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Do You Know Activated Charcoal Helps Our Health In A Number of Ways? Here Are 10 Benefits

Activated charcoal is being used as a medical agent since time immemorial, and so here are top 10 benefits that activated charcoal offers to our health.

By Shubham Ghosh

Activated charcoals are in use for medical treatment as early as 1550 BC. The good part about them is that while they are used in treating bruises, inflammation and infections - their medical properties also include lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels in blood.

A single teaspoon of activated charcoal has a surface area of nearly 10,000 square feet (imagine the coverage it has)!

Activated charcoal is available in various forms like capsules, powder, chewable tablets, liquid, etc. It is also used as an ingredient in body detox products and cleansers.

benefits of activated charcoal

Here, we list top 10 benefits that activated charcoals provide us with:

1. Activated charcoal binds poison, heavy metals, chemicals, etc., even if they are heavier, thus helping the body to get rid of toxins. It also absorbs various pharmaceutical drugs, opium, cocaine, morphine, pesticides, chemicals, lead, etc.

2. Activated charcoal helps in treating skin ailments and healing dysentery, cholera, diarrhoea, mushroom poisoning, etc. It also helps in treating flu and other viruses by preventing the spread of the bacteria.

3. Activated charcoal fights bad odours that are caused by skin ulcers.

4. Activated charcoal has anti-ageing properties.

5. It helps in improving the functioning of the liver, kidney, brain, heart, etc.

benefits of activated charcoal

6. It improves the digestion process and gives relief from bloating and gas by absorbing the excess gas in the digestive tract.

7. Activated charcoal is used to purify water, air and also food by removing the odd smell and impurities from them.

Trivia: Activated charcoal was used in gas masks during World War I and it had effectively dealt with poisonous gases.

8. Activated charcoal helps in decreasing cholesterol levels and risks of heart disease.

benefits of activated charcoal

9. Brushing with activated charcoal helps in getting white teeth.

10. Activated charcoal is of great help in de-poisoning; and that is why it is used in treating insect stings and snake bites.

In one experiment, charcoal was mixed with venom, which is 100 times more poisonous and it was applied on an animal in the laboratory. The animal was not harmed, which shows the effectiveness of activated charcoal as an antidote.

benefits of activated charcoal

About Taking Activated Charcoal:
It is best to take activated charcoal between meals and a few hours after consuming any nutrition supplements, or it can hinder their absorption in the body.

It should be taken either alone or with water, so that its effectiveness is maintained. Store the activated charcoal in a proper container and away from heat and moisture.

Consult A Doctor On How To Take It:
Taking activated charcoal is safe; but in case you are on medication, it is always better to consult a doctor for the prescription on how to pace its consumption in between taking medicines.

benefits of activated charcoal

The Flip Side:
Using activated charcoal over a long period of time to treat conditions like excess gas can cause side effects. Besides, taking activated charcoal in large doses can result in black tongue, black stool, constipation and in extreme cases - gastrointestinal blockages.

Moreover, as mentioned earlier, it should not be taken with certain medicines, to avoid reduction in effectiveness.

Story first published: Wednesday, October 19, 2016, 11:53 [IST]
Read more about: health benefits