Activated Charcoal | The Detox Supplement

Hiiiiiiii! Before we get started on this: Have you entered my giveaway yet? << Do it.

I’m really excited about today’s post because I have been using this supplement (so many uses!) for a couple of months now, and I’m in LOVE. It can be hard to incorporate wellness trends into your life at times, because some of them involve some sort of crazy lifestyle change or an intense attitude about it. I like to focus on simple & effective (and CHEAP!) ways to improve my health & wellness routine without getting all crazy about it. More posts like this to come! I’m so pumped about this little series.

So, activated charcoal is IN.

I was in the middle of my nightly Pinterest-scourring session when I ran across this article on wellness trends to watch in 2015. I’m such a sucker for a good (and actually useful) trend — kale, chia seeds, B12 shots (<< still need to try!), blah, blah, blah. Basically, I’m obsessed with learning about the newest, easiest way to be a healthier person.

Enter: Activated Charcoal. Lets break this down.

This little magic potion has a million and one uses and benefits, but I’ll try to keep this short and sweet.

Mind Body Green (my favorite online wellness destinations) says, “Activated Charcoal adsorbs (binds to and helps eliminate from the body) poisons, chemicals and intestinal gases that have thousands of times more weight than it has, making it very effective in detoxing and eliminating toxins and poisonous substances from the body. The action of activated charcoal actually involves adsorption, not absorption, of toxins. Adsorption is the electrical attraction of toxins, but not beneficial nutrients, to the surfaces of the fine charcoal particles. The charcoal itself is not absorbed into the body, so the toxins attached to the charcoal particles exit via the bowels.”

(PS: it also says “Don’t be surprised by black stools. Black stools can actually be a good indicator of how long it takes for your food to be fully digested and eliminated. Take notice of the time when you first take the charcoal.” Ew, but you may need to know this. LOLz.)

So there’s all the science-y, factual info for ya.

WebMD breaks down its formation simply for us idiots: “To make activated charcoal, manufacturers heat common charcoal in the presence of a gas that causes the charcoal to develop lots of internal spaces or “pores.” These pores help activated charcoal “trap” chemicals.”
SO cool, Right?? It scoops up all the bad shit, and whisks it away. Gone-zo.

Activated charcoal can be used in aiding digestion, treating food-poisoning & the stomach flu, preventing a hangover, treating bites and stings, reducing cholesterol levels, and even whitening teeth (<< still need to try this one! ). You can find it at most health food or grocery stores. Or you can buy it online here.

I’ve also found it to be a trend in skincare, due to its detoxifying properties. I actually bought some really amazing body soap from Feathers (in Austin, TX) and this face mask at my local drug store. PS: You know that trendy face mask called Glam Glow? Activated charcoal is one of the main ingredients in the powerhouse skincare product.

Plus, its black and its pretty. AND DID I MENTION IT HAS SO MANY USES?

Whats your favorite multipurpose health & wellness product?? I need to try some more!

Have a gooooood day, y’all!

P

‹SHOP THE POST›