Ten years ago, activated charcoal was considered a fairly effective means of combating excess weight. Then it was replaced by appetite regulators and various nutritional supplements. But today, when modern medicine has become too expensive or has been completely discontinued, a serious discussion about coal has developed again on the Internet. So let's find out how this drug works and whether it can really help you get rid of extra pounds at home.
Beneficial properties
Activated charcoal is a drug, not a fat burner. And it helps not so much those who want to get rid of extra kilos, but those who need a serious cleansing of the body. Therefore, among the positive manifestations of taking the drug, what comes to the fore are not the "melted" centimeters on the waist or problems, but:
- Stabilization of the digestive tract.
- Removal of toxins and other harmful substances from the body.
- Slightly slows down the skin's aging process (due to increased fluid intake).
- Reduction of blood cholesterol and, as a result, improvement of brain and cardiovascular system function and accelerates metabolism.
- Improving the function of the liver, adrenal glands, kidneys and a number of other internal organs.
- There is no sedimentation, since the active elements of the drug are not absorbed, but are completely eliminated from the body within 8-10 hours after administration.
- Reducing the likelihood of infection with staphylococci, dysentery and some airborne diseases (for example, influenza).
Indications for use
As for all kinds of diets (which we will consider in more detail below), taking activated charcoal is justified only when combined with other methods. But in medical reference books you can find many other indications for its use. So those who suffer from:
- Metabolic disorders.
- Stomach disorders, fermentation, flatulence, diarrhea.
- Consequences of severe detoxification.
- Poisoning with alkaloids, salts of heavy metals and other harmful substances.
- Poisoning of various etiologies.
And this is just a short list of situations where it will be extremely useful. However, do not forget that you can take the drug not only once, but only in a course after your doctor's approval, as you may have contraindications to taking it.
Contraindications
Despite the fact that activated carbon cleansing is practiced everywhere, not everyone should use it. In addition to individual intolerance, reasons for refusal may include:
- Vitamin deficiency or metabolic disorder.
- Insufficient (under 14 years) or excessive (over 65 years) age of the person losing weight.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding in young mothers.
- Low blood pressure.
- The presence of problems in the gastrointestinal tract: colitis, duodenal ulcer or others.
- The patient is taking certain drugs (for example, antitoxins).
- Disposition to constipation and bulimia, the presence of intestinal dysbiosis.
- Internal bleeding (regardless of its origin).
As you can see, drinking it is not always beneficial. And in some cases it can even be dangerous to health. Therefore, if you plan to start losing weight on activated charcoal, you must first consult your doctor.
Is there a result
Is charcoal effective as a means of losing weight? In search of an answer to this question, let's turn to the experiences of those who have already tested these pills on themselves. According to reviews, in two weeks, without using additional methods (effective diets, physical activity), people managed to lose about 2-4 kg. Moreover, the greater the initial weight of the person who lost weight, the better results he was able to achieve.
However, let's find out if activated charcoal really promotes weight loss? Not really. It's just that when you start taking these tablets, you increase your water intake accordingly. Having previously filled the stomach with water, a person eats less during the next meal. The result is weight loss. In other words, it is quite possible to achieve the same result in the same period without taking activated charcoal. It will be enough to drink a cup of still water at room temperature about 20-30 minutes before meals.
But what the substance really does well is to cleanse the body. After a two-week course, many people notice:
- Improved skin condition: disappearance of blackheads and oily shine.
- The appearance of lightness in the body.
- Stabilization of bowel function.
But all this takes place only if you take the drug correctly. If you forget about the measure, and when you eat, you are guided by the principle "the more, the better", you can develop a number of complications.
Damage to the body
It seems that we have all known charcoal since childhood - as an excellent remedy for intestinal problems and excessive gas formation. So what negative consequences can we talk about? Let's remember that activated charcoal is first and foremost a medicine. This means that its overdose or incorrect use can cause harm to the body. This can be expressed in:
Avitaminosis and hypovitaminosis Activated carbon is an excellent adsorbent, but it removes not only toxins from the body, but also nutrients.
External deterioration With long-term use, you risk negating all the positive effects of "cleansing": clear skin will become dull and covered with pimples, nails will become brittle, and hair will begin to fall out.
Constipation Excessive retardation of peristalsis is a sure companion of severe constipation, which is not so far from diarrhea and hemorrhoids.
Damage to the intestinal walls Two weeks of moderate use of the drug will not cause any negative consequences. But if you get too carried away, you are guaranteed to have problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Reduces the effect of taking other medicines Instead of having a restorative effect on the body, the beneficial substances and antibodies contained in the tablets are actively removed along with toxins.
Reduction of blood pressure and thromboembolism
And all this applies only to completely healthy people. How self-medication or "grandmother's" recipe based on activated charcoal will affect those who already suffer from chronic diseases, one can only guess. But there is clearly no need to talk about improvements.
