I've been wanting to detox for a while now. I eat so much junk and don't drink much water to boot, a good detox has been on my to-do list for a while. Problem is that I've been pregnant or nursing for the past 11 years and most detoxes can't be done while pregnant or nursing. Now that I'm all through having kids, I'd like to see my body get back to it's energetic and healthy self. The body that had a healthier smile, was less exhausted, and felt motivated.
So what I'm doing is using some activated charcoal powder from Zen Charcoal in an attempt to stop toxins from doing more damage than they already have. Luckily, most toxins are removed from the body in the form of urine, sweat, or feces. But some toxins and chemicals remain, especially if you don't stay properly hydrated. Although activated charcoal can't help remove toxins that have already been absorbed by the body, it can help keep new toxins or chemicals from being absorbed.
The way that it does this, is through adsorption. Adsorption is when something chemically binds to something else, like harmful chemicals to charcoal. So when traveling through the GI tract, the activated charcoal, which is super porous, adsorbs chemicals ad toxins along the way. It then exits the body, taking the bad stuff with it. The body can't digest the charcoal, so it is a non-toxic substance itself.
So I'm making a habit of drinking a large glass slowly over the course of the day for a week to see how it goes. Firstly, the charcoal "slurry" is tastier than my sweet tea! And even after the detox is done, I have decided to trade out my $2 sweet tea for water and honey for good. Which is what the slurry is... I melt some honey with hot water, then add ice, cold water, and 1/2 teaspoon of charcoal. It is so good! The charcoal itself doesn't have a taste, only a slight dry quality to it. Toward the bottom of the cup, it may get silty.
You'll want to look up side effects and proper dosage if you're going to try this out. I will say that as someone who suffers terribly from lactose intolerance and never has a "regular" day, I noticed today that it was actually a little difficult to do business, which is EXTREMELY unusual. So the main side-effect, which is constipation, definitely seems to be a concern. You should not take activated charcoal if you have any sort of blockage. And I will suggest that if you do take activated charcoal, you should drink plenty of water as well. However, as someone who struggles with constant GI "distress", it was so nice to be able to drink my coffee today without having to do some emergency bathroom runs or writhe in gut wrenching pain because of it. I think for me, it will just require some tinkering with how much to have and how often.
Another pretty common use of the activated charcoal powder is to help boost oral health and whiten teeth. It looks a bit off-putting and seriously, I might add it to my next zombie costume. But I really did notice a shine and brightness to my teeth the very first time that I tried. Unfortunately, photos didn't do justice and my teeth are so bad that I'd be quite embarrassed to show you before and afters. But I will keep using it.
- Some more interesting facts and features about Zen Charcoal Activate Charcoal Powder:
- It's 100% Natural.
- It's made in the USA.
- It can be used to remove toxins from bug bites, Burns, and Wounds.
- It can be used to help digestion, Gas, and Diarrhea.
- Activated charcoal has been used for years to help prevent accidental poisonings when taken within a half hour of ingestion.
- While it helps remove toxins and chemicals from the GI tract, there are conflicting reports as to whether it also removed vitamins and minerals. Some reports say it does, period. Some say it does to only the synthetic and nor organic.
Honestly, that last part confuses me. It is a chemical bond, so I suppose that anything organic and safe could find itself safe from being carried away depending on it's chemical make-up. But it seems to me like taking this too often may not be super good for you. And it is recommended on many sites to only use it if needed, such as during a stomach flu or detox program.
Just a few quick things to throw at you before I'm done:
When I first tried it, I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of taste. After drinking the hole sup, I did feel a smidge queezy. It wasn't bad, but it didn't exactly leave me feeling great either. Soon after, I felt almost like my blood pressure was dropping. It felt as though I had water running in my veins. I have pretty low blood pressure to begin with, so when my blood pressure drops any, I feel it. I've also noticed that I feel slightly insomniatic afterward. That could just be a side effect of drinking more water lately and being more hydrated and energetic in general.
I feel like this is a great thing to have on hand. Whether to have a solution handy for accidental poisonings or to help with bee stings or spider bites, whether trying to stay healthy or simply to whiten your teeth. You can use it in drink form, bake it in brownies, or add it to ice cream. It's a pretty great thing to have around.
Have you ever done a detox?
To learn more, check out Zen Charcoal on Amazon.
Except for the product(s) given to me for the purpose of reviewing, I received no compensation for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.
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