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      Activated Charcoal : Myths and Benefits about this Substance

      Many time you have learn about anecdotal health claims about activated charcoal which is a substance made by exposing charcoal to certain gasses or chemicals. You can find activated charcoal from toothpaste and skin creams to smoothies.

      Many say that activated charcoal can cure everything from high cholesterol to acne but many of these claims have no scientific proof.

      That is why taking activated charcoal without a doctor’s advice can be risky.

      What is Activated Charcoal?

      Charcoal is made up of carbon molecules and the activation process increases their surface area which allow them to bind to substances like water pollutants and certain drugs.

      When toxic substances are bound to the charcoal, your digestive system can’t absorb them, means they can pass through your system without entering your bloodstream.

      So activated charcoal can protect you from toxic materials in water, the air, and your body, but it isn’t a cure-all.

      Myths about Activated Charcoal

      Dr Sayona Swati Das, BDS, Certificate in Implantology (ICOI, New York), Dentist, Cosmetic/Aesthetic Dentist, Implantologist, Emerald Dental Says :

      “There’s a lot of confusion about what activated charcoal can and can’t do,”

      It can Detoxify your Body

      Dr Sayona Swati Das Says :

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      Hospitals often use activated charcoal to help flush out poisons or overdoses of medications from your body, but this doesn’t mean it can work for everyday traces of toxic substances,

      Activated charcoal works best if you take it within an hour of being expose to a poison, so to fight off all the toxic materials you come into contact with.

      It means that drinking a single activated charcoal smoothie or even taking a daily supplement won’t work as a regular detox method.

      Activated charcoal may also remove important vitamins and minerals from your body.

      This can actually disrupt your body’s own detox system, in which antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin A help fight off harmful compounds like free radicals.

      It can help with Diarrhea

      Activated charcoal may help in diarrhea, but only in very specific situations.

      A 2008 study of children undergoing chemotherapy find that 52% of children who got traditional chemotherapy experience severe diarrhea, compare with 4.4% of children who received activated charcoal along with chemotherapy.

      But there are no studies on activated charcoal as a remedy for other causes of diarrhea, and it may actually make you feel worse.

      Dr Sayona Swati Das Says :

      “Since diarrhea can be a side effect of activated charcoal I definitely wouldn’t recommend it as a treatment,”.

      This is because charcoal can irritate your digestive tract and it’s often sweet with sorbitol, which acts as a laxative.

      It can Lower Cholesterol

      There have been very few studies on whether activated charcoal can lower cholesterol in humans, and the results have been conflicting.

      A few studies find that taking between 16 g and 32 g of activated charcoal for three weeks help lower cholesterol but experts warn that it is still under-research.

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      Dr Sayona Swati Das Says :

      As activated charcoal hasn’t been studied for long-term use, it’s probably best to stick with a healthy diet to keep your cholesterol down.

      “Or if your cholesterol is extremely high, talk to your doctor about cholesterol-lowering medication, such as a statin, which has a long, safe track record,”.

      Benefits of Activated Charcoal

      Treating Overdoses or Poisoning

      If you end up in the emergency room with an overdose of medication or poisoning then there are some cases in which doctors may use activated charcoal to help the substances pass through your digestive system without being absorbe into your body.

      A doctor may mix it with a sweet liquid and ask you to drink it or give it through a tube that goes in your throat.

      Activated charcoal doesn’t work for all toxic substances, but it may help remove overdoses of :

      • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
      • Aspirin
      • Barbiturates
      • Beta blockers
      • Chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine
      • Calcium channel blockers
      • Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
      • Methotrexate (Otrexup)
      • Valproate (Depakote)
      Reducing gas

      There are a few studies that suggest activated charcoal can relieve gas but more research is still need.

      This may be because charcoal can trap gas molecules and help them pass out of your system.

      Researchers can measure excess intestinal gas is to scan patients’ abdomen.

      How blurry the scan is can indicate how much intestinal gas is present :

      • A 2012 study of patients who took 448 mg of activated charcoal for two days before their scan, and 672 mg on the morning of the exam had much clearer scans of their organs, compared to their past scans.
      • A similar 2020 study found that taking activated charcoal improved the clarity of scans by 63%.
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      Dr Sayona Swati Das Says :

      If you just have occasional gas, “you’d be better off with a safer, proven method such as simethicone, the active ingredient in GasX,”.

      And if your gas is chronic, it’s best to visit a gastroenterologist to explore the root of the problem.

      Filtering Water

      Many popular water filters use activated charcoal.

      It works the same in water filters as it does in your body by binding to toxic materials and filtering them out of your water.

      Activated charcoal filters can remove :

      • Chlorine
      • Detergents
      • Hydrogen sulfide
      • Iodine
      • Radon
      • Some pesticides
      • Volatile organic chemicals like paint thinners, cleaning products, and gasoline

      Activated charcoal won’t remove certain contaminants like iron and nitrate and you may need to use another type of filter for these substances.

      Risks of Activated Charcoal

      Sometimes activated charcoal is medically necessary, but taking it without instructions from a medical professional comes with possible risks :

      • Activated Charcoal can bind to and remove helpful nutrients like vitamins and minerals.
      • It can bind to certain medications, such as antidepressants, antibiotics, or pain relievers, making them less effective.
      • Activated Charcoal can cause nausea and vomiting.
      • It can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills.
      • In rare cases but it can slow down or block your intestinal tract which can lead to constipation or may even require surgery to clear your intestine.

      Activated charcoal can be a lifesaving treatment for poisoning or a great water filter but it doesn’t live up to a lot of the health benefit hype.

      It isn’t a good option for removing daily toxins from your body and it likely can’t treat conditions like diarrhea or high cholesterol.

      Dr Sayona Swati Das Says :

      And it comes with some serious risks “activated charcoal might sound like a miracle cure but there are so many downsides,”.

      If you want to try using activated charcoal then always consult with your doctor and make sure that it won’t interfere with any current medical treatments.

      WARNING : If the problem isn’t solved by lifestyle changes alone then don’t hesitate to consult a doctor as this article is for knowledge base.

      THANK YOU FOR READING.

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