What is activated charcoal good for? Activated charcoal is a traditional home remedy that has been used for many years to treat a host of common ailments and conditions. It is naturally porous, which means it can promote good digestive function and health by binding harmful toxins and waste products together in the gut before your body has the chance to absorb them. This can help ease the pressure on your kidneys by reducing the amount of waste they have to filter. Activated charcoal can also help reduce your blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels by binding cholesterol and preventing it from being absorbed. It can help whiten your teeth and brighten your smile by absorbing plaque and other compounds which can discolour your enamel. It can also help to reduce blood alcohol levels to ease the symptoms of a hangover. And because of its toxin binding properties, activated charcoal is often used by medical professionals to treat certain types of poisoning, as well as excess consumption of over the counter or prescription drugs. How does activated charcoal work? Activated charcoal is a fine black powder made from charred and crushed coconut husks. It becomes ‘activated’ when processed at very high temperatures, which negatively charge its particles and change its internal structure to make it more porous than regular charcoal. Because activated charcoal is negatively charged, it attracts positively charged molecules, such as toxins and gases, in the gut and binds them together to help prevent them from being absorbed. These are instead passed out naturally through your digestive system before they can do any harm. What else can activated charcoal be used for? Activated charcoal is very good at reducing gas after consuming a gas-producing meal, and also improving the odour of digestive gas. It can be used as an effective cleanser for spots, blackheads and acne because of its porous properties. It’s also been found to reduce the unpleasant smell of a conditi
