Health & Fitness
The Bargain Teeth Whitener & Detox Agent
What do you know about activated charcoal?

Activated charcoal is a detoxifying agent that has been used for centuries as an antidote for a variety of poisons. Activated charcoal is used in most hospital ERs. Many emergency vehicles also carry activated charcoal as a fast and effective antidote for many types of poisons. Activated charcoal is considered safe and effective by the FDA and it is inexpensive.
Activated charcoal is a fabulous teeth whitener, which works better than just about any other teeth whitening agent. On top of that, it is non-toxic, which is more than can be said for most teeth whitening treatments.
Explaining Activated Charcoal:
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Don’t confuse activated charcoal with charcoal briquettes for barbecuing. Those contain toxic chemicals and carcinogens. Using the powder form of activated charcoal is what’s recommended. It’s easy to ingest as a fine powder in water. It’s tasteless, but gritty.
It is derived from burning pure, untainted organic substances, such as coconuts or certain woods, without using chemicals in the process. You can get a one pound bag for around $10.00.
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The action of activated charcoal involves the adsorption, not absorption, of toxins from the intestinal tract. Adsorption occurs due to the electrical attraction of toxins 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 simply pass through the bowels, which will turn your stools black.
As A Toothpaste:
Activated charcoal can also be used as a non-toxic toothpaste to remove plaque and stains from your teeth, as well as bacteria from your mouth. It is a bit messy, but it is considered highly effective for cleaning and sanitizing your teeth and mouth.
Activated Charcoal Controversy:
A controversy related to ingesting activated charcoal is based on the theory that it would bind to nutrients and prevent them from being utilized by the body. According to several reliable sources, pharmaceutical medicines are removed partially or wholly, as well as nutrients from synthetic vitamin sources, but not food nutrients.
It is better to take the activated charcoal two hours before or two hours after eating food, since food reduces some of the detoxification activity of activated charcoal.
Does Activated Charcoal Detox the Whole Body?
Villi are the small tube like projections on the inner walls of the small intestines. The surface area of the villi is deceiving, which is about the same as that of a tennis court. The villi have blood circulating through them. Villi have tight junctions, which are small openings that allow the nutrients from the food that has been processed in the GI tract to enter into the bloodstream. These tight junctions are a two way street. The activated charcoal becomes coated with toxins from the gut, but it can also adsorb toxins from the bloodstream. This why activated charcoal should be taken two hours before or two hours after eating food. You want the small intestines to be as empty as possible, so the exchange of blood toxins to the activated charcoal is as efficient as possible.
Keep It Around for Emergencies:
Even if you’re not using activated charcoal for detox purposes, it would be smart to have it on hand in case of an emergency. Store it in a sealed glass jar. It can be invaluable if someone ingests a poisonous substance, is bitten by a venomous insect or by a venomous snake.