21(1): 102–104.
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14. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy.  EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA)2, 3. Scientific Opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to activated charcoal and reduction of excessive intestinal gas accumulation (ID 1938) and reduction of bloating (ID 1938) pursuant to Article 13(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1924/20061

     

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