Of course, the above does not mean that it is harmful to health. It's just that the benefits will be noticeable only if taken correctly. And it may turn out to be completely different than you expect.
Dosage and rules for administration
So which method of application will give the optimal effect and will not cause irreparable damage? The exact course can only be prescribed by the attending physician who is familiar with the characteristics of your body. In general, the admission rules are as follows:
- The duration of the course starts from 3 days and should not exceed 2 weeks (the same applies to diets that include taking this drug).
- The number of tablets to be taken per day (at least 3 approaches) is calculated by the formula: 1 tablet for every full 10 kg of weight. In other words, if you weigh 50 kg you must drink 5 tablets a day, if you weigh 113 kg - 11 tablets.
- The drug should be introduced into the daily menu gradually. If your norm is 7 pieces, in the first 2-3 days it is better to take no more than 5 tablets, gradually increasing the dose. The same applies to completing the course.
- The dose is taken within an hour before or after meals. However, you should not drink it in the morning (when your stomach is still empty), it is better to do it an hour after breakfast.
- After finishing the course, make sure you take a break for at least 2 weeks.
- Take the tablets with boiled still water at room temperature. This will prevent all kinds of bacteria from entering the body and help the drug to start working faster.
- At the end of your appointment, be sure to contact your doctor so that he can prescribe you a course of multivitamins (to restore the vitamin balance in the body).
Additionally, if you want to get the most out of taking activated charcoal, try to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Reduce your consumption of flour products and those containing sugar.
- Avoid alcohol completely.
- Remove dishes with high sugar, fat and harmful elements from your daily menu.
- Drink water (at least 1 liter for every 30 kg of weight, but up to 2. 5 liters in total).
- Switch from coffee to weak tea without additives.
- Increase your physical activity by making sure that exercise (such as morning exercise, evening jogging or swimming in the pool) provides a burst of energy and strength rather than completely exhausting you.
Follow these simple rules and losing weight with activated charcoal will definitely benefit you. Even if not all the extra kilos disappear, you will feel much better than before the start of the course.
Reception variations
As already mentioned, many people actively start taking the drug in an attempt to lose weight. Therefore, let's look at the most popular methods and evaluate their effectiveness:
Option #1: Gentle
Essence:The diet of the person losing weight remains unchanged and no additional effort to lose weight is taken into account. Tablets should be taken in an amount of 2 pieces 1. 5 hours - an hour before meals. The course lasts from 10 days to two weeks.
Result:There will be no significant weight loss (maximum - 3-4 kg in 14 days). But (if other conditions remain unchanged), the lost centimeters will disappear forever, lightness will appear in the body, bowel function will stabilize, and daily activity will increase significantly.
Option #2: Three-Day Diet
Essence:For 3 days, the person losing weight adheres to a specific diet. Additional physical activity is not taken into account, but is not prohibited.
Day 1 During the day, you can only eat activated charcoal with kefir and water. Also, first you need to take a few tablets (based on weight), wash them down with a glass of warm still water and after half an hour - a glass of kefir. If you are used to eating more than three times a day, the portion size and number of tablets should be reduced. In this case, the break between meals must be at least 2-3 hours.
Day 2 The current "list of dishes" is exactly the same as last day's menu, but with one difference. Kefir is replaced with apples at the rate of one apple for each glass.
Day 3 On this day, the diet remains the same, but instead of kefir you eat a vegetable salad with olive oil dressing or steamed vegetables without salt.
Result:This diet is one of the express diets, and therefore you can lose up to 5 kg. However, the menu provides for a rather abrupt and radical rejection of products that are not suitable for everyone. When you lose weight, you may experience severe headaches, weakness, and bouts of uncontrollable appetite (which may even cause you to gain weight). Therefore, you should not go on this diet during your period or when you are doing things that require increased attention and concentration.
If such a diet was easy for you, the course can be continued and extended to 15 days. However, you should stop taking activated charcoal and at the end of the diet make sure you take a multivitamin.
Option #3: Two-Week Activated Charcoal Diet
Essence:For 14 days, the dieter eats according to a specific pattern designed to gradually dull the feeling of hunger. At the same time, 30-60 minutes before meals (except second breakfast), he takes activated charcoal (2 tablets) with a glass of warm still water. When assessing effectiveness, additional physical activity is not taken into account.
- Breakfast: a portion (0. 2 kg) of oatmeal boiled in water and a glass of green or black tea without additives. If desired, you can season the porridge with raisins, and with tea you can eat some bread with a thin slice of cheese.
- Second breakfast: a glass of low-fat kefir.
- Lunch: broth made from lean meat (veal or chicken) and 0. 2 kg of boiled vegetables.
- Dinner: fresh fruit salad, seasoned with a tablespoon of sour cream or homemade yogurt.
- Breakfast: buckwheat boiled in water, as well as a hard-boiled egg and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: apple, kiwi or small banana.
