Activated Charcoal Benefits and Side Effects
You must have heard about coal, which is made from peat, wood, coconut shell or petroleum. Can you believe that the charcoal made due to burning of wood can be beneficial for health as well. The coal used for health is called activated charcoal. To make it, charcoal is heated in the presence of gas. It can be used for flatulence, high cholesterol, hangovers, heartburn, and gallstone problems (1). In this article we are telling about the benefits of activated charcoal products Along with this, we will know how to use activated charcoal and what can be its disadvantages.
First of all in the article, we know about the benefits of activated charcoal for health.
Benefits of Activated Charcoal
1. To prevent the spread of poison
Activated charcoal can be beneficial in removing many problems in the body. This is an effective treatment to prevent the spread of poison in the body and drug overdose. According to research published on the NCBI website, charcoal contains many such substances, which can help prevent the absorption of drugs, phytotoxins, and toxic chemicals in the gastrointestinal tract (2). On this basis, it can be believed that activated charcoal can be beneficial in preventing the spread of poison in the body.
2. Balance cholesterol levels
Activated charcoal may also help reduce cholesterol levels. Much research has been done on this topic. According to one such research published on the website of NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information), 7 patients with hypercholesterolemia i.e. excess cholesterol in the bloodstream were treated with activated charcoal. They were given 8 grams of activated charcoal 3 times a day for 4 weeks. The results seen during this time show that activated charcoal reduced LDL ie cholesterol by 41 percent. Also, HDL ie beneficial cholesterol was increased by 8 percent.
3. Beneficial in stomach gas
Problems like flatulence can be faced due to the formation of gas in the stomach. Activated charcoal can be of some help in dealing with this problem. The research was done in this regard, which was published on the website of NCBI. According to research, activated charcoal may be beneficial in treating intestinal gas. According to another research, activated charcoal may reduce the symptoms of bloating and abdominal cramps, but may not help relieve gas problems. . Based on these studies, it can be said that activated charcoal is effective in reducing intestinal gas. Still, some more research is needed on this subject.
4. To purify water
Activated charcoal can also be used to purify water, it is also known as activated carbon. Activated charcoal is commonly used to adsorb harmful organic compounds, flavors, and other chemicals present in drinking water. There are two types of activated charcoal used to purify water, granular activated charcoal (GAC) and powdered activated charcoal (PAC) (6). Still, activated charcoal should be used as an alternative for water purification (7). Also, it is necessary to consult a doctor before using it.
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5. For teeth
Activated charcoal can also be beneficial for teeth. Many research institutions have done research on this subject, which has been published on the NCBI website. According to this research, activated charcoal has whitening properties, which can help whiten teeth. In addition, activated charcoal has the ability to remove pigmentation and stains that affect the color of teeth. Even now charcoal is being used in many toothpastes. However, the use of activated charcoal for teeth has not yet been studied in detail.
6. Hangover Relief
Using activated charcoal can be beneficial in reducing an alcohol hangover. According to research conducted on animals published on the NCBI website, charcoal can reduce the amount of alcohol present in the blood. At the same time, during the clinical trial, some people were divided into two groups and given 88-88 grams of alcohol to consume. Just 30 minutes later, one group was given 20 grams of activated charcoal, while the other group was given the same amount of water. As a result, the effect of alcohol in the body was not reduced by consuming both.
7. In the problem of diarrhea
Activated charcoal can also be beneficial in dealing with this problem. According to a research, a drug named Irinotecan is used in stomach cancer. The use of this medicine can cause diarrhea, especially in children. Therefore, if charcoal is consumed with this medicine, the problem of diarrhea can be reduced somewhat ( 1 ). Another research found that activated charcoal has anti-diarrheal properties, which can be beneficial in the problem of diarrhea ( 11 ). At the moment, more research is needed on the effects of charcoal during diarrhea.
