{"id":24560,"date":"2017-09-09T17:00:52","date_gmt":"2017-09-09T17:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/natural-organic-blog\/?p=24560"},"modified":"2017-09-09T17:00:52","modified_gmt":"2017-09-09T17:00:52","slug":"activated-charcoal-trend-and-5-uses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.faithful-to-nature.co.za\/blog\/activated-charcoal-trend-and-5-uses\/","title":{"rendered":"How the activated charcoal trend came about & 5 popular uses"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you haven’t noticed many of your regular products turning a peculiar shade of grey-black yet, let us be the first to tell you, your friend’s toothpaste isn’t going off – they’re just testing out the new activated charcoal trend. Everything from body scrubs, face masks and oral hygiene products are offering activated charcoal variations so you can benefit from this natural ingredient’s super powers. But what are its powers and where did they suddenly come from? Here’s the grit on charcoal’s not-so-new secret weapon and 5 ways you can benefit from it in your day to day life.<\/p>\n

How the activated charcoal trend came about<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

The absorption or ‘entrapping’ properties of activated charcoal are nothing new.<\/p>\n

Its medical properties have been known for quite some time.\u00a0Hippocrates (c400BC) and Pliny the Elder (AD50) both noted its efficacy in treating\u00a0ailments like vertigo, anthrax poisoning and even absorbing unpleasant odours from rotting wounds. But how does it do this?<\/p>\n

Basically, charcoal is a byproduct of slow burnt peat, coal, wood and coconut shell (the not so great kind is a by product of petroleum). By\u00a0heating common charcoal in the presence of a gas, the charcoal develops myriad small, low volume pores with lots of internal spaces. This increases its ratio of surface area absorption rate helping to \u201ctrap\u201d chemicals, up to 1000 times its weight. And so the charcoal becomes active or activated.<\/h4>\n

In modern industry and health treatment, it’s used largely as a filtration for purifying everything from air, water to alcohol filtration and of course its medicinal uses in toxin absorption.\u00a0While the benefits of activated charcoal are nothing new, its appearance in the wellness and beauty scene is an innovative extension of its absorption properties.<\/p>\n

How you can benefit from the activated charcoal trend<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There are a host of wonderful and seemingly effective uses for activated charcoal. Here some trending products that make good use of the beneficial properties of\u00a0this age-old natural by-product.<\/p>\n

1. For detoxing\u00a0the body<\/h3>\n

In medicine, activated charcoal\u00a0is primarily used as a treatment for absorbing poison and drug overdose because of its ability to bind the harmful compounds travelling through the gastro intestinal tract before they can reach the bloodstream. Even my vet recommends I keep a bottle of charcoal tabs on hand in case my over curious retriever gobbles up some or other less than savoury\u00a0forest find or, god forbid, gets into my midnight chocolate stash (poisonous for dogs).<\/p>\n

So, when it comes to detoxing, ie. removing toxins, it’s effective\u00a0in absorbing gut-disturbing pesticides hitching a ride on foods consumed. But it’s not going to\u00a0infuse you with health, what’s it’s going to do is bind to and remove what’s in your gut.<\/p>\n

NB to Note: <\/strong>\u00a0Several sources indicate that activated charcoal will also bind to other compounds in the gut. So, if you’re taking prescription\u00a0medication or taking it with your vitamins, it\u00a0could\u00a0render them ineffective. Best be\u00a0aware when and how you ingest it.<\/em><\/p>\n

Cleansing Tonic:<\/strong>\u00a0Added into the already gut healthy kombucha, this tonic’s added dose of activated charcoal not only adds probiotics but is said to clear your gut of unwanted toxins too.<\/p>\n

“Super light and refreshing. My favourite detox drink!” – Luna<\/em><\/p>\n