- Lunch: vegetable broth and 0. 15 kg of tough, baked in its own juice without the addition of spices.
- Dinner: apple and 0. 2 kg of cottage cheese, the fat content of which does not exceed 7%.
- Breakfast: a plate of freshly cooked rice and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: two small fruits of your choice.
- Lunch: steamed chicken (0. 2 kg) and vegetable salad dressed with low-fat sour cream.
- Dinner: vegetable stew and a glass of tea.
- Breakfast: a plate of oatmeal cooked with skimmed milk, a glass of tea and a handful of raisins.
- Second breakfast: cucumber and two hard-boiled eggs.
- Lunch: a bowl of soup made from lean fish. You must not eat more than 0. 1 kg of the fish itself.
- Dinner: a portion of cottage cheese and a banana.
- Breakfast: 1 medium-sized tomato, a sandwich (bread + thin slice of cheese) and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: 0. 05 kg of cottage cheese and a cup of low-fat milk. If desired, you can add a couple of loaves of bread.
- Lunch: vegetable soup cooked in meat broth and 0. 1 kg of lean boiled meat.
- Dinner: fresh vegetable salad.
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge boiled in water (without additives), a hard-boiled egg and cucumber.
- Second breakfast: a cup of low-fat kefir and a small fruit of your choice.
- Lunch: low-fat meat broth (0. 2 kg) and cucumber.
- Dinner: cottage cheese (0. 1 kg), seasoned with a tablespoon of homemade yogurt (without additives).
- Breakfast: oatmeal cooked with milk, 0. 1 kg of homemade yogurt and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: a cup of kefir.
- Lunch: vegetable stew and 0. 1 kg of lean boiled meat.
- Dinner: vegetable salad dressed with homemade yogurt.
- Breakfast: two cucumbers, two sandwiches with low-fat cheese and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: two small fruits of your choice.
- Lunch: chicken broth and 0. 1 kg of vegetable stew.
- Dinner: two cucumbers and a portion of boiled mussels.
- Breakfast: rice boiled in water and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of kefir and an apple.
- Lunch: a portion of low-fat borscht and 0. 1 kg of boiled chicken breast.
- Dinner: cucumber and tomato salad and 0. 2 kg of cooked prawns.
- Breakfast: 2 baked apples, a portion of cottage cheese and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of kefir and bread.
- Lunch: a plate of lean fish soup.
- Dinner: steamed vegetables.
- Breakfast: cucumber, sandwich (bread + thin slice of boiled chicken breast) and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: a glass of fermented baked milk and an apple.
- Lunch: a bowl of low-fat chicken broth.
- Dinner: vegetable salad and 0. 1 kg cottage cheese.
- Breakfast: a portion of cottage cheese, two cucumbers, a hard-boiled egg and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: two small fruits of your choice.
- Lunch: a plate of low-fat borscht and 0. 1 kg of stewed mushrooms.
- Dinner: boiled chicken breast (0. 1 kg) and vegetable salad.
- Breakfast: buckwheat porridge boiled in water, a hard-boiled egg and a glass of tea.
- Second breakfast: small fruit of your choice.
- Lunch: a plate of vegetable broth and 0. 15 kg of tough, baked in its own juice without the addition of spices.
- Dinner: apple and 0. 2 kg of cottage cheese, the fat content of which does not exceed 7%.
- Breakfast: a portion of oatmeal, boiled in water, and a glass of tea. If desired, you can season the porridge with raisins, and with tea you can eat some bread with a thin slice of cheese.
- Second breakfast: a glass of low-fat kefir.
- Lunch: a portion of low-fat meat broth and 0. 2 kg of stewed vegetables.
- Dinner: fruit salad, seasoned with a tablespoon of sour cream or homemade yogurt.
Result:Since this diet is classified as moderate, you can stick to it even with increased daily activity. In two weeks, with its help, you can lose about 5-7 kg, which (if you stick to a similar menu, but without coal) will not return in the future.
Black or white: choosing the "right" coal
Today, the selection of medicines is enormous. So if previously only black activated charcoal could be bought at the pharmacy, pharmacies today offer white charcoal tablets along with it. Advertising for a fashionable new product promises buyers a milder effect, removal of only toxins from the body and the possibility of taking long-term (over 2 weeks) courses.
The only thing is that the instructions for use of both drugs are almost identical, and nanorobots (which could reliably determine which element harms the body and which helps) are not included in white coal. Moreover, if traditional black coal costs a penny, you have to pay several times more for white coal. Whether such a "game" is worth the candle, decide for yourself.
Let's summarize the above. As practice shows, activated carbon for weight loss will be ineffective. Without the help of other solutions (diet, exercise) you can lose a maximum of 2-3 kg with its help. In this case, an overdose of the drug threatens serious problems with the body. But if you need to quickly cleanse your body, for example after a big feast, you won't find a better solution. Moreover, it is always available and cheap.